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Thank you for posting this. I just love to read first hand accounts.

6765 PRIVATE C. LEWIS: 1ST VOLUNTEER SERVICE COMPANY WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

PART 3

ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE FRONT
From The Malvern Advertiser, dated Saturday 2nd June, 1900.
"We are permitted to print the following letter from Bloemfontein, written by Private C. Lewis of Malvern ( now with 2nd Battalion V.B. Contingent in South Africa)."
"Dear Mother and Father, Brothers and Sisters,--When I wrote last week I thought it would be the last chance I should have; but as we are the only division left, I don't think we shall move for a few days yet until there are more troops arrived. I read in the Malvern papers all about the flare up you had before I had your letter. We were down in Bloemfontein last week at the stores, and I came across a chap out of the Army Service Corps, and he turned out to be George Nicholls' brother. h He is doing the baking here, but he left here on Monday morning to go further up the country. I went down to see him on Sunday night. And there is another man we came across that you know well, Mr. Brockway, the machine man; he is in the Wiltshire Regiment. He is across at our tent every night. They are in the same brigade as we are in. We wnt out last Saturday for a route march, about 14 miles, and again yesterday we were out with the brigade on a march. We got very good stuff up here to eat, a bit better than what I thought we should have; we got jam and bacon for breakfast, but we have had a bit of tough beef. We had some on Easter Sunday that was walking about first thing in the morning, but these last few days we have had Australian meat. Our Captain treated us to some tinned fish and about twenty-six pounds of butter, the first we have had since we left the Cape. I had a box of tobacco come yesterday from Albert Botticher , for we four Malvern chaps ( I expect you have heard about it) . The chaps in our tent said that it was the best present that they had seen come out. And he sent me some snuff aswell, and a box of cigarettes for Lieutenant Pardoe. We heard today from his servant that he is much better. I think that they are going to send him home very shortly. I am very glad to say that we chaps are alright; but there is an awful lot of our chaps in hospital, they are going in nearly every day. We had some more things served out to us this morning that had been sent from England--, writing paper, pencils, tobacco and handkerchiefs--so we are going on alright for things now. The details came up on Sunday and brought up two large cases for our half company; boots; I expect, are in them from Lord Deerhurst, for he said he should send some out to us. We have moved camp yesterday, about a mile further up, on the side of a hill. It is a lot better place than the other, and more healthy. It was done to prevent the sickness. We have been washing our khaki today, so there is something on. The General was here this morning, Kelly-Kenny, and , by what we have heard, we shall either make a move in a week or we shall be some time before we make a shift at all.
Your affectionate Son,
CHARLEY."

HOMECOMING
As we have seen in the earlier post to this thread Charles and his Malvernian comrades of the 1st Volunteer Service Company were delayed in their return to England. When they did arrive back in Malvern, they were greeted by a large, enthusiastic crowd at Great Malvern Railway Station on Monday 9th June, 1901 who waited with patriotic fervour for the 8:07 train from Worcester.
Charles was accompanied by Corporal F.C.Houghton, Private F.A.McPherson and Private C.Hall.
The Malvern Gazette, dated 15th June 1901, noted; " The enthusiasm with which the men were received was of the heartiest description and reminded one of the demonstrations in th espring of last year which marked the series of British triumphs over the Boers." The returning soldiers were described by the same publication to be "tanned almost to the colour of their clothing."
On 26th June 1901, a smoking concert in honour of the men of the 1st VSC and Imperial Yeomanry recently retuerned was held at the "Assembly Rooms" at Malvern.
Local dignitaries present at the concert included Doctor Dixey ( in the chair), Rev.W.C.Wells, Colonel Tomes, Major Lyon, Captain Bullock, Captain Rigen, Lieutenants Woodhouse and Hartland, Q.M.S.Walker, Sergeant Major Bowen and Doctor Weir.
During the ceremonies, a fine pianofore solo was performed by F.G.hickson following a toast to the King.

A speech was made by the Chair, Doctor Dixey as follows:
"It was desired that some small memento should be given, and silver cigarette cases had been procured; and he could imagine no more worthy heirloom than something that would say to those who came after them that in time of England's need their ancestors were ready to go forth and if necessary give up their lives for their country."
The small memento given to each Malvernian who had served as a volunteer in South Africa was in the form of a silver cigarette case inscribed individually:
"FROM MALVERN TO CHARLES LEWIS S.A.WAR 1900-1901"
Fourteen men of the Imperial Yeomanry and five infantrymen were entitled to the cigarette case and were present at the proceedings and presentation. A further eight men of the yeomanry and another four infantrymen were also eligible for receipt, but, for numerous reasons were not present.

