TOPIC:

David Saks has very kindly sent me some photos of two recent memorials in South Africa : -
"The first is in memory of Harry Spanier, the first Jewish Boer fatality of the war. It was unveiled on the hundredth anniversary of the battle of Surprise Hill, near Ladysmith, where Spanier was mortally wounded, on 11 December 2009. Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft is giving the address."



"The other is of the monument to all Jews who died while serving on the Boer side, taken at the official unveiling ceremony in 2012. It is located on the Platrand (aka Wagon Hill-Caesar’s Camp) battlefield also outside Ladysmith."


My thanks to Mr. Saks for the images.

Incidentally, I see that Harry Spanier was from Columbus, Ohio, a city I've visited. I'll contact friends I have there to see if any information on him can be found.

Here are two photos of the ABW memorial plaque in Kimberley Synagogue, also sent to me by David Saks. I did try to contact the Kimberley Congregation, asking if someone could help with clearer photos, but I guess my email must have gone into their junk folder. Do we have anyone living in the Kimberley area?





Mr Saks also sent the Roll of Honour of Jews who died serving in the Imperial forces during the Anglo-Boer War, images attached below. I've transcribed the names, and tried to add the dates of death, where I can.


F. Aaron, Private Imperial Yeomanry died Marandellas 10.10.1900
S. Abraham, Corporal East Kent Regiment killed Driefontein
W. Abrahams, Private New South Wales Mounted Infantry killed at Abraham's Kraal 10.3.1900
C. Abrams, Sergeant King's Royal Rifles killed Glencoe 20.10.1899 [S. Abrams?]
J. Bamberger, Private West Riding Regiment died Bloemfontein 14.5.1900
B. Bettelheim, Private East Kent Regiment killed Paaredeberg
G. Blumfield 12th Lancers killed Modder River
Benjamin Blumson, Able Seaman H.M.S. "Powerful" died Ladysmith 22.12.1899
S. Cappleman, Private King's Royal Rifles died Vryheid 31.5.1900
I. E. Cohen, Trooper Border Mounted Rifles died Ladysmith
John Barrow Cohen, Trooper Natal Carabineers killed Ladysmith 6.3.1900
Samuel Cohen, Private Cape Vol. Medical Staff Corps died Bloemfontein 3.5.1900
Barnett Davis, Private Natal Vol. Medical Staff Corps died Standerton [23.11.1900?]
M. B. Davis, Private Rhodesian Regiment killed Mafeking
S. E. Davis, Private Imperial Yeomanry died Marandellas 25.7.1900
A. Diamond, Private 14th Hussars died Ladysmith
H. Dreher, Private Royal Lancaster Regiment killed Spion Kop 24.1.1900
G. Eddlestone, Private King's Royal Rifles died Chieveley
Manuel Enoch, Private Connaught Rangers killed Tugela River 15.12.1899
A. Franks, Private King's Royal Rifles died Maritzburg 24.12.1899
J. Freedman, Private Rifle Brigade killed Bergendal
Leonard Golden, Trooper British South African Police killed Mafeking 18.5.1900
A. E. Goldschmidt, Private Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guard killed Kroonstad 14.5.1900
Mark Goldstein, Trooper Natal Carabineers killed Monte Christo 16.2.1900
H. J. Goodman, Sergeant Australian Horse killed Koeks River 21.7.1900
George Edward Halford, Private City Imperial Volunteers died Karee 15.5.1900
H. Hergold, Private West Riding Regiment killed Paaredeberg
G. Hirsch, Private Cape Pioneer Railway Regiment died Pretoria 18.5.1900
H. Hoffman, Private Norfolk Regiment died Karee 16.5.1900
Lancelot Isaacs, Private Welsh Regiment died Germiston 7.12.1900 [Isaac?]
Reuben Isaacs, Driver Army Service Corps died Maritzburg 24.3.1900
C. Isaacson, Private Royal Army Medical Corps died Bloemfontein 31.5.1900
Joseph Jacobs, Private Cape Vol. Medical Staff Corps accidentally killed Machadodorp 13.11.1900
Benjamin Lawson, Trooper Border Mounted Rifles killed Ladysmith 6.1.1900
A. Levitt, Private Middlesex Regiment killed Spion Kop 27.1.1900
Edward Levy, Private Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guard died Cradock 16.2.1900
Henry Julius Levy, Trooper British South African Police killed Mafeking 21.10.1899 [Rhodesia Regiment?]
Adolph Lewis, Trooper Kitchener's Horse killed Houtnek 30.4.1900
C. Lewis, Trooper South African Light Horse Tugela River 15.12.1899
S. Mack, Private Royal Scots Fusiliers died Maritzburg 19.12.1899
Harry Aaron Marks, Private City Imperial Volunteers died Bloemfontein 17.4.1900
Ben Mayer, Private Manchester Regiment killed Elandslaagte 21.10.1899
D. Moses, Private South Wales Borderers died Bloemfontein 24.5.1900
J. H. Moses, Labourer Army Ordnance Corps died Bloemfontein 25.5.1900
A. Oppenheim, Private New Zealand Mounted Infantry killed Reitfontein 29.11.1900
Frederick Melchior Raphael, Lieutenant South Lancashire Regiment killed Spion Kop 24.1.1900
James Soloman, Private Bethune's Mounted Infantry died Newcastle 9.6.1900
O. Strauss, Trooper Border Mounted Rifles died Ladysmith 16.12.1899
F. Wolfson, Corporal King's Royal Rifles killed Ladysmith 6.1.1900

