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Tonbridge Boer War Memorial

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The Second Boer War (1899-1902) Memorial at Tonbridge, Kent, is located at

River Walk beside the River Medway and Tonbridge Castle. As is the case

with many Second Boer War Memorials at other locations within the United

Kingdom, that at Tonbridge is in the form of an obelisk. Designed by the

architect Mr Herbert Gamble, the stonework is the work of Alex MacDonald

& Co, Stonemasons. The bronze plate on the front of the memorial which has

two dozen commemorations on it, and also the attendant ironwork, were

manufactured by Hart, Son, Peard & Co. Ltd., of Grosvenor Works,

Grosvenor Street West, Birmingham. The memorial was unveiled on 21 June

1904 by General Sir Redvers Henry Buller V.C., G.C.B., C.C.M.G. (1839–

1908). The two photographs as shown above were kindly provided for

inclusion here by Susan F. The transcriptions are by Patrick D. Scullion.

Normally with the Kent civic war memorials etcetera, which have been

researched and added to this website, we set them out in alphabetical order

when required for ease of access when viewing, but on this occasion due to

the combination of the fairly small number of casualties who are

commemorated below, and the scant details which have been added, they are

commemorated as set out on the Tonbridge Boer War Memorial. The bronze

memorial plaque on the war memorial bears the following inscription:-

Erected

by friends to the

memory of those whose

names are inscribed below.

Townsmen of Tonbridge

or

Old Boys of Tonbridge School

They loyally gave their lives for Queen

and Country and fighting in the War against the

Boers helped to save

South Africa for the Empire

1899-1902

“Their bodies are buried in peace

but

Their name liveth for evermore”

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LLOYD, GEORGE EVAN. C.B., D.S.O. Lieutenant-Colonel. 1st Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Killed in action on 29 November 1900. Aged 45. Born Llanfihangel, Pembrokeshire, Wales October 1855. Eldest son of the Reverend Prebendary Rhys J. Lloyd and Anna Lloyd (née Lloyd) of Troedvrawr Rectory, Cardiganshire, Wales. George was educated at Tonbridge School. He entered the 70th Foot (East Surrey Regiment) from the Royal East Middlesex Militia. In December 1876 George transferred to the 51st Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment) as a Lieutenant, he was promoted to a Captain in June 1883, and to a Brevet-Major in June, 1885. He became a Major in the South Staffordshire Regiment in November 1890, and was attached to the Egyptian Army, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. George was promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonel on half-pay in November 1896, and was placed in command of the 1st Battalion, West Riding Regiment in June 1897. He served in the Sudan Campaign in 1855-56, and the Afghan War of 1878-79, during the course of the latter he had taken part in the Jowaki Expedition of 1877, receiving the medal with clasp. For his services in the Sudan Campaign in 1855-56, he was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, notification of which was published in the London Gazette dated 26 November 1886, as follows:- “George Evan Lloyd, Capt. and Brevet Major, South Yorkshire Regt. For action at Ginniss.” The Insignia of the Distinguished Service Order was presented to him by H.M. Queen Victoria. George proceeded to South Africa in December 1899, and commanded his battalion throughout the Second Boer War, including the Relief of Kimberley, Battle of Paardeberg, the advance on Bloemfontein and into the Transvaal. There is an interesting account of his death in “My Reminiscences of the War,” by the Boer General Benjamin Johannes Viljoen, who describes George fell at Rhenoster Kop, to the north east of Bronkhorst Spruit, as being “A brave officer who had one of his legs smashed, leant on a gun or his sword, and kept on giving his orders and cheering the soldiers and telling them to charge on. While in this position a second bullet struck him, and he fell mortally wounded.” A few months later General Viljoen’s Burghers, when passing this battlefield and George’s grave, laid a wreath of flowers on the spot where he lies, with the words “In Memory Of A Brave Enemy.” George’s father was a brother of Thomas Lloyd, the 1st Baronet of Bronwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.

