War (1900)

Post date: Feb 16, 2012 11:46:32 AM

Extract from parish magazine of May 1900:

THE WAR. — Interesting letters have reached home from Wateringbury men at the front, both in Natal and in Cape Colony. We have been represented at Modder River and Bloemfontein. Spion Kop and Ladysmith. Men who waited so bravely and patiently in the beleaguered town have had the joy of hailing and shaking hands with men of their own village, who fought hard for 15 days without rest in the final successful effort to relieve their comrades. The letters breathe hopes that the war is nearly over, in other quarters it is conjectured that another six or eight weeks will bring us close to the end. We only hope it may be so. In the meantime there is a movement on foot in the village to do something to remind our brothers that we at home do not forget them and the hardships they are enduring for Queen and country in the far distant land. Whatever we do we must do quickly.

The following is a list of those who are now at the front : —

24055 Corporal Henry Shepherd, 31st Co , R.E. (was at Modder River, now probably in Free State.)

29422 Sapper William Lawrence, 37th Co., R.E. (in 10th Division, Natal; was at Spion Kop and in Ladysmith Relief Column).

29599 Sapper George Spice, 6th Co., R.E (now probably in Free State).

21997 Bombardier Charles Hook, 64th Battery, R.A. (in Natal; was in Relief Column).

4336 Private William Crayford, C. Co., Royal Scots Fusiliers (in Natal; was in Relief Column).

4388 Lance-corporal Charles Ashby, 2nd Royal West Kent (in 8th Division, under Gen. Rundle in Free State).

4609 Robert Hook, 2nd Royal West Kent (ditto).

3981 Frederick Holder, 19th Hussars (was in Ladysmith).

4283 Charles Cronk, 5th Lancers, who was in Ladysmith, has unfortunately been invalided home. is now in Nettley Hospital (28th ward).

We cannot close this notice without special reference to the loyal patriotism of Mr. Bertie Jude, who having volunteered and been passed into Lord Lathom's (roughriders) Company of the Imperial Yeomanry is now on his way to Rhodesia, via Beira. He is a corporal of his company. We wish him, as we ' all, ' God speed and a safe return'.

The vicar's hope that it would be over very shortly did not prove correct and not all returned safe -see also Wateringbury salutes its War Heroes (1903).

The following month there was a report as follows:

THE WATERINGBURY SOLDIERS (South African Field Force) PRESENTATION FUND.—At the second of two meetings held last mouth at the Vicarage in connection with the house-to-house collection, Dr. Fry, the treasurer handed in the lists of subscribers which he had received from the collectors, and reported that the amount collected was between £18 and £19.

It was agreed that a pound of tobacco and a pipe should be sent with a letter to each soldier, and a presentation should be made to each one of either a clock or a large combination knife, with suitable inscription whichever he should choose. It was further agreed that a thanksgiving service should be held in the church on a Sunday afternoon as soon as possible after the return of the troops from South Africa that the presentation should be made to the soldiers or their representatives on that occasion. The Chairman of the meeting (the Vicar) and Dr. W. Fry were empowered to carry these resolutions into effect.

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It has been noticed that there are a few people, particularly servants in the larger houses, who have not had the opportunity of subscribing. The servants at the Vicarage have a collecting box, and will gladly receive any further subscriptions. A short supplementary list will be published next month.