Boer War resource - "In Memoriam", Steve Watt

[Jaybeebuzz]

Hi everyone

Does anyone have a copy of "In Memoriam", by Steve Watt as I am looking for info on Pte 808 George Tinson  of the 2nd KSLI from the Boer War? He died of enteric 17/4/1900 and this book may have further details on him that I have not been able to find elsewhere.

Many thanks!
Julie

[ladysmith]

Hi Julie - He's shown as being in the 4th Battalion. He's buried at President Avenue Cemetery, Bloemfontein. Ths is a big cemetery and most of the men buried there died of disease. There is no individual grave marker but his name is on the cemetery memorial.

Because he died on service his attestation and service papers will not have survived.

Regards,

David

[Jaybeebuzz]

Thanks for your reply David. Is that all the book says as I was under the impression that it gave more info than that?
He actually started out with the Herefordshire Militia, was then attached to the 2nd KSLI and then I believe became attached to the 4th KSLI through the 4th Mounted Infantry  Btn.
I'll have to make enquiries and see if I can get hold of a photo of his name on the memorial.

Thanks for your help!
Julie

[ladysmith]

Julie - Some entries have a bit more information (age, religion, gravesone details, etc.) but that's all there is on him.

I've been to this cemetery and took some photos so I'll see if I have one of the memorial panel with his name on.

David

[Jaybeebuzz]

David, thank you, a photo would be brilliant. Even if you don't have a pic of the wall bearing his name, just a general photo of the memorial would be very welcome. There seems to be so little info or pics online of that cemetery.

Julie

[liverpool annie]

Hi Julie ... your George is remembered on at least three other memorials !!

St. Mary the Virgin Childswickham -

"To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George James Taylor Colour Sergeant Northumberland Fusiliers who died while on active service in South Africa, April 23 1901 aged 28 years."
"To the Glory of God and in memory of George Tinson 2nd Batt. Shropshire Light Infantry who died while serving in South Africa at Bloemfontein, April 17, 1900."

St. Peter & St. Paul's Church Upton on Severn

"To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George James Taylor Colour Sergeant Northumberland Fusiliers
who died while on active service in South Africa, April 23 1901 aged 28 years.
To the Glory of God and in memory of George Tinson 2nd Batt. Shropshire Light Infantry
who died while serving in South Africa at Bloemfontein, April 17, 1900."

Shrewsbury, King's Shropshire Light Infantry Boer War Memorial

George Tinson 2nd Batt. Shropshire Light Infantry who died while serving in South Africa at Bloemfontein, April 17, 1900

[Jaybeebuzz]

Liverpool annie

Thank you very much for that information. I knew about the memorials at St Chad's, Shrewsbury for the KSLI  (managed to take a pic of that), and had read online about the plaque inside the church at Upton on Severn (his home town), but I didn't know he was on one at Childswickham, and don't quite know why! Wonder what the connection is? Perhaps it's a memorial to the Worcestershire men who died in the Boer War, regardless of regiment?
As George started out in the Herefordshire Militia before being attached to the KSLI  he is also apparently on the memorial inside Hereford Cathedral. And on top of that, I have read online that he is on the memorial at St Giles' Church, Bredon's Norton (but again, no idea why!). So that's 5 memorials in this country, plus the one in Bloemfontein, I wonder if that's some kind of record?!! 
Thank you for your help.
Julie

[Jaybeebuzz]

"Because he died on service his attestation and service papers will not have survived".

David, is that because they were deliberately destroyed, the authorities perhaps considering that as the man had died there was no further use for them?

Julie

[ladysmith]

"Because he died on service his attestation and service papers will not have survived".

David, is that because they were deliberately destroyed, the authorities perhaps considering that as the man had died there was no further use for them?

Julie

Yes. The files were periodically 'weeded'. The papers of regular soldiers were kept and maintained for pension purposes. If a man died on service the papers no longer served their primary function and were officially destroyed.

The papers for men in the Militia and Imperial Yeomanry, however, usually survive as they  didn't qualify for a pension.

David