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LINDSELL, CHARLES FREDERICK. Colonel. Irregular Horse. Born Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland. C1853. Son of Colonel Robert Henry Lindsell and Emma Elizabeth Lindsell. Husband of Frances Lindsell. Charles was educated at Tonbridge School where he was a pupil from 1865 to 1868. Charles’s army career started when he joined the 14th Hussars in 1872, and later transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (late 21st Foot). He had served as the Adjutant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, during the Burmah Campaign of 1885, and during the campaign he was employed on “Special Service” duties, and had been present at the surrender of Mandalay. He served in the South Africa Campaign, First Boer War of 1879-1881, during which time he had been present at the Siege of Potchefstroom 16 December 1880 - 21 March 1881. The first soldiers to arrive in Potchefstroom were those from Pretoria in the late afternoon of 18 November 1880, comprising one company of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, plus 25 Mounted Infantry who were members of the same battalion, and a couple of 9 ponder guns of N/S Battery, Royal Artillery. This force was joined by another company of the Royal Scots Fusiliers from Rustenburg on 20 November 1881. In all a force of about 180 strong under the command of Major C. Thornhill. Major Thornhill's orders were to a build a fort, render aid to the civil power if necessary, and to 'show the flag'. At about 0900 on the first day of the siege, a small patrol of mounted armed Boers approached the Fort and Colonel R.W.C. Winsloe, C.B. of the Royal Scots Fusiliers sent the then Lieutenant Charles Lindsell, and the soldiers of the Mounted Infantry to find out what were their intentions. The Boers withdrew, but fired on Charles and his Mounted Infantry, which returned fire. A Boer Commandant named Robbertse was hit in the arm during the exchange of fire, and is recorder as having been the first casualty of the war. Charles had also led the reconnaissance on the cemetery, and was later Mentioned in Despatches. On 20 March 1881, Colonel R.W.C. Winsloe placed his offer before the Boer General Cronje and an agreement was reached. This agreement was signed on 21 March and the Siege of Potchefstroom came to an end. Two days later the war ended with the signing of peace terms at O'Neill's cottage, Laing's Nek Charles had also taken part in the Zulu War for which he received the medal and clasp. At the time of the 1891 census, then aged 38, Charles was the head of the house at “Thornehill,” Alnmouth Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, and was recorded by the census enumerator as being a Captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Charles later served as an officer in the Egyptian Army. Whilst serving as a Captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, Charles had been in charge of the Scouts during the ‘Jameson Raid’ in the Transvaal, South Africa, which was carried out between 29 December 1895 and 2 January 1896. To this day, the events surrounding Leander Starr Jameson's involvement in the Jameson Raid, being somewhat out of character with his prior history, the rest of his life, and successful later political career, remains something of an enigma to historians.

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CURTEIS, WILLIAM FREDERICK. C.B., B.A. Colonel. 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Born Bath, Somerset. Second son of Frederick William Curteis J.P., and Maria Louisa Curteis. At the time of the 1861 census, the Curteis family resided at “Wissenden,” Calverley Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Head of the house was 45 year old Camberwell, Surrey native Frederick William Curteis, who was recorded by the census enumerator as being a Justice of the Peace for the County of Kent. William was a pupil at Tonbridge School from 1860 to 1867, and was member of the Sixth Form, 1866-7 during which time he was a member of the Cricket Eleven, 1866-7, and the Football Thirteen in1866. From Tonbridge, William went up to Jesus College, Cambridge where he obtained a Batchelor of Arts Degree, and on the sports field he had excelled as a High Jumper. After leaving Cambridge University, William joined the 22nd Foot as a Subaltern in 1872. The following announcement was published in the London Gazette dated 7 May 1872. “22nd Foot, Lieutenant Ralph Drake Backhouse to be Captain, vice Thomas, retired. Dated 9th March, 1872. William Frederick Curteis Gent., to be Sub-Lieutenant, in succession to Lieutenant Backhouse. Dated 13th April, 1872.” As prior to the change in the regiments title in 1881, when it was renamed The Cheshire Regiment, and although the regiment had been the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot between 1782 and 1881, William’s regiment was often still referred to as the 22nd Foot. Attention is drawn to the regimental naming, as it would appear that William had served in the same regiment from the spring of 1872 until his death in South Africa. On the 1891 census, William was recorded as being 43 years old, single, and as a Major serving in the Cheshire Regiment at Salford Barracks, Regent Road, Salford, Lancashire. William’s battalion left Ireland on 7 January 1890 onboard the Britannic, and arrived at Cape Town, South Africa on 7 January 1890, the battalion then served in South Africa until returning to England in 1902. The 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment was present during the actions fought at Karee Sidings, Zand River, and Johannesburg. William’s older brother; Reginald Whitfield Curteis M.A. had also been educated at Tonbridge School, where he was a pupil from 1860 to 1866. Reginald had served in the Kent Militia until 1873, which was the same year that he was ordained as a Church of England Minister. William’s younger brother; Edward Witherden Curteis who was born in 1853 had also been educated at Tonbridge School, where he was a pupil from 1865 to 1869 and had been a member of the Cricket Eleven 1868-69. Like his older brothers, Edward Curteis had also served in the army having enlisted in the 24th Foot in 1871. He had served in the expedition to Griqualand West in 1875, at the time of the short lived revolt to British rule by the white Diamond Miners, who were known as “Diggers.” In 1880, Edward retired from the army as a Captain and resided in Cheshire. His death was recorded in the Macclesfield, Cheshire, Registration District during the first quarter of 1902. When William’s father died at Wells, Somerset on 1 April 1894, his home address was still at “Wissenden,” Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

