Casualties amongst doctors and surgeons

Aldred, Civil Surgeon J W

Died at Kroonstad on January 1st, 1901.  He volunteered for active service at the beginning of the war, and sailed for South Africa November 7th, 1899.  He was educated at the Grammar School, Manchester, where he was in the classical fifth, and among the first eleven reserves for cricket when he left in 1893.

Bryant, Civil Surgeon H, attached Royal Army Medical Corps

Died of enteric while on service in South Africa.

Davies, Civil Surgeon Herbert, Welsh Military Hospital

He died at Springfontein of dysentery, June 19th, 1900.  He was the son of Henry Davies JP of Cams Lodge, near Lancaster, and was 26 years of age.  Educated at Shrewsbury School, and Owen's College, Manchester, he took the MB and ChB Degrees at Victoria University in 1898.  He had been House Physician at the Brompton Hospital for Consumption, and was House Surgeon to the Royal Infirmary, Man­chester.  At the commencement of the war, he volunteered for active service, and proceeded soon after­wards to South Africa. (See Captain Moor)

Elliott, Civil Surgeon Albert Ernest, MA

Died of enteric at Middelburg, December 1st, 1900.  He was the youngest son of T Elliott of Bassett Mount, Southampton, was 31 years of age, and edu­cated at Cheltenham, and St John's College, Cambridge.  He got his "blue" for Rugby in 1891, and his International cap for England in 1898.  After leaving Cambridge, he pursued his studies at St Thomas's Hospital, taking the diplomas of MRCS and LRCP in 1898, and was for some time Resident Medical Officer at Queen Charlotte's Lying-in-Hospital.  At the outbreak of the war, he was one of the first to offer his services, and at the end of 1899 was sent to Natal, where he was attached to No. 4 Field Hospital.  He moved with the hospital to Spearman's Farm, and was there during the battles of Spion Kop and Vaal Kranz, then back to Chieveley, and after­wards on to Ladysmith.  Sir F Treves wrote concerning him: 'He was an admirable surgeon, and if I saw a figure going round the tents at unusual hours of the night, I knew it was Elliott. The soldiers were much attached to him, and he to them".  He was in medical charge of the 21st, 42nd, and 53rd Batteries at the time of his death.  On November 13th, he went out for a five days march, although he had been ill and in hospital for the previous fortnight.  He insisted however that he was petfectly well, and went with the column, only to get a relapse, from which he died on December 1^st.  He was mentioned in despatches for his services.  Surgeon Elliott, who was unmarried, was buried in Middelburg cemetery, and a cross was erected over his grave.  His name is inscribed on the Eleanor Cross War Memorial at Cheltenham College.

Engelbach, Civil Surgeon

He was killed in action in 1900, during the first part of the war.  He was mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Earl Roberts, LG, September 10th, 1901, for his services.

Fits-Hugh, Civil Surgeon R T

Died at Deelfontein of enteric June 15th, 1900.  He was 28 years of age, educated at Shrewsbury School, and when there was in the eleven for both cricket and football. (See Captain Moor)

Fort, Civil Surgeon Percy Reginald

He died of enteric on February 18th, 1902.  He was the youngest son of James Fort, formerly of the 5th Dragoon Guards, was born in 1874, and educated at Merchant Taylors' School,  He entered St Mary's Hospital 1895, and qualified as MRCS and LRCP in 1900.  He then served as medical officer at York Dispensary, and while holding that position offered his services to the military authorities.  He proceeded to South Africa in July 1901, in the Hospital Ship Simla in which he did duty for three voyages.  He was then appointed to the 8^th Mounted Infantry, and served with Colonel Rawlinson's column; and whilst employed at Ermelo he contracted enteric and died afterwards at Standerton.

Grigg, Civil Surgeon Chapman, MD

Died of enteric at Wynberg, March 12th, 1900.  He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey.

Hughes, Professor A W, Welsh Hospital

He died during the war.  He had rendered valuable service.  Field Marshal Earl Roberts in his despatch of April 2nd 1901, LG, April 16th 1901, mentions him and states that none but those on the spot can realise how much the Welsh Hospital under Professors Jones and Hughes contributed to the comfort and well-being of the sick and wounded.

