TOPIC:

I am researching the family history of a distant relative who died from injuries sustained in the Boer War and I wonder if any records may exist of where he was buried.

His details are: 9582 Henry Edward Fetch injured October 1900 near Pan Station and died shortly afterwards in Middelburg.

Any information or guidance would be much appreciated.

Hi, welcome aboard!
I thought this would be an easy one as I knew the 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards casualties from Pan Station for the 1 October 1900 are buried at Middelburg and commemorated on the memorial there. I went to the eGGSA library to view the memorial and Fetch isn't listed amongst the Coldstream Guards casualties.

The QSA medal roll notes Fetch as 'Died of wounds, 12 October 1900'. The casualty return notes him as 'Wounded 1 October 1900'. Place of casualty is given as 'Middelburg' and under remarks it notes 'Died'. I presume he was wounded at Pan Station and died in the hospital at Middelburg.

Unless Fetch buried elsewhere in Middelburg and isn't buried with all the other British soldiers in the military cemetery then he may well be one of the six unknown British graves in the cemetery.

Here's the URL for the memorial:
www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=1773907
The Coldstream Guards casualties for 1 October 1900 are on Memorial Plaque 2 [Pan is listed as place of death on the casualty returns for these men.]. I don't seem to find Fetch amongst the names on the other plaques. Not sure if any of this is any help but I should think this is probably the most likely place to start looking for the grave.

Cheers,

Mark

Hello Mark,
Thanks for the information. I knew the dates and location of the accident and Fetch's subsequent death as I have his service records and a letter sent home which was written by a nurse at Middelburg but the link and the pictures were most helpful. I have spoken to the CWGC who informed me that, according to their records, his grave has a marker and that his name appears on a memorial (somewhere). This will keep me busy for a while yet!
Regards,
John

John, you're most welcome. Seems odd the CWGC can't say where his grave is located if they have it listed. But records in SA are in a bit of a mess. All the best in your search and when you track him down let us know where and how you found him.

Cheers,

Mark