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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

Queen's South Africa Medal (obv)

Clasps shown – Paardeberg, Driefontein, Relief of Kimberly

Bentley. - Lieut. Oliver Tyser Bentley, 2nd Batt. Worcestershire Regt., was killed in action at Bethlehem, Dec. 29th, 1900. He was born in March, 1880, entered the Worcestershire Regt. from the 4th Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, April, 1900, and was promoted lieut. the following Sept.
Crealock. - Capt. Stradling Louis Vaughan Crealock, was killed in action in the operations on the Tugela, Feb. 21st, 1900. He was born in July, 1860, and joined the Somersetshire Light Infantry as lieut. Sept. 1884, having previously served five years in the ranks of the Leicestershire Regt., and was promoted capt. June, 1890. He served in the Burmese Expedition of 1886-87, with the 2nd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, receiving the medal, with clasp. He is buried close to where he fell under Fort Wyllie, and near the village of Colenso.
Keith-Falconer. - Lieut. Victor Francis Alexander Keith-Falconer, 2nd Batt., was killed in action at Hussar Hill, near the Tugela, Feb. 21st, 1900. He was a son of the late Major the Hon. Charles James Keith-Falconer, and a grandson of the seventh Earl of Kintore, was born Oct., 1869, and educated at Charterhouse. He entered the Somersetshire Light Infantry March, 1890, being promoted lieut. Aug., 1893. Lieut. Keith-Falconer served in the campaign on the North-West Frontier of India, under the late Sir William Lockhart, in 1897, with the Mohmand Field Force, as adjutant to his battalion, receiving the medal with clasp. For his services in South Africa he was mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, Feb. 8th, 1901. He is buried close to where he fell, near Fort Wyllie and the village of Colenso. The names of both the above officers are inscribed in a framed tablet placed in the Court House of the Spelthorne Division of Middlesex, in memory of those belonging to the Division who fell in the war; their names are also engraved on the tablet in the War memorial Cloister erected at Charterhouse.
Maddocks. - Lieut. Thomas Brassey Maddocks, 2nd Batt., was shot through the heart during the re-occupation of Potchefstroom, Sept. 10th, 1900. He was born Sept., 1874, educated at Shrewsbury School, and entered the Somersetshire Light Infantry, Dec., 1895, from the 3rd Batt. Shropshire Light Infantry, being promoted lieut. October, 1898. Lieut. Maddocks accompanied his battalion to South Africa in Oct., 1899, and served with the Natal Field Force. At the time of his death he was acting on the staff of Major-Gen. Hart-Synnot.
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.
Parr. - 2nd Lieut. John Clements Parr, 2nd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, was killed in action in the operations on the Tugela Feb. 21st, 1900. He was the son of the late Gen. William Chase Parr, Indian Staff Corps, of King's Holt, Hants, and nephew of Major-Gen. Hallam Parr, late commanding the 1st Battalion Somersetshire Light Infantry, and now commanding the North Western District. 2nd Lieut. Parr was born in April, 188o, educated at Winchester, entered his regiment Feb., 1899, and accompanied the 2nd battalion to South Africa the following Oct. He is buried close to where he fell, under Fort Wyllie, and near the village of Colenso.
Reeves.- 2nd Lieut. Evelyn Layard Reeves, 4th Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, was accidentally drowned while crossing a spruit near Baily, Oct. 29th, 1901. He was the eldest son of E. Gordon Reeves, Esq., of Ceylon, and was in his twentieth year. He was educated at Marlborough, and entered the 4th Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry in June, 1900, and joined it in South Africa the following December, and served with it up to the time of his death. His name is inscribed on a tablet placed in Marlborough College Chapel in memory of all MarIburians who fell in the war.
