Boer War

[laineysfc]

Hi - I have found an ancestor who died in 1902 of Enteric Fever.  Would his body have been brought back to England or would he have been buried in South Africa?

Many thanks
Elaine

[BumbleB]

Hi Elaine:  welcome to Rootschat!  My gut reaction is that he would have been buried in South Africa.  So many of our troops died of Enteric, and I know for a fact that one of mine, also dying of Enteric, was buried in South Africa.

But I could be wrong 

BumbleB

[laineysfc]

Hi - that was also my feeling - i'm not sure at that time it would have been logistically feasible to bring them all home - I've heard that South African records are hard to track down - do you know how I would find out?

Elaine 

[BumbleB]

Your best bet, I think, would be to post the information you already have on your ancestor on this thread.  There are some very knowledgeable people who specialise in the Boer War - they've helped me a lot.   

BumbleB

[laineysfc]

Hi BumbleB - many thanks for the advice.  His name was Abel James Hider (sometimes known as James Abel Hider).  He enlisted in 1896 in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and died 3rd Feb 1902 of Enteric Fever at Potchefstroom

HIDER, J
Rank:Corporal
Serial No:1080
Regiment Force:South African Constabulary
Date of Event:3 February 1902
Place of Event:Potchefstroom
Event:Died of enteric

Best wishes
Elaine

[neil1821]

Yes, he would definitely have been buried locally.

Hi - that was also my feeling - i'm not sure at that time it would have been logistically feasible to bring them all home

Apart from wars in the last few decades, where casualty numbers are relatively few, I don't know when it's ever been feasible, or desired for that matter.

[gortonboy]

he is listed on the  Highbury Fields,boer war memorial , Islington, London.

[johnbrown]

I had some limited success with war medals issued in South Africa and it may be worth trying the HQ of the MOTHS ( Members of The Shell Hole ) their Headquarters are either in Cape Town or Durban, they may have records but i am not sure as they are a WW2 organisation( I think ! )..you might also try the troop ships lists?? not sure where that info is though?

[km1971]

Hi Elaine

There are a number of South African members on the British Medal Forum. Someone may even have a photograph of the grave, as it is not too far from Johannesburg. There is a military section in Potchefstroom cemetery, but it only dates from WW1. Most Boer War graves I have seen in South Africa are in civilian cemeteries. Especially those of men who died of disease as the hospitals were near towns. They tend to be grouped together, but not in a separate enclosed section like later military burials. WW1 and WW2 graves are tended by the CWGC. Earlier graves are tended as well as the civilian graves, and in remote areas a local person will often appear and ask visitors to sign a visitors book. So they are treated with respect. There was a government agency that replaced the original iron crosses with stone headstones when it became necessary. I do not know if they are still in existence.

The bodies of a small number of officers were brought back to the UK by their families, but it would have been very expensive.

Ken