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Barrington died young - taken not by a bullet but by the scourge of the Boer War - Enteric Fever

William D’Olier Barrington

Captain and Officer Commanding 38th Company, Royal Engineers

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal to Capt W.D.O. Barrington, R.E.

- Kings South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 to Cpt. W.D.O. Barrington, R.E

William Barrington came from Irish stock. Born in Woolwich, Kent on 17 August 1870 he was the son of Joseph Thomas Barrington and his wife Emma, born Evans. Joseph Barrington was a military man attaining the rank of Colonel in the Royal Artillery and Ordnance before retiring. He was stationed in Woolwich at the time of William’s birth.


A group of 38th Coy. R.E. officers in the Boer war

William’s formative years seem to have been spent on the “Rock” as Gibraltar is affectionately known. That the family were there is confirmed by the birth of his sister Anne in Gibraltar in 1873 as well as the Presbyterian Church Register of Baptisms for Gibraltar which confirms that Barrington was baptised on 6 November 1870. By the time the 1881 England census rolled round the Barrington’s had returned to England and were, once more, in residence in Woolwich. The family at 3 Dockyard Road was a large one with 10 year old William joined in the house by his parents and siblings Richard Mordaunt Barrington (15), Thomas Percy Barrington (13), Annie Evelyn Barrington (7) and Joseph Croker Barrington (1). Servants there were in the form of Mary Cadogan, Sarah Moses and Emma Warn. Joseph Barrington was at the time the Deputy Commissary General for the Army.

Given his father’s profession it was almost predestined that William would spend his life in a soldier’s uniform. In the London Gazette of August 5th 1890 his name appeared under the heading “The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military Academy, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 25th July 1890.” So there we have it – a 20 year old William was now a commissioned officer in Her Majesty’s Army.

Hot on the heels of the Gazette entry came the 1891 England census wherein William appears in the Upper and Lower Chatham Barracks as a Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers. Shortly after this came the London Gazette of 1 August 1893 wherein it was announced that Barrington was promoted to full Lieutenant with effect from 25 July of that year.

Now an officer with some experience Barrington was more than likely ready and willing to serve his county abroad. His chance came with the advent of the Anglo Boer War which erupted onto the world stage in October 1899. Quite when he sailed to South Africa is unknown but he served with the 38th Company of the R.E. from 7 January 1900.

The 38th Company had been well employed upon the line of communications in the war, where the presence of the Engineers was very necessary and was under command of Major A. W. Roper. A R.E. field company upon active service was provided with a large equipment of tools, explosives, and other technical materials to enable it to undertake all necessary engineering operations, including the construction of field defences, entrenchments, such as were used for sapping the enemy's position at Paardeberg, making or destroying railways, roads, etc.

A field company also carried with it a certain amount of bridging material to enable small streams and rivers to be crossed without the help of the pontooning troops. In an ordinary way, a field company was able to build a bridge 45-ft. long for the passage of all arms, and light bridging to the extent of 75-ft. for infantry. When field fortification had to be undertaken upon a large scale, the field companies of the sappers superintend the work, which was mainly executed by working parties supplied by the infantry. The Engineers, however, provided labour as well as necessary tools from their equipment - this Was Barrington’s world where, according to the “War Services of the Officers of the Royal Engineers”, he took part in the operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria and in the Orange River Colony.

On the 3rd July 1901 Barrington was promoted to the rank of Captain. It was soon after this that, whilst stationed in Bloemfontein, he became the Officer Commanding 38th Coy. R.E. moving to General Elliot’s Divisional Staff at some point thereafter.

For his efforts he was awarded the Queens and Kings Medals.

The Boer War was characterised by the fatality rate among the combatants from illness which far exceeded those killed in action. William Barrington was to number among those who succumbed to illness. Somewhere during the course of the war he contacted Enteric Fever and passed away at Potchefstroom on 13 May 1903 at the young age of 33. The Reading Mercury of Saturday, 23 May 1903 contained a snippet which read thus,

"Captain William D'Olier Barrington, of the Royal Engineers, has died at Potchefstroom, in the Transvaal, of enteric fever, at the age of 32"

His Probate entry read as follows, “William D’Olier Barrington of Clare-Lodge, West-Park, Eltham Kent died 13 May 1903 at Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa. Administration 28 January to Joseph Thomas Barrington, Colonel in H.M army. Effects £169.

Very nice indeed, once again, I do like to see the handsome engraved naming, always very pleasing and beautiful in it's own right, a great shame that the recipient never actually got to wear them.

Thanks Frank

I would very much like to get a photo of him but the chances are slim.

A snapshot of his grave would also be a bonus.

Regards

Rory

Hello Rory,

Another fine addition to the collection.
I agree with Frank the addition on the engraved style of the medal does enhance it.
Another fine write up as always.

Paul

Well, I certainly don't see any particular reason why you should not have a photograph, unless none exist and I should start with the Royal Engineers own museum and library at Gillingham in Kent, I was afforded considerable assistance when looking at a certain Edward Mannock many years ago.

Rory wrote: Thanks Frank

I would very much like to get a photo of him but the chances are slim.

A snapshot of his grave would also be a bonus.

Regards

Rory

Rory,

Here you are. Note the slight differences in date of death,age and also his Company to what you have given.

Rory wrote: Thanks Frank

I would very much like to get a photo of him but the chances are slim.

A snapshot of his grave would also be a bonus.

Regards

Rory