TOPIC:

Sergeant 2903 John James Chatwin, 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment

John’s Army service record no longer exists but while serving in the Boer War 1899-1902 he wrote several letters home to his elder brother, Josiah who passed three of them, two from 1900 & one from 1901, on to the editor of the Smethwick Telephone. Sadly, John made a fourth appearance in the Smethwick Telephone in 1902 when his death was announced.

Before moving on to the letters some earlier family history. Both Josiah and John were born in Smethwick in 1866 and 1872 respectively. Their father, William was a labourer and their mother was named Obedience. I think it better if I don’t make further comment on the latter. At the time of the 1881 census the family were living in Cross Street, Smethwick and Josiah was a “brass worker” whilst John was still at school. By the time of the 1891 census Josiah, still a brass worker had married (1889) and had a 10 day old daughter who is described on the return as “Baby, name N. K.” (the 1901 census resolves the matter – Edith). John cannot be found on the 1891 census and the Smethwick Telephone tells us the reason – he enlisted in the Army in 1890.

Taking things chronologically here is the first of his letters which was written three months after he arrived in South Africa and indicates he started the Boer War as a Private.

Smethwick Telephone Saturday August 25th 1900.

A GOOD WORD FOR GENERAL RUNDLE

Writing from Willow Grange near Ficksburg, Orange Free State, on July 11th Private J Chatwin of the 1st Batt. South Staffordshire Regiment, gives the following interesting particulars:- “Golden syrup 1s 9d per tin, soap and oatmeal 1s per lb., jam 1s 6d per lb, matches 1s 6d per doz (have been 2s), bacon 1s, cheese 2s 6d, butter 3s &c, &c, and a man is sent in once a week to Ficksburg to fetch what is required and had to carry it back here, so you see living is dear here.” Continuing he says – “All the troops are full of vermin. We received tents the same day as we got the mail (July 9th). Up to a fortnight ago we had only one blanket between two men, and then they issued another blanket per man, and now we have another making five between two men. We want them as well, as the nights are very frosty, and we do outpost two days and in camp (some of us) two days. Enteric fever has broken out, and the Volunteer service company have three died and the Regiment about 18. The volunteers have had 42 casualties altogether, with sickness, deaths and men who have been invalided home, out of about 120 men. We are still hanging on here for reinforcements. The Boers attacked Ficksburg about eight days ago and received a warm reception from “C” company. They caught them on the barbed wire. Our casualties were nil, and the Boers took their dead and wounded away with them (except two dead horses). They are trying to break through every night, as I expect they are running short of provisions. If we go out of camp for a mile we have the snipers on us very quick. I think as soon as this lot here are settled the war will not last long, and it is rumoured the 8th division will garrison Bloemfontein and the towns close by on conclusion of the war. If we do, I suppose we shall stop about two years. We were at Klip Drift when we received the news of Lord Roberts entering Pretoria and three hearty cheers were given, while there was a double issue of rum to celebrate the occasion. . . . . The men think a lot of Sir Leslie Rundle, as he is the man who will not waste a life if there is no need for it. He has visited us here, and has praised us twice for successful reconnaissances. . . . Our big gun (40 yards above us) has just fired twice in quick succession at our friends opposite, so I expect we shall be on the warpath in a few minutes time if they do not retire, and drive them back again.”

His second letter was written only a fortnight later and he seems to have gone very rapidly three rungs up the promotion ladder – perhaps the ST editor got his rank wrong the first time because there is no doubt, from the battalion medal rolls, that he ended the war a Sergeant.

Smethwick Telephone Saturday November 24th 1900

SMETHWICK MAN DESCRIBES BOER TREACHERY

Mr J Chatwin, of Rolfe Street, Smethwick has received another interesting letter from his brother, Sergeant J Chatwin, of the 1st battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, which forms part of the 8th Division in South Africa under General Rundle. Writing from Harrismith, Orange River Colony on September 27th he gives a detailed account of operations in which his company has taken part since September 4th and from this it would seem that they have had many brushes with the enemy. He states that on the 21st they proceeded about 20 miles and camped about 13 miles west of Bethlehem. My company was on flank guard and we got to camp at 7-30 p.m. It was 10 p.m. before all the baggage arrived and we got our blankets and were getting down for a sleep, when my company and 4 more of our battalion and two companies of the Worcesters were selected to proceed to Bethlehem at 12 midnight and hold a nek to prevent the enemy from getting out of the town, as 3,000 Boers were reported to be there. We had our dinner served at three minutes to 12, and fell in at 12 midnight, and shortly after fell out to await further orders, we did not fall in again until 4 a.m. When we got to Bethlehem the Boers had fled, except one, whom the Yeomanry scouts found in the hills. As soon as he saw the scouts he threw up his arms as a sign of surrender, and when they went to arrest him he shot a scout twice. They chased the Boer for half-an-hour and captured him, and he was tried same day and sentenced to be shot next day (Sunday). Our battalion left Bethlehem at 5-30 a.m. on Sunday (23rd) for Harrismith as escort to a convoy, and came in contact with the enemy. The Yeomanry were scouting on the left flank and a man beckoned them to come towards him, and they went. He turned out to be a commander of a small force of Boers and thought the Yeomanry were his own men and the Yeomen thought he was a Britisher. Needless to say the commander is a prisoner with us. The Boers had two prisoners of Driscoll’s Scouts with them, and when our scouts were chasing them they (the enemy) shot the prisoners rather than lose them. One was dead and the other was left for dead, but was alive and told his story, and we brought him to Harrismith with us.”

