WOLVERTON AND THE BOER WAR

On 10 October 1899 the Second Boer War broke out in South Africa.
As a result of the military reverses at Magersfontein, Stormberg and Colenso in the ‘Black Week’ of 9-15 December 1899 an appeal was made for extra troops from all quarters including the Volunteer Force which had until then been only liable for Home Service and only then on the occasion of danger to the United Kingdom.

On 2 January 1900 the War Office sanctioned the raising of 66 Active Service Companies from the volunteers, to be attached to regular battalions in South Africa on a year’s engagement.

The 1st Bucks Rifle Volunteers had to find approximately 60 men for the composite active service company to be attached to the 1st Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry (the 43rd).

When the call for volunteers reached the Wolverton Detachment a meeting was held in the Science and Art Institute. Seventy-two members of No6 Wolverton Company immediately volunteered for active service this soon increased to eighty-six, and the remainder for garrison duty. Twenty-five men of the Wolverton detachment were chosen for service in South Africa.

Five weeks later, on 6 February, a farewell dinner was given.
A newspaper report of the time said:- “On no previous occasion has the large hall of the Science and Art Institute presented such a display of loyalty, such a scene of enthusiasm, or such an array of volunteer lights, as was witnessed at the dinner given on Tuesday evening, 6 February 1900, to recognise the departure of those selected to serve with the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in South Africa. The hall had been decorated with flags, bunting, mottoes, ……., festoons of artificial flowers, etc. At the back of the platform was the encouraging and appropriate motto,
​“Good-bye and good luck to the gentlemen in khaki ordered south."

The Wolverton detachment and draft paraded on the Market Square at 12.45 on the following morning under the command of Major Williams and Lieutenant Hawkins. Prior to leaving the square each member was presented with a packet of tobacco. Without ceremony the company, headed by the band playing the regimental quick march “Ninety Five”, marched via Radcliffe Street, and Stratford, Road to the station, their fellow workmen cheering them en route.

​They embarked for South Africa on 10 March 1900.

​LIEUTENANT
COLOUR SERJEANT
CORPORAL
CORPORAL
LANCE CORPORAL
LANCE CORPORAL
BUGLER
BUGLER
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE

LCH
W
C
AJ
JR
RB
CS
E
HR
WFH
J
AJ
A

​HAWKINS
CROFT
KIRBY
HARTELL
DORMER
JACKSON
TEAGLE
NORTH
BEARD
CARROLL
CARVELL
DOLLING
GIBBON

​PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE
PRIVATE

​TJ
JM
JH
JS
F
B
FW
AH
E
WT
W
S

​GODFREY
GOULD
HARDING
HARTELL
HUMPHRIES
LITTLE
POWELL
SPONG
WEBB
SHACKLEFORD
WOODFORD
WOOTTON