Boer War - 23158 R Dempster, 73 Bty, RFA

[ayrgenes]

Hi

trying to trace info on Driver 23158 Richard Dempster, 73 Bty RFA who died on 13 Mar 1900 due to drowning in Klip River. In particular looking for details of his enlistment if poss. He may/may not be a missing relative but need to establish his birth place/parents etc.

I have seen info on memorial plaque, but just name / number

davie

[Andy J2022]

He attested on 12 Oct 1897 when he was aged 18 years and 5 months. He was born in Glasgow. Physical description: height 5'5", fresh complexion, red hair, eyes hazel (left eye hazel and brown), weight 131 lbs. He was in the UK 12 Oct 1897 to 22 Oct 1899, then South Africa 23 Oct 1899 to the date of his death on 13 March 1900. He was awarded (postumously) the S Africa medal with clasp for Ladysmith. His next of kin was his older brother William of 14 East Union Street, Camlachie, Glasgow. His record is on FindMyPast.

[ayrgenes]

Never failed to be amazed by RootsChatters, so quick.
Many thanks Andy, he certainly looks like my man alright? Birth 11 May 1878. Now to  see if I can find circmstances of his drowning.
Again many, many thanks

davie

[Andy J2022]

By Feb 1900 the siege of Ladysmith was over and the British troops were concentrating on the area around Kimberley which is to the West of Ladysmith. To get there would mean crossing the Klip River (Stone River) which flows South to the West of Ladysmith. Since he was responsible for moving the guns of the RFA, I think it quite likely that it was while trying to cross the river with the guns that he or they fell in, and maybe he couldn't swim or was crushed by one of the guns so couldn't escape. Today the river is not that formidable but that is after major dams have been built upstream to control the flooding, so it's hard to reconstruct what the river crossing might have been like without a contemporary account.
There are few on line which you might like to check out. The first one mentions that the Klip River was frequently subject to surge floods during the Winter.
How We Kept the Flag Flying by Donald MacDonald
Ladysmith: The Diary of a Siege by Henry Woodd Nevinson
South Africa and the Transvaal War Vol2 by Louis Creswicke
The Great Boer War (Chapter 13) Arthur Conan Doyle

[ayrgenes]

Nice to get the expert opinion on what might have happened. My own take was totally different and nowhere near the 'official' take. Thanks, will look out those books too. Would there be any records of the 'accident' held within the Bty/Regt, ie inquest type of thing?

On a side note, I know Richard is mentioned on a couple of memorials in London, he is also named on a plaque for the Bty in Exeter Cathedral,any ideas on the connection there?

Again, thanks for the insight.

davie

[Andy J2022]

Hi ayrgenes,

I'm not sure I would describe my comments as either 'expert' or 'official'. They were just one possibility, and I'm sure you can think of equally plausible scenarios. He might, for instance have gone down to the river to wash, fallen in and been swept away. The one thing I think we can be relatively certain about is that his death was not at the hands of the Boers. By the time he died they were  long gone from the area.

[Andy J2022]

On a side note, I know Richard is mentioned on a couple of memorials in London, he is also named on a plaque for the Bty in Exeter Cathedral,any ideas on the connection there?

73 Bty were part of the British Second Division which took part in the relief of Ladysmith, but I don't know of any particular association between the Battery and Exeter. I don't think the fact that Dempster came from Glasgow is relevant since it is probably his unit which is being remembered.