Reid.- Lieut. James Cunninghame Corsane Reid, 3rd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, was killed in action at Nooitgedacht, Dec. 13th, 1900. He was the eldest son of the late John James Reid, Esq., Queen's Remembrancer for Scotland, of Mouswald Place, Dumfriesshire, and of Mrs. Reid, Of 24, the Avenue, Eastbourne. Lieut. Reid was born in Oct., 1881, and educated at Malvern College. He entered the 3rd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry in Nov., 1899, being promoted lieut. Aug., 1900. Soon after the commencement of the war he volunteered for active service, and was attached to the 1st Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for duty with the rank of 2nd lieut. in the army from March 7th 1900. He was subsequently sent to Bloemfontein, after the occupation of that town. He was then posted to the M.I. and served in the force under Lieut.-Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton in the advance to Pretoria. Lieut. Reid saw much service, and was present at Diamond Hill and Wittebergen, and was awarded the medal with four clasps.
Vallentin.- Brevet-Major John Maximilian Vallentin, passed staff college, Somersetshire Light Infantry, was killed in action at Onverwacht, Ermelo District, on Jan. 4th, 1902. He was the son of Sir J. Vallentin, was born in Feb., 1865, and educated at Haileybury. He entered the Somersetshire Light Infantry Feb., 1885, was promoted capt. June, 1892, and brevet-major Nov., 1900. In Aug., 1888, he married Helen Mary, daughter of Col. Carnegy. He served in the Burmese Expedition of 1886-87 with the 2nd battalion of his regiment, and received the medal with clasp. He graduated at the Staff College in 1897, and before the outbreak of the war in South Africa was brigade-major at Ladysmith, Natal. On the re-distribution of the brigades of the Natal Field Force, after the arrival of Sir George White, Major Vallentin was appointed brigade-major to Lieut.-Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton. At the battle of Elandslaagte, Major Vallentin behaved with conspicuous gallantry in rallying the flank attack during the most critical phase of the assault. He served throughout the siege of Ladysmith until Jan., when he had a severe attack of enteric. When convalescent, he elected to return to his c ief, Sir 1. Hamilton, and joined him at Bloemfontein just after his appointment to the command of a division. After the occupation of Heidelberg, Major Vallentin was appointed Commissioner of that town. In the autumn. of 1900, while holding this position, he was sent out with one of F.-M. Earl Roberts' Proclamations to a commando in his neighbourhood, and lived with the Boers for a week as their guest while the object of his visit was under discussion. He then returned to military duty, and saw much service during 1901. He met his death while pursuing with about fifty men some Boers under Oppermann and Christian Botha, who were several hundreds strong; his party suffered severely, but Oppermarin was killed. Major Vallentin was mentioned in despatches by Gen. Sir George White on Dec. 2nd, 1899, from Ladysmith, and again in the despatch of March 23rd, 1900, London Gazette, Feb. 8th, 1901; also in the despatches of Gen. Lord Kitchener, July 28th, 1901, and of Aug. 8th, 1901, this latter making the fourth occasion on which he was mentioned during the war. He was awarded a brevet-majority for his services.
Walker.- Lieut. Claude Ernest MyIn Walker, 1st Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, was killed in action in the engagement at Wagon Hill, Ladysmith, Jan. 6th, 1900. He was born in Dec., 1875, and entered the Somersetshire Light Infantry from the 3rd Batt. Yorkshire Light Infantry, Dec., 1897, being promoted lieut. July, 1899. He served in the operations on the NorthWest Frontier of India, 1897-98, with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, for which he received the medal with clasp. Lieut. Walker was mentioned in despatches by Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. White, March 23rd, 1900, London Gazette Feb. 8th, 1901.

Willams.- 2nd Lieut. Raymond Henry Williams, 2nd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry, was wounded by the accidental discharge of his revolver while on outpost duty on Sept. 6th, 1901, and died the same day at Nigel. He was born in June, 1882, educated at Wellington, and entered the 4th Batt., Somersetshire Light Infantry in Oct., 1899. His battalion was embodied in Dec., 1899, and proceeded to South Africa in Feb., 1900. 2nd Lieut. Williams served with it for over a year and was then granted a commission in the Dorsetshire Regt. in Jan., 1901, being transferred to the 2nd Batt. Somersetshire Light Infantry in the following May and joined it in South Africa. He had thus served throughout the war from Feb., 1900.

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