MEDALS
At some point Charles Lewis received the Queen's South Africa medal with the clasps; Cape Colony/ Transvaal/ Wittebergen and South Africa 1901 to add to the Worcester Jewel which was awarded to the 1st Contingent and draft.

AFTER THE BOER WAR
Shortly after the Boer War, Charles Lewis married Frances Mary Kate Druce at the black country village of Kingswinford in the county of Staffordshire at the Parish Church. This happy event took place on the 4th August 1903 (what happened to Nell in Malvern, whom Charles mentioned in his letters home?).
It would appear that Charles took his bride away to Malvern. The great Census 1911 event records Charles aged 33 and now living at 1 Graham Terrace, Sherrard's Green , Malvern continuing to ply his previous skills as a Tailor. Cohabiting with him were wife Frances (35), son Charles Thomas Frederick(6), daughter Frances Evelyn (3). His sister-in-law Florence Druce (18) was a visitor to the Lewis family on Census day.
Another son Ralph was born on 6th July 1914.

FURTHER MILITARY SERVICE (FROM DETAILS SUPPLIED BY THE REGIMENTAL MUSEUM)
In the roll of 2 VB officers and NCOs held at RHQ , C. Lewis is shown in C/1 Company( Malvern)( there was also a C/2 Company , based in Upton-on-Severn), as Lance Corporal 01/08/1904, and still so , in C Coy, in a roll compiled1910-11. NO subsequent service records are held at RHQ.
The Worcestershire Regiment enlistment register, Army Book 358, post WW1 records Charles Lewis attesting for 3 years as a territorial for 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment on 7th June 1920 at the age of 42 years 340 days giving his next of kin as above. He was allocated army number 5243771 and is noted with former service in Somerset Yeomanry with number 17452 (possibly WW1 service, more research required).
He is recorded as discharged in the rank of CSM, at Worcester on 6th June 1927 on termination of his engagement with address 2 Pickersleigh Road, Malvern.
Army Order 53 issued in February 1927 announced a clasp to the Territorial Efficiency Medal to 5243771 WO2 C Lewis 8 WORC R; but no ribbon or clasp was received with the medal accession.

Held at RHQ is a copy of the prize list for "D" Company 8 Worc presentation of prizes in the Drill Hall at Droitwich on Saturday 6th March 1926. CSM Lewis features winning an individual shooting prize at the Worcestershire County Rifle Association Meeting at Kidderminster on 20th June 1925 in Match 1; winning two Company Cups, The Malvern 'Beauchamp' Cup and the Upton-on-Severn Cup; and being awarded the Skill-at-Arms Badge for the Rifle for the year ending 31st October 1925.

1921 CENSUS (thank you David Smethwick)
The 1921 stocktake finds Charles senior still working as a 43 year 11 month old Tailor for Messrs. Gower and Bowen. He was still married to Frances (her place of birth given as Wordsley, Staffordshire (near Stourbridge). Charles junior was a Plumber just shy of his seventeenth birthday. Evelyn (14) and Ralph (7) are present within the household at 2 Pickersleigh Road, Malvern.

Charles Lewis died after living a fulsome life in the first quarter of 1939 in the Registration District of Upton-on-Severn, at the age of 61 years.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Cape Colony, Orange Free State (3418 Pte W. Oliver, Worcester: Regt.);
KSA (2) (3418 Pte W. Oliver. Worcester: Regt.).

William Oliver was born at Leigh Malvern, Worcester in January 1872, the son of James and Charlotte Oliver of St. Peter's Terrace, Martley, Worcester. The young Oliver proved to be quite a handful in his youth, being imprisoned in 1883 for 14 days having damaged a wall. Attesting on 25 October 1892 with the Worcester Regiment he saw Home Service until 16 February 1884 when he was posted to India.

