Riflemen of the Queen’s Own who served in the South Africa Campaign 1899-1902

At least fifty-four Riflemen of the Queen’s Own volunteered for service for the South African, or Boer, War. Most of them served in the first contingent with C (Toronto) Company, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry (RCRI), which was created specifically from Militia units across Canada. Other Riflemen served with C Battery Royal Canadian Artillery, 1st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (1 CMR), which became the Royal Canadian Dragoons, and 2 Canadian Mounted Rifles.

Captain R.K. Barker was Company Commander of C Company and a former Riflemen, Lieutenant-Colonel William D Otter, commanded the Battalion and Major Lawrence Buchan was Deputy Commander.

Three Riflemen died and eleven were wounded in action. Highlighted Service Numbers (S/N) link to records on Library and Archives Canada. Where soldiers have biography/catalog pages, they are highlighted.

S/NRankNameServed withNotes
7313PteAllen, Carleton Woodford2 RCRIWIA Cronye’s Laager, 27 Feb 1900
7314PteAnderson, Fred Thos2 RCRI
7893PteArdagh, Harold Vernon2 RCRI
CaptBarker, Rybert Kent 2 RCRIOfficer Commanding C Coy
7301SergtBeattie, Albert 2 RCRIDied of Enteric Fever 14 Apr 1900, Bloemfontein
36PteBeers, Leslie Maclean1 CMR (RCD)
7316PteBird, Bernard Martin2 RCRI
7319PteBlight, Walter Stansfield 2 RCRIDied of Enteric Fever 15 Apr 1900, Bloemfontein
325PteCozzens, Harry Alexander2 RCRI, 3 CMRWIA Cronye’s Laager, 27 Feb 1900
7305SergtDixon, Harold Wm Alexander2 RCRI
7337PteEakins, George R.2 RCRI
7338PteEllis, George Spencer2 RCRI
108 PteFuller, Leopold BrockC Bty RCA
114/250L/CorpGurnett, Ernest C.1CMR (RCD), 2CMR 
7349PteHector, Frederick Thomas Dixon2 RCRI
7346SergtHewitt, William Hamilton2 RCRI
7309CorplHoskins, Ralph Wyatt2 RCRI
unkSergtHoward, Maurice B2 CMR
7352CorplIgelstom, Frederick Walker2 RCRIinvalided to England
7500PteJackson, Charles Ernest Edward [1]2 RCRIKIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb 1900 
28PteJordan, James1 CMR (RCD)Invalided to England 12 Nov 1900
7355CorplJordan, Joseph 2 RCRIWIA near Johannesburg 29 May 1900
7063PteKelly, Edward Thos2 RCRIfrom 2 RCRI nominal roll
7356SergtKennedy, James2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb 1900
7357PteKidner, Reginald William2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 20 Feb 1900
7123/55PteLake, Frederick Alfred2 RCRI, 6 CMR
7416PteLillie, Charles Waddell2 RCRI
208PteLoosemore, Frank Fulford1 CMR (RCD)
42PteLoosemore, Herbert Hatherley1 CMR (RCD)WIA 8 Nov, 1900
112PteMacDonald, William J.C Bty RCA
7418PteMcCarthy, William Offley2 RCRI
460/269BuglrMcCormick, Edwin LuciusLDSH/2 CMR
114DvrMcEachern, Charles E.C Bty RCA
7360PteMcGivern, William Lorimer2 RCRIWIA Paardeburg 18 Feb, 1900
7429PteMcKerihen, James RD2 RCRI
248PteMorrison, William James1 CMR (RCD)/2 CMR
7430PtePepper, John Thomas2 RCRI
7415PtePlayfair, Stuart Bryce2 RCRI
133PtePowell, GC Bty RCA
7379SergtRedway, Edgar Henry2 RCRI
7378PteRooke, William James2 RCRIinvalided to England 6 June, 1900
7388/456PteSeager, John2 RCRI/6 CMR
253/109PteSpink, WB1 CMR (RCD)/2 CMR
7393L/CorplStewart, Malcolm MacKenzie2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb, 1900
7395PteTomlinson, C2 RCRI
7397PteUssher, John Fredrick Holmes2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb 1900
7417PteVan Jackson, Leon Frederic2 RCRI
7398PteVanderwater, William Maurice2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb, 1900
7406PteWard, Sherwell Maswood2 RCRIWIA at Paardeberg 18 Feb, 1900
7407PteWeir, Frederick Eugene2 RCRIinvalided to England
7311BuglrWilliams, Douglas Frank2 RCRI/2 CMR
7403PteWilson, Norman Waring2 RCRI
7409PteYoung, Henry2 RCRIInvalided to England 20 Nov 1900
7410PteYoung, Robert Malcom2 RCRI

Notes:

CMR is Canadian Mounted Rifles,

RCA is the Royal Canadian Artillery,

LDSH is Lord Strathcona’s Horse,

KIA is killed in action,

WIA is wounded in action

[1] Jackson, a member of the Queen’s Own, tried to enlist with the contingent for South Africa but was rejected because his arm didn’t show any vaccination marks. Somehow, though, he was able to enlist after joining the Haldimand Battalion.

 

"In Pace Paratus – In Peace Prepared"