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SWANSEA SOUTH AFRICA (BOER) WAR MEMORIAL

Boer War - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Martin Edwards 2008
transcribed Janet M Neilson 2008

The memorial is situated outside on the Mumbles Road, opposite the Rugby football Club grounds and overlooks Swansea Bay. It originall stood in Victoria Park, Swansea, but was moved in the 1930's to make room for Swansea Guildhall. It takes the form of a soldier in Boer War campaign dress, with rifle, standing guard over a wounded comrade lyning on the ground all this standing on an ornate collonade pillar with a three-stepped base. There are elaborate bronze wreaths on each face at the top and a crest, probably that of Swansea, on the front face. The memorial cost £500 to erect the monies being raised by public subscription. It was unveiled on 15th April 1904 by Griffiths Thomas, at that time Mayor of Swansea. The designer was Mr Littlejohn and the Brown's were the masons. Details appeared in the South Wales Daily Post April 1904, the South Waes Evening Post 6th and 9th November 1984 and the South Wales Evevning Post 16th January 1986. There are 53 names listed. The original memorial had two cannon either side and was surrounded by a chain-link fence. The name shere have been sorted into alpabetical order for ease of reading an research.

From an old postcard
Photographs Copyright © Janet M Neilson 2008

THIS MONUMENT
TO THE MEMORY OF THE SWANSEA MEN
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 1900-1-2
WAS RAISED AT A COST OF £500, CONTRIBUTED
BY THEIR FELLOW TOWNS PEOPLE TO A SHILLING FUND
UNVEILED 15TH APRIL 1904
BY
THE MAYOR OF SWANSEA,
GRIFFITH THOMAS, ESQ.

KILLED IN ACTION
LEST WE FORGET

DIED OF DISEASE
LEST WE FORGET

FOR THAT FAIR MOTHERLAND WHICH GAVE THEM BIRTH
NOBLY TO DARE NOBLY TO DIED

ALLEN

J

Private, Grenadier Guards. Died of disease

BENSON

Richard Arthur Starling

Captain, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died of dysentry 19 February 1900 at Wynberg Hospital. Aged 30. Born Decem,ber 1869. Son of Colonel Starling Benson (late 17th Lancers).

BENSON

W

Corporal, Bethune’s Horse. Killed in action

BERRY

W A

S Sergeant-Major, 7th Dragoon Guards. Killed in action

BIDDLE

B

Private, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

BOWEN

T

Corporal, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

BULLIN

L

Trooper, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of disease

CRAPPER

A

Trooper, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of disease at Norvals Pont 15 January 1902. Buried in Colesburg Cemetery, SA Grave No. 98. See also Haverfordwest Memorial

DAVIES

E

Private, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

DAVIES

H E H

Lieutenant Veterinary Surgeon, Army Veterinary Corps. Died of disease

DAVIES

S J

Sergeant, South Wales Borderers. Died of disease

DUNSFORD

H A H

Trooper, Robert’s Horse. Killed in action

EATON

Charles Edward

Lieutenant, Robert’s Horse. Died of enteric 4 June 1900 at Kroonstad. Aged 31. Born January 1869. Son of Robert and Helen Eaton, of Bryn-y-mor, Swansea.

Extract from The Last Post - Roll of Officers who fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner, published by Naval and Military Press:

Eaton. - Lieut. Charles Edward Eaton, Roberts' Horse, died of enteric, at Kroonstad, June 4th, 1900. He was the son of the late Robert Eaton, Esq., of Bryn-y-mor, Swansea, and Helen, his wife, The Grange, Bradford­on-Avon. Lieut. Eaton was born Jan., 1869, and educated at Beckenham. He joined Roberts' Horse in Jan., 1900, and was present at the Relief of Kimberley and the battles of Paardeberg and Driefontein, and the advance on Bloemfontein. He also took part in the actions at Sanna's Post, Winburg, and the advance on Kroonstad, and was awarded the medal with three clasps.

EVANS

S M

Trooper 20255, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Killed in action 20th December 1901 at near Tafelkop, Frankfort District. See also Haverfordwest Memorial

GEARY

J

Private, East Yorkshire Regiment. Died of wounds received in action

GOWMAN

A

Lance Corporal, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action

GRIFFITHS

E

Private, 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

HANCOCK

J

Sergeant, 1st Royal Dragoon. Killed in action

HANNEY

R T

Sapper, Royal Engineers. Died of disease. See also Chatham Royal Engineers Memorial

HEADDON

T

Sergeant, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

HEYWOOD

J

Private, Coldstream Guards. Died of wounds received in action

HUGHES

T J

Private, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action

JAMES

P

Lance Corporal, Imperial Mounted Infantry. Died of disease

JONES

?

