TOPIC:

The single QSA to this Worcestershire Regiment soldier came into my possession following my winnings bid at the Postal Medal Auction No. 71 at City Coins way back in November 2020, a bright event at the end of a dismal Covid-19 lockdown. The event was organised by the much missed Natalie Jaffe and our own David Biggins and was the dispersal sale of South African collector Henk Loots.
As a collector of QSAs to the Worcestershire Regiment, I was very pleased when the courier knocked my door to gain my signature to acknowledge receipt of my winning bids.

Now the research into 4292 Private W. Mason began in earnest. Other than references to his demise found in the various casualty rolls and confirmation of his entitlement to the medal and single clasp Cape Colony (WO100/184) there was very little to go on to take his biography further. As per military protocol of the period his attestation papers were destroyed, and none of the local memorials were inscribed with Pte. W. Mason of the Worcestershire Regiment.

Over the past three and a half years I did find a casualty report in a local newspaper of the time which gave the name of his mother, Rhoda Mason who resided in Dudley, Worcestershire. But all consequent searches using the usual Findmypast, Ancestry, Family search etc frustratingly provided no further information. I was well and truly stymied!!

During this April (2024), we have experienced some technical difficulties in accessing the Anglo Boer War Forum, which David has now thankfully resolved. Unable to read or contribute to the forum, I took advantage of this opportunity to revisit a couple of case studies in my spare time.
Rather than search for a W. Mason or Rhoda Mason living in Dudley which bore no fruit previously, I altered the spelling of Rhoda by dropping my Hs (how common!) and entered Roda Mason.

Eureka!!

Within ten minutes by sheer luck, I uncovered census details of the family tree, and some surprising military service with a couple of twists as follows:

CENSUS 1881
WALTER PENN was born in Netherton, Dudley, Worcestershire to parents JOSEPH and RHODA PENN, (nee Willets) who were both born in Dudley. This was a real Black Country family! In 1881 Walter was a five year old scholar with siblings Jesse (7) and Edward (3). His father Joseph (33) was a Spade Finisher and mother Rhonda (30) kept the home and could quite possibly have made nails or chain in a 'Brewhuss' (Brew house) to the rear of the family home at Baptist End, Prince Street, Dudley, Worcestershire.
The Black Country region was renowned for these cottage style industries where the mother would hammer out these steel products to supplement the family finances. And hard work it was too!

CENSUS 1891
By the time of this stocktake of the population, domestic arrangements had changed for the Penn household. 50 year old David Mason was now head of the household living with Rhoda(43), who now had the surname of Mason at 5 Baptist End, Dudley, Worcestershire. Also living here were James Mason (20) a Bricklayer's Labourer, Elizabeth Mason (17), Jesse Penn (17), Walter Penn (15), Edward Penn (13), Bury Penn (16) and Josiah Mason (6). Who knows what caused this change. Rhoda and her boys certainly didn't move very far.

MILITARY SERVICE EVENT 1
On 10th May 1893, Walter Penn attested to the Worcestershire Regiment at Dudley receiving the service number 3686. He was an 18 year old Shoemaker by trade. He was 5'7" in height, so quite tall by the average of the time, and weighed 131lbs. His chest expansion range was a decent 34"-35 1)2". His complexion was sallow, he had brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was Church of England by religious denomination. He bore no distinguishing features, marks or tattoos about his body.
His Military History Sheet records that he served at home from 10/05/1893 to 05/06/1894 a total of 27 days service. And that's all! There is no entry on the document to suggest desertion or any other reason for this very short length of service.
Walter's father Joseph Penn of 5 Prince Street, Netherton is given as next of kin. (Source: attestation document from Findmypast)

MILITARY SERVICE EVENT 2
At Lichfield, Staffordshire on 8th December 1893, Walter Penn then attested to the 21st Hussars reporting to Canterbury. He declared his previous service with the 2nd Battalion of the Worcesters from which unit he was discharged. He was now an 18 years and 7 month old Bootmaker and had gained another 7lbs in weight and gained a small scar on his right arm.
He served at home with service number 3726 from 08/12/1893 to 08/03/1894 (75 days) on which date he bought his discharge by purchase in the sum of £10, a substantial amount for a working class ladin those days. His next of kin was his mother Rhoda of Prince Street, Netherton. (Source: attestation document from Fold3)