Remaining there for almost three years he returned home on 13 January 1896. Here his old disciplinary problems reasserted themselves and he began to face a series of charges and punishments that continued into his South African service. Posted to South Africa on 18 March 1900 the 1st Battalion joined the war during its guerrilla phase. Posted to the Army Reserve on 24 February 1903 Oliver was finally discharged on 24 October 1904. Upon leaving he worked as a Haulier for a Coal Merchant in Glamorganshire. Oliver died on 14 June 1945 at 8 Lueterfield Road, Leigh, Swinton, Worcester.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (1793 Pte S. Cowles. Worcester: Regt)

S. Cowles served during the Second Boer War with the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment, and was accidentally shot and killed at Rietfontein on 8 December 1900.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Tranvaal, Wittebergen (2871 Pte P. Danks, Worcester: Regt);
KSA (2) (2871 Pte P. Danks. Worcester: Regt)

Peter Danks was born at St. John's, Stafford in 1871 and worked as a Miner prior to enlisting on 16 March 1891. Posted to India on 22 February 1892 he served there for over four years before returning to Britain on 15 November 1896 he joined the Army Reserve. Mobilised for service in South Africa he joined the war on 17 December 1899 with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Returning to Britain on 17 August 1902 Danks was discharged on 15 March 1902.

LIEUTENANT ALICK EDWARD CROKER HAMILTON
1ST BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT MOUNTED INFANTRY (PREVIOUSLY ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS)

After a long wait and many disappointments at auction, I was delighted to acquire this QSA named to an officer iof the Worcestershire Regiment.

Alick Edward Croker Hamilton was born in Dublin, Ireland on 14th March 1879 to parents Arthur and Alma Croke Hamilton.
His first commission as an officer on joining the army was as 2nd Lieutenant with the 5th Militia Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on 5th January 1898, and promotion to full Lieutenant on 17th May 1899.
In February 1900 he embarked with this battalion to South Africa to participate in the ongoing early phase of the Anglo Boer War in South Africa. On arrival he was informed that he had been appointed 2nd Lieutenant to the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment on 7th March.
For some reason, maybe because the 2nd Battalion of the Worcesters had seen some action around Colesberg (Slingersfontein), he applied to join this battalion. His application was successful and he joined the 2nd at Bloemfontein on 20th April 1900. He took part in operations in the Orange River Colony from May to August, including the engagement near Senekal, action at Bethlehem, and operations in the Wittebergen 1-29 July which culminated in the surrender of Commandant Prinsloo's force in the Brandwater Basin, operations in the Magliesberg, Western Transvaal till October when ordered back to Pretoria to join a newly formed mounted infantry company and was posted to 11th Battalion Mounted Infantry.
Enteric fever was no respecter of rank or privilege, as Alick was admitted to hospital in Pretoria with the disease on 17th January 1901, and was consequently transferred for convalescence to Howick, Natal. On 16th March Alick was discharged and entrained with other convalescents for Pretoria, but not being able to travel beyond Standerton, was attached to a mounted infantry company of the South Staffordshire Regiment (14th m.I.) . It was whilst on operations with this unit that he was severely wounded at Springs , Transvaal on 9th April 1901. Palmer(1999) and Hayward (1982) both substantiate his casualty status under the casualty lists pertaining to the 1st Battalion Worcesters.
Due to his injuries he was invalided home from Point Natal aboard S.S. Simla on 5th June 1901.


Queen's South Africa medal awarded to Hamilton bearing clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal and Wittebergen from the Medal Roll of Royal Dublin Fusiliers and South Africa 1901 from that of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.


Running script of name to the rim of the medal.


Running script of regiment to the rim of the medal.

He was reduced to half pay in December 1902 due to ill health and retired from the armed forces in May 1907.

Following his military service I have found the record of Alick's initiation into the Freemasons at Lodge 2437 on 27th July 1908 which was located at Downshire Lodge, Workingham. He was described as a retired army officer.

He was also registered as a member of the Junior Naval and Mid London Club, Kildon Street, Dublin and also Royal St. George's Yacht Club at Kingstown

The Census of 1912 found him living at Kerrymount in the Ballybrack district of Dublin. He was described as being able to read and write, unmarried and Church of Ireland by religious denomination.
Other members of the household included his parents, Arthur and Alma, sisters Dorothea, Rosalie and Elsie, and brothers Robin and Eric.

Alick Edward Croker Hamilton died on 10th November 1943 in Dublin. He was buried at Deansgrange Cemetery, BlackRock, County Dublin.


(Reproduced here for research purposes only)
The final resting place for this veteran of the Anglo Boer War (image from Findagrave kindly forwarded by Smethwick (thank you David).

Sources of information came from a file of information received with Hamilton's QSA, Ancestry and Findmypast.

QSAs to officers in the Worcestershire Regiment seldom appear in the marketplace, so pleased to have obtained this example.