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KORTRIGHT, MOUNTENEY. Lieutenant. 3rd (Kings Own) Hussars. Died 21June 1900. Aged 28. Born Essex June 1872. Son of Mrs. Mary Kortright (née Jephson) of The Tiles, Fryerning, Chelmsford, Essex, and of the late Augustus Kortright. Husband of Edith Gwendoline Kortright (née Preston). Commemorated on the memorial plaque in the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, Fryerning, Chelmsford, Essex, as shown above. In addition to that shown above, the church also contains a brass memorial plaque commemorating Mounteney, which was erected in his memory by the officers of the 16th (Queen’s) Lancers. Mounteney was educated at Tonbridge School, and entered the 3rd Hussars from the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment in January 1893. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in February 1894. Having been wounded at Rietfontein Mine, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa on 30 May 1900, Mounteney succumbed to his wounds three weeks later at Johannesburg on 21June 1900.

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BEECHING, ARTHUR T. Private, 8047. 15th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Died 15 February 1901. Also commemorated on Second Boer War memorial plaque, which is located in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent. On 7 June 1900, Arthur was officially posted as being missing in action at Heilbron, but he later rejoined his unit. Arthur was severely wounded at Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa on 31 January 1901, and ultimately succumbed to his wounds on 15 February 1901. BLACK, FREDERICK S. Private, 5708. 2nd (Weald of Kent) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action at Balmoral, South Africa on 19 November 1900. Also commemorated on Second Boer War memorial plaque. which is located in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent. Frederick’s battalion left Ireland onboard the 6,827 ton Union Steamship vessel SS Gaika on 22 December 1899, and arrived at Cape Town, South Africa on 13 January 1900, the battalion then served in South Africa until returning to England in 1902. BLACK, WILLIAM. Private, 3233 2nd (Weald of Kent) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Died of disease a Bloemfontein, South Africa, Also commemorated on Second Boer War memorial plaque which is located in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent, and on the Canterbury (Boer War) Memorial, Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, Kent. BRIDGEN, RICHARD. Private, 2930. 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. Died of disease at Ladysmith, South Africa on 6 April 1900. Richard’s battalion left England onboard the SS Simla on 28 November 1899, and arrived at Cape Town, South Africa on 17 December 1899. BRITTAIN, F.H. No further information currently available. HENRY H. CARTER. Arguably the best match for this casualty is:- CARTER, H. Private, 5463. 1st Battalion, Royal Scots. Died at Sterkstroom on 17 March 1900. EDMONDS, GEORGE E. Arguably the best match for this casualty is:- EDMONDS, G. Private, 13347. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died at Pinetown Bridge on 11 February 1904.

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FLETCHER, WALTER JOHN CUMBERLEGE. Second Lieutenant 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died at Kimberley on 15 October 1899. Aged 19. Born 26 November 1879. Son of W.R.B. Fletcher. Walter was educated at Tonbridge School, Kent, where he was a Day Boy from 1894 to 1898. He entered his regiment from the North York Militia in May 1899. He then joined the 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Capetown, South Africa, and then proceeded to Kimberley in October with the wing of his battalion, which was sent there to assist in holding the town. Walter, who died of Pneumonia has the sad distinction of being the first British officer to die during the Second Boer War. Walter is commemorated with his rank shown as a Lieutenant on the Tonbridge Boer War Memorial. HUMPHREY, GEORGE. As commemorated on the war memorial is probably:- HUMPHREY, ALFRED GEORGE. Private, 28785. 36th Company, 11th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Alfred was possibly the son of Henry James Humphrey and Jane Ann Humphrey. At the time of the 1881 census, the Humphrey family resided at Powder Mill Cottages, London Road, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 23 year old Tonbridge native Henry James Humphrey, who was employed as a Gunpowder Maker. The then 2 year old Alfred Humphrey was recorded by the census enumerator as being born at Tonbridge.

