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Here is a link to Berenice's post on the Regimental Memorial


Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) CC OFS Tr (Lieut: A. G. Niven. E. Lanc: Regt.);
KSA (2) (Lieut. A. G. Niven. E. Lanc. Regt.)

Allan Graham Niven was born at Chiddington, Buckinghamshire in June 1878, the son of Commander Oswald Baylis Niven, Royal Navy. Having travelled in the Far East for a number of years, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, 8 January 1900, and served with the Regiment in South Africa. He was promoted Lieutenant on 4 January 1901.

Somme - 'The Glory Hole'

Commissioned Captain in the 2nd Tyneside Scottish on 18 November 1914, Niven served with his Battalion in France from January 1916. Serving with the 34th Division, the Battle of the Somme was the first occasion on which the Battalion went into action. Situated astride the Albert-Baupame Road and opposite La Boisselle, Niven would find himself second-in-command of the Battalion as the commander was killed before the Battle even began. Having seen the huge 'Y-Sap' and 'Lochnagar' mines explode, the Battalion were piped into 'The Glory Hole' at 7.28am. Crossing the first German trench, they soon found themselves taking huge casualties but making gains. They took the Sausage and Scots Redoubts. Private Tommy Easton, one of Niven's soldiers said:

'Your concentration is on self-preservation and you are only interested in what is ahead of you. You can't stop to give succour to pals; you've got to press on.

People fell on all sides - blown up - but we just persevered, the wire was reasonably destroyed and we tumbled into the first German trench we came to.'

On the trenches, an unknown Corporal stated:

'The Huns fought desperately and we had a tough job clearing them out. They simply crushed us with machine-gun fire. It was real red blistering hell hot and make no mistake.'

Having advanced to 'Mash Valley', where No-Man's Land was 750 yards wide, successive attacks were beaten off time and time again. By the close of play, the Regiment had 1,647 killed in action. All four Battalion commanders were killed in action, with Niven being amongst those cut down. Niven, who was aged 38. has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Thiepval and Malacca Memorials and the Singapore Cenotaph.

From the next City Coins auction, November 2020

Reebokfontein, 22 April 1901

On 22 April 22 two hundred men of the 8th M.I. were escorting a supply convoy from Cyferkuil to Klerksdorp when it was attacked on Reebokfontein Farm by 700 of De la Rey’s burghers. During the fight Lieutenant Percy Goodwyn, who was in command of the left flank guard, saw sixty Boers making for a kopje which commanded the position from which the British guns were firing. Gathering ten of his men, he raced the enemy for the top of the hill. As the East Lancashires galloped for the kopje, Corporal Connery received five wounds, and his horse was hit twice, but still he rode on. Both sides arrived simultaneously, and, although overwhelmed by numbers, Goodwyn and his men maintained their position long enough for the guns to withdraw.

The Boers massed 180 men against the little band, who were eventually rushed with the loss of two killed, three wounded and the remainder taken prisoners, but not before Private Burrows had collected rifle bolts from the casualties and thrown them away to prevent the enemy getting them. For gallantry on this occasion, Lieutenant Goodwyn was awarded the DSO and Corporal Connery and Private Burrows were Mentioned in Despatches and received Special Promotion from Lord Kitchener for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.
Red Roses on the Veldt, p277.

QSA (4) CC, OFS, Tvl, SA01 (5569 Pte. R. Wardley, E. Lanc. Regt.)

Pte Wardley was severely wounded in De la Rey’s attack. He was hospitalized in Johannesburg and died there on 24 April.

He is buried in the Braamfontein Cemetery

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (8667 Dmr: F. Whittaker. E. Lanc: Regt.)

Frederick Whittaker was born at Earby, Yorkshire in 1872 and was a weaver by trade upon his enlistment at Burnley on 13 June 1898. He served in South Africa with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment from January-July 1900 and was discharged medically unfit on 12 December 1904. He had forfeited pay on account of absence on three separate occasions during his service.

Medal and clasps verified.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (3869 Dmr. M. Thompson , E. Lanc: Regt)

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Transvaal (2250 Pte. J. Cronshaw, E. Lanc: Regt.)
[ 1914-15 Star Trio ]

Jacob Cronshaw was born in 1871 at Burnley, Lancashire and served in South Africa during the Boer War with the East Lancashire Regiment (Queen's Medal & 2 clasps).

He was posted missing - rejoined near Schweizer Reineke on 21 October 1900 (WO108-372, refers):

'A patrol of 30 men under Lt Berry sent to capture some Boers at a farmhouse. They were ambushed and four men were captured whose horses had bolted. The four men were exonerated at a court of enquiry.'

Upon the outbreak of the Great War, by now aged 43, he re-enlisted on 14 November 1914 and served overseas with his Regiment from 28 December 1914-13 February 1915. Cronshaw latterly served with the Royal Fusiliers and the Training Reserve.

Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

IGS 1895 (1) Relief of Chitral 1895 (2600 Pte W. Kirby 1st Bn E. Lanc Regt);
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (2600 Pte W. Kirby, E. Lanc: Regt);
KSA (2) (2600 Pte W. Kirby. E. Lanc: Regt).


Private William Kirby was born Preston, Lancashire, c.1871, and enlisted for service with the East Lancashire Regiment at Burnley on
13 March 1889.

He served with his regiment during the Relief of Chitral, and also during the Boer War (rolls confirm), completing a total of 12 years with the colours upon his retirement on 30 April 1902.

He re-attested for service on 15 September 1914 and was promoted to Acting-Sergeant by late July 1917, but was tried and charged for ‘wilfully allowing to escape a person committed to his charge’ (the soldier in question, a Private Marks, appears to have made his escape from the lavatories at Aldgate Street Station). Kirby was temporarily reduced to Corporal and appears to have continued to serve until the end of the war.

He died in mid-late 1945.