TOPIC:

I came upon a newspaper article which mentioned two ABW deaths from Escot (also sometimes spelt as Escott around that time) - Richards and Berry - but couldn't find anything more than that. Can we identify these two men? Escot is centred around Escot House, and is in Talaton parish. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escot,_Talaton

"The Escott Village Club opened its winter session on Friday evening when the President (Right Hon Sir J H Kennaway, Bart, M P,) entertained the members to supper in the club room...…..Sir John said that he had just been reminded that two men from that place - Richards and Berry - had laid down their lives for their country in South Africa - (applause)."
The Western Times, Friday 19th October 1900

Escot parish church, St Philip and St James, doesn't appear to contain a memorial with their names on. www.efpchurch.org.uk/index.php/visit-us/...escot-church-history

You would have to look throughout any surviving papers that are relevant to men with those particular surnames who lost their life, both names are quite common, so you would narrow the field by doing so, as long as the material remains extant.

Frank Kelley wrote: You would have to look throughout any surviving papers that are relevant to men with those particular surnames who lost their life, both names are quite common, so you would narrow the field by doing so, as long as the material remains extant.

Happily, Devon has a county memorial, and there is one Richards and two Berrys:

UNITID SUBUNITID UNIT_NO SURNAME NAME NUMBER RankID Date CR Location
Devonshire Regiment BTTN 1 Richards G 3529 Private 17/03/1900 Ladysmith
Devonshire Regiment BTTN 2 Berry W 4942 Private 29/04/1900 Chieveley
South African Constabulary DIV E Berry George 3083 Trooper 25/05/1902 Vet River

From the date of the newspaper report it would appear that W Berry is the man.

Check FmP for service papers, otherwise it is off to the census and newspapers.

Good luck Berenice!

Thanks, Meurig, I think this must be the Richards referred to.

The following privates in the 1st Devons have died of enteric fever: - 4570, Pr J. Livermore; 4767, Pr R. Edwards; 3529, Pr G. Richards. Pr J. Livermore was a native of Bethnal Green, London, Pr R. Edwards came from Ilfracombe, Pr G. Richards was a native of Ottery St. Mary.
The Western Times, Wednesday 4th April 1900

Interestingly, Richards original grave appears to have been exhumed, is he remembered on the memorial at All Saints church Ladysmith?

Anglican Church, Ladysmith [Pte G Richards]