Henry Abrahams, Private 7th Dragoon Guards died of disease, Warringhams 30.8.1901
J. Adler, Private Royal Dublin Fusiliers died of disease, Charlestown 18.12.1900
A. Baker, Private Manchester Regiment died of disease, Bethlehem 3.2.1901
S. J. Barnard, Private Victorian Mounted Infantry killed in action, Wilmansrust 12.6.1901
Lewis Barnett, Private Western Province Mounted Rifles killed on patrol, Calvinia 10.6.1901
Benjamin Collins, Private Cheshire Regiment died of disease, Ventersdorp 27.5.1901
Louis Daniels, Private Imperial Yeomanry died of disease, Germiston 21.8.1901
Albert W. Davis, Private Queensland Bushmen died of disease, Standerton 2.6.1901
Isaac Drukker (J. Duper), Corporal Royal Warwickshire Regiment died of disease, Newcastle 25.12.1900
E. Dytch, Private South Staffordshire Regiment died of disease, Reitz 18.12.1900
Joseph Freedman, Private 14th Hussars died of disease, Germiston 15.4.1901
J. Freedman, Private King's Royal Rifle Corps killed in action, Roodepoort
Joseph Freeman, Private Shropshire Light Infantry died of wounds, Steynsburg
Abraham Charles Josua Garish, Private Piquetberg Town Guard killed on duty, Piquetberg 7.11.1901
I. Harlbuth, Private Imperial Yeomanry killed in action, Vlakfontein
Ellis Horwitz, Private Western Province Mounted Rifles died of disease, Glanwilliam 23.3.1901
C. Isaac, Gunner Royal Field Artillery died of disease, Standerton
Robert Henry Isaacs (Morris), Trooper Kitchener's Fighting Scouts killed in action, Cloosfiesdoorn
John Jacobs, Constable South African Constabulary died of disease, Bloemfontein 30.3.1901
John Jacobs, Sergeant 7th Dragoon Guards killed in action, Klipplaat 6.2.1901
F. Jacobson, Sergeant Army Ordnance Corps died of disease, Engocobe
Theodore Isaac Levin, Trooper Brabant's Horse died of wounds, Hanover
A. Levine, Private East Lancashire Regiment killed in action, Rensburg Drift 22.4.1901
R. Levinson, Private Duke of Edinburgh's V. Regiment died of disease, Porterville 26.1.1901
Abraham Levy, Constable South African Constabulary killed on duty, Mafeking District
S. Lewin, Private Leicester Regiment killed in action, Honing's Kloof 30.7.1901
E. Mendes, Corporal Cheshire Regiment died of disease, Burghersdorp 3.2.1901
Alfred Henry Marks (Marsh), Trooper Scottish Horse killed in action, Brakenlaagte 30.10.1901
A. L. Meyer, Private Oudtshoorn Volunteer Rifles killed in action, Kruis River 1.9.1901
J. R. Meyers Private Royal Army Medical Corps killed in action, Wynberg 14.12.1900
Nathan Moss, Trooper Steinacker's Horse died of disease, Lorenzo Marques 12.3.1901
Aaron Myers (Robert Harvey), Able Seaman H.M.S. "Terrible" died of disease, Haslar Hospital
J. Myers, Private West Yorkshire Regiment accidentally drowned, Warrenton 21.12.1900
J. Myers, Private West Yorkshire Regiment killed on patrol with Smith-Dorrien 6.2.1901
Frank Nathan, Private Imperial Yeomanry killed in action, Lichtenberg 12.3.1901
Jack Rabie, Private Western Province Mounted Rifles killed on patrol, Calvinia 10.6.1901
Harry Robinson, Private Colonial Defence Force killed in action, Cheviot Fells 3.1901[?]
G. Ramus, Private Rifle Brigade died of disease, Standerton 4.9.1901
H. Sagar, Private Army Ordnance Corps died of disease, Maritzburg 21.12.1900
F. Sampson, Gunner Royal Garrison Artillery died of disease, Lydenberg 1.2.1901
B. Simmons, Private Royal Lancaster Regiment died of disease, Dundee 26.10.1901
Harold Solomon, Constable South African Constabulary died of disease, Bloemfontein 25.3.1901
Herbert Solomon, Private West Australian Mounted Infantry killed in action 15.4.1901
Walter Solomon, Private Colonial Defence Force killed in action, Zuurberg 16.10.1901
Harry Weiler, Trooper Marshall's Horse killed in action, Ladysmith
Arthur Wolf, Private Colonial Defence Force killed in action, Cheviot Fells 15.3.1901
TOTAL (including first Memorial list, Chanuach, 5661): Killed in action, or died of wounds, 46; died of disease or accident, 49.

