TOPIC:

Many thanks for the information regarding the medals he was awarded. This has been very helpful.

Hi David, yes you are correct. My great grandfather was called William and he had 2 brothers, James and John. My mother was Catherine Turnbull and William was obviously William. Thank you.

Whilst the Lichfield Mercury description of the incident is accurate as far as it goes they got rather carried away in identifying the men who died.

The 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment were embodied about 650 strong in May 1900 and immediately applied to proceed to SA (Boer War) or if not China (Boxer Rebellion). The War Office said "no" on both counts and then the following month partially relented by requesting the 3rd SSR send a draft of 100 men to join the 1st NF already out there. They included 3855 Private John Howell born in Smethwick. On arrival in SA he was renumbered as 6995. In the article I can identify 7000 Roberts as originally having been 4580 and Griffiths & Morris almost certainly started their military life with the 3rd SSR. Griffiths went from 4549 to 7063 & Morris from 3812 to 6980. There should also be a Bates (3885/6971), Chilton (3016/7048) & Turner (3695/6984). I think regarding Chilton the Lichfield Mercury compounded their errors and he was the un-numbered C Hilton listed. I presume the rest listed, with regimental numbers 6007 or less, only knew the 1st NF.

A mental image arises of a Black Countryman, a Smethwickian, a Jordie and a Scotsman simultaneously visiting the ablutions and having a "chat" and returning to their respective tents all muttering in their varying accents "Don't know what the hell they were all talking about". From personal experience I can assure you a Smethwickian would have had trouble understanding a Blackcountryman even if they only lived a few miles apart.

Hi Tom,

See the following: Newcastle Upon Tyne Memorial, Northumberland

I don't understand why they would have their service numbers changed. It must be confusing when trying to research things for a start

Hi, Many thanks for the image of the war memorial plaque. It is very interesting. I wasn't aware of it.