Officers
who died in the Boer War 1899-1902
extracted from The
"Last Post" being a roll of all officers
(Naval, Military or Colonial) who gave their lives
for Their Queen, King and Country, in the South African
War, 1899-1902. by Mildred G. Dooner. J. B. Hayward
& Son. 1980.
Queen's South Africa
Medal (obv)
Clasps shown –
Paardeberg, Driefontein, Relief of Kimberly
| Aldworth, William A. (D.S.O.),
Lt-Col., Passed Staff College, was killed
in action, near Paardeberg, Feb. 18th, 1900.
He was the eldest surviving son of the late
Col. Robert Aldworth, of co. Cork, and Claremont,
Dorking (formerly of the 94th Foot and north
Cork Rifles), was born Oct., 1855, and educated
at Rossall and Clifton. Lieut.-Col. Aldworth
entered the 16th Foot June, 1874, being promoted
capt. March, 1881, major Feb., 1893, brevet-lieut.-co.
May, 1898, and lieut.-col. to command the
2nd Batt. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
in the following Oct. He was adjutant of the
1st Bat. Bedfordshire Regt. from Oct., 1877
to March 1881, and held an interpreter's certificate
in Russian. Lieut.-Col. ALdworth was an enthusiastic
sportsman, and a first-rate rider. He served
with the Burmese Expedition 1885-86 as A.D.C.
and Acting Military Secretary to Sir Harry
Prendergast, was mentioned in despatches,
and received the D.S.O. and medal with clasp.
He was also A.D.C. in Madras 1886-87, and
served with the Isazai Expedition 1892, and
with the Chitral Relief Force, under Sir Robert
Low, 1895, with the 1st Batt. Bedfordshire
Regt.; including the storming of the Malakand
Pass, and the engagement near Kahr, receiving
the medal with clasp. He also took part in
the campaign on the North-West Frontier of
India, under the late SIr William Lockhart,
1897-98, with the Tirah Expeditionary Force,
as D.A.A.G. 2nd Brigade, and with the Khyber
Force, as D.A.A.G. 1898, was present at the
forcing of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes,
in the operations against the Chamkanis in
the Bazaar Valley; being mentioned in despatches,
and granted the brevet of lieut.-col. and
two clasps. Lieut-Col. Aldworth fell near
Paardeberg, while leading his battalion and
calling to them "we will make the name
of the Cornwalls ring in the ears of the world,
boys," was struck down, but raising himself
on his elbow he continued to urge his men
forward, his last words being "go on
men and finish it." He is buried close
to where he fell. Maj.-Gen. Smith-Dorrien
reported "he deeply deplored the loss
of this gallant and distinguished officer."
Lieut.-Col. Aldworth was mentioned in despatches
by F.-M. Earl Roberts, London Gazette, Feb.
8th, 1901, as having "rendered conspicuously
valuable services." A memorial has been
erected in Cork Cathedral to the memory of
Lieut.-Col. Aldworth. |
| Bickford-Smith, George
Percy, Capt., died at Heilbron from wounds
received in action, on May 30th, 1901. He
was the second son of the late Mr. W. Bickford-Smith,
of Trevarno, Cornwall, educated at Leys School,
Cambridge, 1884-90, and entered the 1st V.B.
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1893,
being promoted capt. June 27th, 1900. He joined
the I.Y. in March, 1901, with the rank of
2nd lieut., and served in Cape and Orange
River Colonies. |
| Butler, Lieut. Stanley J. H. Butler,
Cornwall and Devon Miners Royal Garrison Artillery
(Militia), died of enteric at Standerton June
6th, 1902. He was attached to the 53rd Battery
Royal Field Artillery, and also served with
the I.Y. with the local rank of lieut. in
the army from June 25th, 1901. |
| Cowlard, Edward G., Lt.
attached 2nd Batt. DCLI, died of enteric at
Springfontein, on 05 Mar 1901. He was the
second son of C. L. Cowlard, Esq., Clerk of
the Peace for the County of Cornwall. Lieut.
Cowlard was 23 years of age, and educated
at Marlborough. He was a Lieut. in the 2nd
Volunteer Batt., and was granted the rank
of Lieut. in the Army on proceeding to South
Africa, in March, 1900, as one of the officers
of the Volunteer Company attached to the DCLI.
His name is inscribed on a tablet placed in
the Marborough College Chapel in memory of
all Marlburians who fell in the War. |
| Fife, Hugh Wharton, Lt.
Was killed in action at Johannesburg 30 May
1900, when serving with Sir Ian Hamilton's
division. He was born Dec. 1870, and educated
at Bradfield College, 1886-90, where he was
in the cricket and football teams. He afterwards
went to Cambridge University, and entered
the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as
a University Candidate 1891, passing first
on that list, and received his commission
as 2nd Lieut. April, 1893, being promoted
Lieut. Aug. 1896. In South Africa he first
served with the Kimberley Relief Force and
was wounded at Graspan. He was afterwards
present at Paardeberg, and the advance on
Bloemfontein and Johannesburg. |
| Jervis-Edwards, Cecil Bradney
(Passed Staff College), Maj. Was killed in
action at Mondewens, near Dundee, 28 Jul 1901.
He was born in Feb. 1866, entered the DCLI
Aug. 1885, being promoted Capt. Oct. 1893,
and received the brevet rank of Major Nov.
1900. He was adjutant of his battalion from
1893-97, was a good linguist, and qualified
as an interpreter in French. He served with
the Wuntho Expedition, 1891-92, in command
of a detachment of the 1st battalion of his
regiment, receiving the medal with clasp.
He was employed on special service in South
Africa from Oct. to Dec. 1899, was then appointed
A.D.C. to Major General Coke, commanding the
10th Infantry Brigade, and also served as
Brigade Major, being present at the Relief
of Ladysmith. In Oct. 1900, he was appointed
a Staff Officer for Intelligence, and was
mentioned in the despatches of Gen. Sir Redvers
Buller, March 30th, June 19th, and Nov. 9th,
1900, London Gazette, Feb. 8th, 1901, and
was promoted to a brevet majority for his
services. |
| Libby, Arthur Treleven,
Lt. 2nd Bn. Died of enteric at Johannesburg
06 Nov 1901. The younger son of Capt. Libby,
R.N., Cambridge Place, Falmouth, he was born
Feb. 1878, and educated at Kelly College,
Tavistock, from which he passed direct into
Sandhurst, 1896, and entered his regiment
Feb. 1898, being promoted Lieut. Oct. 1899.
Lieut. Libby accompanied his battalion to
South Africa at the commencement of war, was
first employed at Capetown, and afterwards
took part in the the advance on Johannesburg
and Pretoria, and was present in all the actions
in which his battalion took part, after the
occupation of Bloemfontein. He contracted
enteric early in 1901, but returned to duty
after ten weeks' illness, and was afterwards,
at Helvetia, employed escorting convoys towards
Lydenburg. In Oct. 1901, he contracted malarial
fever in the Komati Valley, and was sent to
Johannesburg, where he died, being buried
in the cemetery there. A Cornish granite cross
has been erected over his grave. |
| Newbury, Bertram Archdale,
Capt. Was killed in action 18 Feb 1900 near
Paardeberg. H
|
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