Louis Alexander Imperial Military Railways accidentally shot, Viljoen's Drift 28.2.1902
E. H. Braun, Trooper Cape Police died of wounds, Windhoek 25.2.1902
Walter Chapman, Private Kitchener's Fighting Scouts killed in action, Zoutpansdrift 30.12.1901
Arthur Charet, Private Kitchener's Fighting Scouts killed in action, Zoutpansdrift 30.12.1901
Joseph Coleman, Private 5th Rifle Brigade (Militia) died of disease, Zoutpansdrift 23.5.1902
H. D. Elkin, Lance Corporal Royal Irish Fusiliers died of disease, Standerton
Woolf Gabriel, Trooper Imperial Light Horse died of wounds, Newmarket Farm 5.2.1902
Samuel Goldman, Private Canadian Scouts died of disease, Elandsfontein 27.2.1902
David Goldstone, Private Western Province Mounted Rifles accidentally drowned, Wittedrift 10.2.1902
Eugene Gros, Q.M. Sergeant Colonial Light Horse died of disease, Ceres 26.3.1902
Benjamin Harris, Private Army Service Corps died of disease, Rietfontein West 1.1.1902
Edward Hart, Private 18th Hussars died of disease, Standerton 23.2.1902
Coleman Joel Hayes, Orderly Imperial Hospital Corps died of disease, Harrismith 15.3.1902
J. Hesse, Private Imperial Yeomanry killed in action, Tweefontein 25.12.1901
B. Hyams, Sapper Royal Engineers died of disease, Pretoria 3.2.1902
Ingram (Isaacs) father and son, Troopers, Colonial Horse killed in action
S. E. Levy, Corporal Army Service Corps missing, found dead 8.6.1901[?]
Israel Lewin, Orderly Imperial Hospital Corps died of disease, Newcastle 5.2.1902
Samuel Lyons, Private 16th Lancers killed in action, Calvinia Road 22.12.1901
E. Mayers, Private Royal Lancaster Regiment died of disease, Pretoria 29.1.1902
B. T. Meyer, Private Imperial Yeomanry killed in action, Tweefontein 25.12.1900
E. Meyers, Private 7th Hussars died of disease, Heidelberg, T.V.L. 23.7.1902
J. Moeller, Private New Zealand Rough Riders killed in action 3.7.1900
A. Morris, Private Johannesburg Mounted Rifles died of disease 7.3.1902
C. Moses, Private 3rd Wiltshire (Militia) Mounted Infantry died of disease, Kroonstad 7.12.1901
A. Salmon, Conductor attached Army Service Corps killed in action, Klipdrift
A. Strauss, Driver Royal Field Artillery killed in action
Isaac Tanvitch attached Army Service Corps died of disease, Kroonstad 7.5.1902
Joseph Tobias, Corporal Essex Regiment killed in action, Tweekopjes 9.3.1902
Victor Woolf Imperial Military Railways died of disease 19.12.1901
Lewis Yates, Trooper South African Constabulary died of disease, Pretoria 2.2.1902
TOTAL (including two previous Memorial lists): Killed in action or died of wounds, 60; died of disease or accident, 67.