MILITARY EVENT 3
As previously stated, Walter's attestation document for his final service with the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment is no longer extant, so we have no way of knowing his actual attestation date. But I can say now with confidence that he became 4292 Private using the surname of Mason. Whether this change of surname was due to his mother remarrying I cannot say at this juncture. Perhaps he wanted to ensure his surname matched that of his mother if she was next of kin?
It would appear that he didn't need to hide his identity from the military authorities as he had not 'jumped over the wall' or committed an offence.

Walter would have sailed to the war in South Africa with his comrades of the 2nd Battalion Worcesters aboard the 'Tintagel Castle ' on 16th December 1899, arriving at Cape Town on 8th January 1900.
On disembarkation they were sent to the Colesberg- Naauwpoort district to serve under General Clements.
On the morning of 12th February 1900 the Boers had crept stealthily up the steep slopes of what was to become known as Worcester Hill in honour of the regiment, and launched a sudden attack on the Worcester's position. The majority of the fatalities suffered by the Worcesters were sustained in this initial rush on the forward sangars, where the occupants were killed to a man. Perhaps this is where 4292 Private Walter Mason/Penn met his fate?
The regiment lost Colonel Coningham and 15 other men killed, and 3 officers and 30 men wounded in the action on the 12th February.
However, their sacrifice was not in vain, as the 2nd Battalion carried the day owing to they're being steady old soldiers, many of whom were first class marksmen including a Bisley champion.


Queen's South Africa medal awarded posthumously to Walter.

Impressed naming to 4292 Private W. Mason to the rim.

Impressed regimental naming to the rim.

WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT MEMORIAL,
WORCESTER HILL,
SLINGERSFONTEIN.


The above image downloaded from the website of the Worcestershire Regiment.
Top image shows a soldier of the Worcestershire Regiment looking down upon the camp at Slingersfontein.
Bottom half of image has the memorial to the men who perished during the skirmish.
Walter is engraved on the stone with the surname Mason

DUDLEY SOUTH AFRICA MEMORIAL,
DUDLEY TOWN CEMETERY,
STOURBRIDGE ROAD,
DUDLEY,
WEST MIDLANDS.

ORDNANCE SURVEY GRID REFERENCE;SO930900.


Occupying a prominent position along the roadside just over the cemetery fencing, the 56 men of the Dudley area who lost their lives in the Anglo Boer War are commemorated. ( There is another thread on the forum describing the monument in greater detail, which I have alot more to add to in due course).


A close-up of the panel bearing the name of Pte. Walter Penn (aka Walter Mason).

In summary, alot is spoken of the 'fog of war' by historians when describing military events, their causes and consequences. For the amateur researcher, we have the 'fog of the official records' where alot of sleuthing, help from our fellow forummers and an industrial sized slice of good luck are required to find an answer, such was the case with Walter Mason/Penn.
But, I now know that he is actually commemorated on the fine memorial in his hometown of Dudley. So there is the reward.

Interestingly, there are another two men of the surname Penn named on the Dudley South Africa War Memorial. Both are to be found on the panel listing men who died of wounds or sickness as follows:




PRIVATE WALTER PENN as named. Further information below.
DUDLEY ROLL OF HONOUR (online): Private 2956 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of enteric fever 18th December 1900. Buried in West End Cemetery, Kimberley.
WATT(2000): Confirms the above.
PALMER(1999): Confirms the above.
HAYWARD(1982): Confirms the above.
FINDMYPAST (online): name, service number and death as above. Memorial details: Town Hall Porch. County and Peterborough, Northamptonshire. Holy Sepulchre. Plaque. 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment,

No mention of Dudley.

ANCESTRY: Medal Roll for Northamptonshire Regiment WO100/193 confirms deceased. QSA with clasps Belmont, Modder River and Orange Free State.


PRIVATE THOMAS PENN as named. Further information below.
DUDLEY ROLL OF HONOUR (online): died of wounds.
WATT:no record.
PALMER: no record.
FINDMYPAST: no record.
ANCESTRY: no record.