Jones, Professor Thomas, FRCS

He died of enteric at Springfontein.  He was the chief of the Welsh Military Hospital in South Africa, a professor of Owens College, a leading honorary member of the Manchester Infirmary and Hospital Staff, and a renowned operator.  After leaving Guy's Hospital he settled in Manchester.  When the Welsh Hospital was formed, Professor Jones was asked to take charge of it, which position he accepted and proceeded to South Africa.  In mentioning his services Field Marshal Earl Roberts in his despatch, LG, April 16th, 1901, states "that none but those on the spot can realise how much the Welsh Hospital, under Professors Jones and Hughes, contributed to the comfort and well-being of the sick and wounded".

Parsons, Civil Surgeon C E

He died of enteric at Harrismith December 1900.  He was educated at Dover College, and rendered good service during the war.

Reid, Civil Surgeon G F

He was killed in action at Tweefontein in De Wet's attack on Christmas morning, 1901.  Surgeon Reid was a widower, and previous to the war was practising at Bethlehem but on Mr Kruger sending his ultimatum, and war having become inevitable, Surgeon Reid offered his services, which were afterwards accepted.  After the advance of Field Marshal Earl Roberts into the Transvaal and the capture of Pretoria, Surgeon Reid served with the 3rd Division in the East of the ORC.  He was later on doing duty at Harrismith, and being anxious to go to Bethlehem, where he possessed some property, Surgeon Reid volunteered to accompany, and proceeded with a column en route for that place.  He was then employed with the forces protecting the Blockhouse line, and fell in the Boer attack on Tweefontein.  He was well known in this district, and was beloved by all, both British and Boer, and the latter expressed the greatest sorrow at his death.  He was buried in the military cemetery at Harrismith, a large crowd of civilians and soldiers having been present at his funeral.  A cross marked his grave, and his name was inscribed on an obelisk which was erected at Tweefontein in memory of all those who fell in this action.

Robertson, Civil Surgeon Charles Moir

He died at Brugspruit, October 25th, 1901.

Stark, Dr Arthur Cowell, MB

He died from injuries received by a Boer shell while standing in the doorway of the Royal Hotel, Ladysmith.  The shell took off one leg and injured the other, and Dr Stark succumbed in an hour.  He was the eldest son of J Cowell Stark of Torquay, and was educated at Blundell's School, Tiverton, and Clifton College.  He afterwards matriculated at Edinburgh University, and was an accomplished naturalist, a great traveller, and one of the first ornithologists of the day.  In September 1899, he was in Durban, and war being declared he offered his services, which were accepted.  He left Durban for Ladysmith with the last batch of officers who succeeded in entering that town, and rendered good service during the siege.

Stokes, Surgeon Sir William, KCB

He died at the Base Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, of pleurisy, August 18th, 1900.  He was one of those distinguished surgeons who, at the end of 1899, responded to the call of his Sovereign and country and came forward to assist the Empire.  He was then appointed a consulting surgeon to the army in South Africa.  He was born in March 1839, and educated at the Royal School, Armagh, and Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated as BA in 1859.  He became a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, in 1862, and took his degree in medicine and surgery in the University of Dublin, 1863.  After two years further study in Berlin, Paris, Vienna, and London, he commenced practice in Dublin.  In June 1886, he was made a KCB, and in 1892 became Surgeon in Ordinary in Ireland to her Majesty Queen Victoria.  He was an excellent writer, having written much on clinical and operative surgery; and his favourite recreations were music and travelling.  Many of those who were wounded in the Natal campaign, and had the happiness and good fortune to come under his care, look back with gratitude to his skill and gentleness in dealing with their cases.  In Natal he was chiefly in the hospitals of Mooi River, Pietermaritzburg, and in Ladysmith after the siege was raised.  Believing the war would be over in July 1900, he had arranged if his services were not further required to return home.  Some time previously Sir W Stokes had been ill from the effects of overwork, and went to Durban for a change.  Writing on June 28th, he said "I am getting quite well again" and expressed a hope to soon get back to Maritzburg and Newcastle, "as there are cases waiting for me".  He returned to work early in July and having visited the hospitals at Volksrust and Charlestown, he was again taken ill at Maritzburg on August 15th, and died after three days illness.  He was buried in the cemetery at Fort Napier, and was interred with military honours, his appointment carrying the rank of a general officer.  He was mentioned by Field Marshal Earl Roberts in his despatch of April 2nd, 1901, who wrote that the services rendered by Sir W Stokes "were of incalculable value".