TOPIC:

We have a relative who was killed in the Boer War. He was James Hutchison Penny Lewis and he came from Nottingham. I sent away for a death certificate that I felt may relate to him but it gave no further information that what I had already gleaned from the registers
No 7523 Private Lewis JH Died of disease Krugersdorp 23 Oct 1901 Volunteer C. The Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) 1st battalion.

Is there any way of ascertaining whether this WAS James Hutchison?

7523 Private J Lewis is listed on page 11 of the Queen's South Africa Medal Roll WO100/192 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters)as being awarded the medal clasp "South Africa 1901" and there is a note by his name that reads "No trace".

This section of the Roll was produced in Rustenberg on the 27th of October 1907. The "No trace" statement is because the Regiment tried to trace him or his NOK and could not, therefore his medal clasp was returned to the Assistant Director of Ordnance Stores, Woolwich, by the Officer in Charge of Records, No 6 District, Litchfield in September 1908.

However, on page 70 of the Roll produced on the 16th of October 1907, states that he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with four other clasps, Belmont, Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

There are only two other Pte J Lewis's listed, No 4701 and No 2754 - all three are only listed with the initial "J".

2754 Pte J Lewis survived the War, so this is not James Hutchison Penny Lewis, which leaves No 7523 and No 4701, neither of which appear in the King's South Africa Medal Roll for this Regiment.

My copies of the Casualty lists are in boxes in my garage so maybe someone else can check the casualty lists and clarify this further for you. If no one here can help, I'll dig them out for you.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Ian

Wow thanks for that.
When you say that the Regiment tried to trace him or his NOK and couldn't - why would that be? His wife was still around in Nottingham. Did wives get pensions/support etc from army for those killed in Boer War?

I don't know enough about pensions to answer that one, but maybe someone here does.

Maybe in this case, the family weren't contacted - I do know that not long after his death his records would have been destroyed, as was the procedure then, so maybe "No trace" is simply a Clerk's note to reflect that he could find no current record of him.

As there was only one other possible J Lewis serving in the Regiment with him, the key is the Casualty Records to hopefully show that the other soldier survived the war; then you will know that you have the right man. If both died, then I would suggest contacting the Regimental Museum or Derby or Nottingham Museum.

Unless someone can help in the meantime, I will get my copy of the Casualty records out of the garage and see if I can clarify this for you, but due to work, please allow me a day or two.

Regards

Ian

Good news!

You have the right man!

I have checked the casualty Roll. As you said:
7523 Pte Lewis JH Died of disease Krugersdorp 23 October 1901, he was a member of the Volunteer Company.

I did find one other, 4194 Pte Lewis J died of disease at Bloemfontein on 3 April 1902, so JH Lewis is your man.

Regards
Ian