TOPIC:

I tend to rely on casualty lists published in newspapers of the day but they can be very inaccurate - recently came across one that listed 18 dead from the 3rd South Staffs (a unit I am interested in because amongst the 500 who sailed to SA were 6 men born and raised in Smethwick). After some head scratching, because I could find none of them on the 3rd SSR Medal Roll, it turned out they all belonged to the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers and they were all taken prisoners rather than being KIA.

I have noticed other more experienced Forummers talk about Official Casualty Lists. Where can one find them?

David.

David,

I find the most useful list is the one published in 1999 by Alexander Palmer (Military Minded, Western Australia). ISBN 0 9577097 0 6.

He has brought all the casualty rolls together, with names listed in alphabetical order, which makes searching much easier. The original official casualty lists were published as numerous returns, with names ordered by regiment.

The Boer War Casualty Roll 1899-1902: A Fully Alphabetical Listing

The original lists were reprinted by J.B. Hayward & Son, in 1972 and 1980/82.

Neville

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David

I have a list of casualties. See my Excel document.

Neville – thanks for pointing me towards recommended publication – copy just ordered

Elmarie – many thanks for your database which I am in total awe of, for the work & effort that must have gone into compiling it if nothing else. I have spent the last week on and off identifying men who were killed in action at Yster Spruit on 25 February 1902 - it took a few minutes using your database to confirm my researches had been sound, and another few minutes to add another 13 who almost certainly died as a result of wounds received at the same encounter. This leads to a question – is the database still a work in progress? - as I can fill in missing details for one already on your database to show he was also killed in action at Yster Spruit on 25 February 1902. Plus another who does not appear on your database at all – 4065 Private Frank Bigg, 4th Bedfordshire Regiment – here (thanks to Find-a-Grave) is the headstone his parents erected to commemorate him (and other members of the family) in Kimpton Parish Churchyard, Hertfordshire, England.



The epithet to Frank reads:

THOUGH THE WARFARE WAS WEARY, THE TRIAL WAS SORE,
IN THE MIGHT OF OUR GOD HE DID STAND;
OH: WHAT JOY TO BE CROWNED, AND BE PURE EVERMORE,
IN THE PEACE OF OUR OWN FATHERLAND.

I think this is a one-off original as is the one to his mother at the bottom of the headstone. His father outlived his mother and on the 1901 Census return is described as “Postman & Gardener (domestic)”, perhaps the enumerator should have added “Poet”.

Regards, David.

David

Yes, this database will probably never be complete, as I have only sent the most necessary list. On my database on the computer, I have columns that I indicate, for example, whether there are photographs, graves, monuments & memorials, and then medals. I still work on it daily when I do research and find information. On another spreadsheet, I have also found quite a few names with proof of their death that still need to be updated. David, it would be great if you would add something. If I may ask, could you type it in a different color so that I can see what you have added?

Elmarie

Elmarie – attached your database with five suggested amendments – I have put them just below the bottom of your data and it should open with them in view. Hope it makes sense.

As you can see I have also sorted out the South Staffs involvement on the 25 Feb 1902 & 17 March 1902, which I am happy about because it adds another Smethwickian (assuming he was not temporarily hospitalised) who took part in & survived both days.

Using your data I have calculated the average daily death rate for Imperial troops during the last five months of the war (i.e. 1902) at almost exactly 20. For 25 Feb 1902 your database contains 77 names and for 7 March 1902, 97 names. They were not all down to De La Rey and his men but most were. The next highest day was 31 March 1902 with 59.

Regards, David.