LOGAN, ARCHIBALD EUGENE HARRIS. Sergeant, 335. Lord Strathcona’s Horse. Died 4 September 1900. Born Bangalore Madras Presidency, India 1863. Son of Major-General (Retd) Archibald George Douglas Logan, of 20 Claremont Road, Folkestone, Kent. Also commemorated in the illuminated Canadian Boer War Book of Rememberance, as shown above. Archibald was a pupil a Tonbridge School (Judd House) from the Easter Term of 1877 to 1881. After leaving Tonbridge, Archibald resided in the state of Iowa, United States of America for a number of years, which it would appear that he had been working as a cowboy. Lord Strathcona's Horse in which Archibald served, arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on 10 April 1900, and quickly became essential to the British Army. Employed as scouts because of their background as frontiersmen and cowboys, the regiment was involved in numerous skirmishes and bloody battles against the Boer mounted riflemen. It was during one of these engagements that Archibald was killed in action at Bedfontein, Ficksburg, Orange River, Colony, South Africa on 4 September 1900. At the end of the Second Boer War, in H.M. Queen Victoria's memory,

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H.M. King Edward VII presented the King's Colours to the Regiment, which is an honour normally awarded to infantry units. Upon its return to Canada the regiment was lauded for its contributions and service in the Second Boer War. Unfortunately, soon after the cessation of the Second Boer War, the regiment was disbanded, but in 1909 it was reformed and named Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). Archibald’s father, who died at Folkestone, Kent in 1901, had been born in India, and prior to retiring from the Indian Army as a Major-General he had served in the Madras Staff Corps. During the time that Archibald was at Tonbridge School, his father was a Colonel. LUCAS, WILLIAM. Private, 3479. 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 2 June 1900. William was wounded at Florida on 29 May 1900, and succumbed to his wounds there on 2 June 1900. MASTERMAN, HENRY (Harry)THOMAS. Captain. 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died 28 November 1900. Aged 25. Born Wimbledon, Surrey 17 July 1875. Fifth son of Mrs. Margaret Hanson Masterman, (1841-1932) (née Gurney) of “Lonsdale,” Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and of the late Thomas William (Willie) Masterman, F.R.G.S. (1839-1894) of “The Hall,” Rotherfield, Sussex. Buried Prieska, Northern Cape, South Africa. At the time of the 1881 census, the Masterman family resided at “South Villa,” Main Road, Bexley, Kent. Head of the house was 41 year old Wanstead, Essex native Thomas William Masterman, who was of Independent Means. Henry was a Day Boy at Tonbridge School, Kent in 1889, and after leaving Tonbridge School he went to Weymouth College. At the latter establishment he was in the cricket and football teams. On leaving Weymouth College, Henry went up to St. John's College, Cambridge, and afterwards to Christ's College. Whilst at Cambridge he was a Captain in the University Royal Volunteer Corps. In January 1899, he entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital, but his battalion was embodied in December 1899, which he joined and accompanied to South Africa in February 1900. Whilst at Prieska he was appointed the Garrison Adjutant, a post which he held until he was taken ill. Henry died of Malaria and Meningitis at Prieska, which is situated on the south bank of the Orange River, Northern Cape, South Africa. Henry’s brother; Walter Sydney Masterman was a Day Boy at Tonbridge School from 1889 to 1893, and he too served in the 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment which had included serving in the Second Boer War in 1900 and 1901. Whilst at Tonbridge School, Walter won the Swimming Points Cup in 1893. From Tonbridge he went up to Christ’s College, Cambridgeshire. In 1901 following the Second Boer War he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and attached to the 1st Cadet Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. In 1910 he became an Inspector of Musketry, and resided at 25, Woodbury Park Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