This was the memorial that was destroyed in 1941. From the description of the unveiling the memorial seems to have been on the front exterior of the synagogue.


....A special service was held yesterday afternoon at the Central Synagogue, Great Portland-street, London, at which Field Marshal Earl Roberts, K.G., accompanied by General Mackinnon, attended for the purpose of unveiling a memorial to the Jewish soldiers who fell in the South African campaign. During the service a procession was formed to the exterior of the synagogue, where a platform and awning, beautifully decorated, had been specially erected, and here the memorial was unveiled. The tablet bore the inscription, followed by a hundred and fourteen names:
........"To the glory of God and in loyal and patriotic memory of the soldiers of the Jewish race and faith who lost their lives in the service of their country during the South African war 1899-1902."
....The procession then returned to the synagogue, the "Last Post" was sounded on bugles, and an address was then given by the Chief Rabbi. The service, which was well attended, was brought to a conclusion with the singing of the National Anthem.

Manchester Courier, Monday 20th March 1905

Just spotted this string. I have the QSA to Corpl Joseph Tobias, 2nd Essex Regiment who was killed in March 1902. I will add a pic. He was the only member of the Bn killed in action (two others died of wounds, from memory).

exyeoman wrote: Just spotted this string. I have the QSA to Corpl Joseph Tobias, 2nd Essex Regiment who was killed in March 1902. I will add a pic. He was the only member of the Bn killed in action (two others died of wounds, from memory).

He's named on the Essex Regimental memorial in Chelmsford - www.angloboerwar.com/forum/17-memorials-...essex-regiment#66407

"In regard to the death of Corpl. Joseph Tobias, 2nd Essex, son of the late Mr. J. Tobias, of Upminster, at Tweekopjes, on March 9, Captain Chawner writes that the gallant Corporal was in command of a blockhouse with a garrison of six men, with whom he worked hard and well. Hearing firing at night, he got up and went into the trench, but was shot through the heart. Deceased had been in India for five years, and was in Africa only a few weeks before his death."
Essex Newsman, Saturday 12th April 1902


A couple of possibles -
Joseph Tobias, born 1869 in the St. Giles in the Fields & St. George Bloomsbury parish, London, and Joseph Tobias, born 1872 at Halstead, Essex.

Thanks, Berenice - I'd spotted that article before but good to see it again. Here are some pics of Joseph Tobias' medal, which is in good condition and the ribbon may be the original. He was the one born in Halstead district in 1872. Do we know whether the names on the memorial are the totality of those of the Jewish faith from the UK who died with British forces?
The main body of 2nd Bn Essex Regiment arrived in December 1901 and suffered only three fatal casualties at the hands of the Boers: Tobias k in a and 2 died of wounds. The Bn also supplied the Essex Company of the Burma Mounted Infantry which arrived in January 1900: one of its members was k in a, but Tobias was the only member of the 2nd Bn to be k in a while serving with the Bn.
It was a Christmas present from my uncle almost 40 years ago. He'd paid £40 for the medal from Spink's Numismatic Circular - which naturally hadn't spotted what makes the medal interesting and rare!

Ian