The Smethwick Telephone editor seems to have had a fondness for headlines coupling the Boers with treachery. Today shooting prisoners out of hand would be considered a war crime.

In the first two letters John comes across as quite chipper but in his only partially reported third letter he does not seem so chipper and that may be why more of the letter was not quoted. Perhaps the disease that killed him was beginning to take its toll on his morale. The date this was written is not given but presumably noy long after Christmas 1900.

Smethwick Telephone Saturday March 2nd 1901

CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE FIGHTING LINE

A description of how Christmas Day was spent by the soldiers in the fighting line is given by Sergt. J Chatwin, in a letter to his brother (Mr J Chatwin, Rolfe Street). They were marching all day, and had the “ordinary hard biscuits” so that the festive day was not a very enjoyable one. Subsequent events are dealt with, and the troops, he says, are getting ragged again. Lots of them are marching with sack-bags round their loins instead of trousers, while others have to ride on the wagons on account of their boots having worn through.

I guess an unenjoyable Christmas Day is not too much cause for concern but the lack of trousers and decent boots is rather horrifying.

Then six months after the war ended we learn of his death at the age of 30.

Smethwick Telephone Saturday November 29th 1902

HOME FROM THE WAR: A SERGEANT’S SAD DEATH

The circumstances which surround the death of Sergeant J. Chatwin, of the 1st South Staffs Regiment, are particularly sad. After serving through all the South African War along with General Rundle’s columns, he returned home a short time ago suffering from an affection of the throat. He was invalided from the Cape but made such progress on the voyage home, that he was able to come to his friends at White Road, Smethwick, instead of going to Netley. However, the trouble become aggravated, and he succumbed on Tuesday last. The deceased had been in the army for twelve years, the last having been spent in the recent campaign. He had gained early promotion, and since his return he had been selected for a position as colour-sergeant in his regiment, but he had had to decline the distinction. We have been able to publish several interesting letters from Sergeant Chatwin, and it is very sad after experiencing the hardships of such a long term of active service that he should that he should home to die of consumption. The deceased was greatly respected among a large circle of acquaintances in the town, while the esteem in which he was held in the army will be recognised by a full military funeral. This will take place at the Uplands Cemetery tomorrow (Sunday) at 3 p.m. It is expected that officers and comrades from Lichfield, the headquarters of the deceased’s regiment, will attend. Members of the Volunteer Corps are requested to assemble in White Road at 2.15.

Netley was Netley Military Hospital built on the shores of Southampton Water in response to the Crimean War – at a quarter of a mile long it was for a time considered the longest building in the war. It was badly designed despite Florence Nightingale having a say but coped with the wounded & sick who were invalided home during the Boer War. The same cannot be said of WW1 despite it being doubled in capacity by the building of temporary buildings in the grounds.

John’s probate record shows he died at 2 White Road, Smethwick on 25th November 1902 and his home was 5 Union Passage, Smethwick (Union Passage used to run off Cross Street where he lived as a boy).

The battalion medal rolls show he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps –“Cape Colony”, “Wittenberg” & “Transvaal” and the King’s south Africa Medal with 2 clasps – “South Africa 1901” & “South Africa 1902”. His “Deceased Soldier’s Effects” record confirms he enlisted in 1890 on the 4th October and shows he was working as a “Turner” at the time. It also indicates his brother, Josiah as his “legatee” received payments totalling £92 18s 4d.

What of Josiah? – by the time of the 1901 census he had gone into business on his own account as a “Stationer & Newsagent” in Rolfe Street. Rolfe Street was a good address for a newsagents with Smethwick’s main railway station (opened in 1852), the swimming baths (opened in 1888 and where the author learnt to swim) and the Theatre Royal (1897) all located there. It also shows Edith now had two brothers. Josiah gets several mentions on his own account in the Smethwick Telephone, mainly as a proposer or seconder of candidates standing for election to Smethwick Council. The one that catches the eye comes from the Smethwick Telephone of Saturday February 1st, 1913:

THE CHILDREN’S COURT

A boy was ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod for embezzling 7d., the moneys of his employer, Josiah Chatwin, newsagent. The lad was employed as a newsboy, and it was alleged collected money which he did not account for. The total deficiency was said to be 10 shillings.

So, Josiah was obviously careful with his money and in October 1931 he could afford to visit the USA aboard the “Britannic” – strangely his wife did not accompany him. His probate shows that by the time of his death he had retired to Bliss Gate Cottage near Bewdley in rural Worcestershire. He died 6th November 1941 aged 75.