Lance Corporal, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

JONES

B

Private, 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died of disease

JONES

S

Corporal 20020, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of disease at Heilbron 26th February 1902. Aged 22. Buried in Heilbron Cemetery. See also Haverfordwest Memorial

JONES

T

Private, Welsh Regiment. Died of wounds received in action

KEANS

T

Private, Grenadier Guards. Died of disease

LAMBERT

V

Trooper, Kitchener’s Horse. Died of disease

JOHN

E Llewellyn

Trooper, South African Constabulary. Died of disease

MACDONNELL

H

Sergeant Major, South African Light Horse. Died of disease

MARTEN

Leonard Humphrey

Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Wounded, Brakenlaagte, 30th October 1901, died of those wounds 5 November 1901 at Elandsfontein. Aged 22. Born December 1878.

MAWBY

G F

Private, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Died of disease

MIERS

Roland Hill Macdonald Capel

Lieutenant, Somersetshire Light Infantry attached South African Constabulary. Murdered by three Boers carrying white flag 25 September 1901 at Heidelberg, near, Riversdraai. Aged 25. Born April 1876 in Edinburgh. Son of Lieutenant-Colonel Capel H. Miers (Cameron Highlanders), of Stoke, Davenport.

Extract from The Last Post - Roll of Officers who fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner, published by Naval and Military Press:

Miers. - Lieut. Roland Hill Macdonald Capel Miers, Somersetshire Light Infantry (attached to South African Constabulary), was murdered at Riversdraai Sept. 25th, 1901, by a party of three Boers who approached his outpost carrying a white flag. He was the second son of Lieut-Col. Capel H. Miers, late of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, of Wingfield House, Stoke, Devonport; was born at Edinburgh, April, 1876, educated t the Oratory School, Edgbaston, and entered the Somersetshire Light Infantry from the 3rd Batt. in Dec., 1896, being promoted lieut. May, 1899. He was a good athlete, and won the Officers' Arm Championship middle - weight boxing in 1898 and 1899, and also Sandow's gold medal for physical development. Lieut. Miers was appointed to the South African Constabulary, Dec., 1900; in Jan., 1901, he raised the Utrecht Mounted Police, and was wounded Feb. 5th, but soon recovered. An interesting account of how this officer was murdered appeared in the Times, Nov. 9th, 1901. He appears to have ridden out to meet three Boers, who had been signalling with a white flag, conveying the idea that they wished to surrender. Lieut. Miers on approaching them was barbarously shot dead. A non-commissioned officer, who suspected that foul play had taken place, rode to search for Lieut. Miers, and found him lying dead with his faithful dog beside him. His murderer, a man named Solomon Van Aan, was afterwards tried, found guilty and shot at Heidelberg in June,1902. By the irony of fate, the firing party consisted of some of Lieut. Mier's own Regiment. When killed, Lieut. Miers was holding the temporary rank of capt. in the South African Constabulary.

MORRIS

E

Private, Coldstream Guards. Killed in action

MURPHY

D

Sapper, Royal Engineers. Died of disease. See also Chatham Royal Engineers Memorial

MUSKETT

Frederick

[Listed as Corporal on the memorial] Private 3067, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in action 6 January 1900 at Suffolk Hill. Resident Badwell Ash. Commemorated on Suffolk Hill Memorial, Colesberg, South Africa. Also listed on Bury St Edmunds Boer War, Cambridge Boer War, Ipswich Boer War.

NICHOLAS

C

Trooper, Bechuanaland Mounted Infantry. Died of wounds received in action

O’NEILL

M M

Private, Grenadier Guards. Died of disease

RAWLE

J H

Sergeant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action

REES

T

Driver, O Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Died of disease. Also listed on the Royal Artillery Memorial, London

RICHARDS

T

Corporal, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action

THOMAS

H

Trooper, Colonel Plummer’s Force. Killed in action

THOMAS

R

Private, Railway Corps. Died of disease

THOMAS

S G

Trooper, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Killed in action

THOMAS

W J C

Cyclist, Rhodesia Horse. Killed in action

TIPLING

J

Quartermaster Sergeant 4164, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of enteric 17th April 1900 at Heilbron. Aged 25. Buried in the Town Cemetery, Heilbron. See also Haverfordwest Memorial

WARNER

A

Sergeant, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Killed in action

WILKINSON

G

Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action

WILLIAMS

W

Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action

WILLIAMS

W F

Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action

WINSTONE

C

Trooper 30511, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died of disease 9 Fenruary 1902 at Heilbron. Aged 20. Buried in the Town Cemetery, Heilbron. See also Haverfordwest Memorial

Last updated 30 November, 2016

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