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MUNDAY, JOSEPH RICHARD. Private, 1745. 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died of wounds at Frankfort on 18 November 1900. Aged 29. Born Tonbridge, Kent. Son of Joseph and Harriett Munday of Tonbridge, Kent. Joseph is also commemorated on the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Boer War memorial window, at the parish church of All Saint’s, Maidstone, Kent. READ, FREDERICK. Commemorated on Second Boer War memorial, in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Tonbridge, Kent Unfortunately it has not been possible to ascertain which of the three casualties who are recorded as being F. READ, that died during the Second Boer War is the Tonbridge commemorated casualty. One soldier was killed, one drowned, and the other died, the latter death probably being due to a disease or illness. SMART, ARTHUR JOHN GROOMBRIDGE RAOUL. Imperial Yeomanry. Died of wounds 1901. Born Dinas, France 1876. Eldest son of Captain Robert Lynn Smart R.N. and of Mrs. Caroline Wentworth Smart (née Bryant). Arthur was a Day Boy at Tonbridge School from 1893 to 1896. At the time of the 1891 census, the Smart family resided at Atherton House, Bedford Hill Road, Streatham, London. Head of the house was 44 year old Farley, Wiltshire native Robert Lynn Smart, who was recorded as being a Retired Royal Navy Officer by the census enumerator. Arthur was the elder bother of Ernest Newton Edward Smart, who is the next casualty briefly commemorated below. SMART, ERNEST NEWTON EDWARD. Natal Police. Died of Fever in Uganda 1901. Born Birmingham, Warwickshire 1877. Second son of Captain Robert Lynn Smart R.N. and of Mrs. Caroline Wentworth Smart (née Bryant). Ernest was a Day Boy at Tonbridge School from 1891 to 1896. The third of the Smart brothers; Reginald Walter Louis de Berniere who was born at Halesowen, Worcestershire in 1880, also served in the Second Boer War in 1900 and 1901 as a member of the Imperial Yeomanry. Reginald was a Day Boy at Tonbridge School from 1893 to 1896. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the York & Lancaster Regiment in 1901, and two years later transferred to the Indian Army as a Lieutenant in 21st Prince Albert Victor’s Own Cavalry. During the Mohmand Campaign on the North West Frontier in 1908 Reginald was Mentioned in Despatches, and in 1910 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

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TOLHURST, JOHN A. Sapper, 146. Telegraph Battalion, Royal Engineers. Died at Kimberly on 29 May 1900. Born Tonbridge, Kent. Son of Margaret Tolhurst. Also commemorated on The South African Memorial Arch, Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, Kent, but with his initials shown in reverse order to that as he is commemorated on the Tonbridge Boer War Memorial. At the time of the 1891 census, the Tolhurst family resided at 2, Bordyke, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was John’s 47 year old widowed mother Margaret Tolhurst, who was born in Ireland. The census enumerator recorded John as being 13 years old, and employed as a Telegraph Messenger. TWORT, HERBERT. Private, 6845. 1st Volunteer Active Service Company, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died at sea of Rem Fever on 17 April 1901. Born Tonbridge, Kent 1877. Son of Jacob and Ellen Susannah Twort (née Miles). At the time of the 1891 census, the Twort family resided at 127, Shipbourne Lane, Tonbridge, Kent. Head of the house was 60 year old Bidborough, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent native, Jacob Twort who was a Shoemaker. The then 15 year old Herbert, was recorded by the census enumerator as being employed as a House Boy. WILCOX, F. Private, 6885. 2nd Volunteer Company, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died of Enteric at Norvals Pont on 15 December 1902. Buried Colesburg Cemetery, Vetsriver, Orange Free State, South Africa. Grave Ref: No. 27. Also commemorated on the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Boer War memorial window, at the parish church of All Saint’s, Maidstone, Kent. WILTSHIRE, RICHARD CLARE. Second Lieutenant. 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Died of illness at Kimberley on 21 March 1901. Aged 21. Born India October 1879. Son of Charles Palmer Bluett Wiltshire and of Charlotte Alice (née Bennett) Wiltshire of Ealing, London. At the time of the 1901 census which was conducted only two weeks after Richard died, his parents resided at 8, Madeley Road, Ealing, London, W. Head of the house was Richard’s father; 53 year old Charles Palmer Bluett Wiltshire, who was a native of Calcutta, Bengal, India, (British Subject) and was a Retired Officer of the Indian Civil Service. Charles Palmer Bluett Wiltshire died in the Poole area of Dorset on 25 February 1903, aged 55. At the time of his death, Richard’s fathers’ home address was at “Foleshill,” Princess Road, Bournemouth, Dorset.

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General Sir Redvers Henry Buller V.C., G.C.B., C.C.M.G., and Lady Audrey Buller at the unveiling and dedication of Tonbridge Second Boer Memorial, on 21 June 1904.

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The photograph above, of the Tonbridge Boer War Memorial which was

kindly provided for inclusion here by Roger Jamison, is thought by Roger to

pre-date the Great War, and recalls his late mother saying it was from 1911?