Frederick's Story.
Private Frederick Heesom 4114 (aka Heeson, Hisom) died of typhoid on 27th August 1901, at the 18 Stationary Hospital, Krugersdorp, Transvaal. He was 23 years old. He is buried in the Burgershoop Cemetery, Krugersdorp, West Rand District Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa, and is commemorated on the Cheshire Regiment Boer War memorial in Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, Chester.
What do we know about Frederick?
He was born in the autumn of 1877, the second son of Joseph and Catherine (nee Hankey), and brother to George, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ada and Catherine Heesom. In 1881, the family home was at 1 Leicesters Court, Witton, near Northwich, and by April 1891, they had moved to 43 Whalley Road, Witton, the address where his father died in 1927. His brother George died in infancy, so Frederick was the only surviving son. His mother died in 1893, when Frederick was fifteen.
On 14th May 1897, Frederick, aged 18 years and 7 months, enlisted into the regular army. His attestation papers show that he was 5' 6" tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. In 1900, he transferred from the Militia Reserves of the 3rd Battallion Cheshire Regiment to the 2nd Battallion.
The regiment sailed to South Africa aboard SS Britannic, leaving Southampton on 7th January 1900, arriving at Cape Town on 27th Jan 1900.
The Britannic sailed from Southampton Jan 7 with the following: 2/Cheshire Regiment ( 27 officers, 1 warrant officer, and 962 men); 2 officers of the RE: 3 officers and 12 men of the Army Pay Dept. ; 3 officers and 57 men of the RAMC, and 4 officers and 31 men Hospital Staff, 5th Division
(London Times 8th Jan 1900)
Along with the 2nd South Wales Borderers, 1st East Lancashire, and 2nd North Staffordshire, the 2nd Btn Cheshire Regiment formed the 15th Brigade under Major General A G Wavell. They joined the main army advance from the Orange River to Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and were in action at Karee Siding on 29 Mar 1900. After the capture of Johannesburg, their brigade became the town's garrison force. On 5th December 1900, the battalion took over as the garrison force of Frederickstad. In January 1901, part of the battalion was holding a post on the line south of Johannesburg when the enemy attacked fiercely. The attack was very gallantly driven off. In 1901 the battalion furnished the infantry of columns under Sir H Rawlinson, Colonel E C Williams, Colonel Hickie, and other commanders, which did much arduous but useful work in the South-West Transvaal.
Frederick's medals list shows that he was awarded clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. However, his name is recorded as F Heeson.
Frederick died on 27th August 1901, of enteric fever (typhoid). He was 23 years old.
Entrance to Burgershoop Cemetery, South Africa
Researched by S. Lewington June 2025
He was born in the autumn of 1877, the second son of Joseph and Catherine (nee Hankey), and brother to George, Sarah, Elizabeth, Ada and Catherine Heesom. In 1881, the family home was at 1 Leicesters Court, Witton, near Northwich, and by April 1891, they had moved to 43 Whalley Road, Witton, the address where his father died in 1927. His brother George died in infancy, so Frederick was the only surviving son. His mother died in 1893, when Frederick was fifteen.
On 14th May 1897, Frederick, aged 18 years and 7 months, enlisted into the regular army. His attestation papers show that he was 5' 6" tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. In 1900, he transferred from the Militia Reserves of the 3rd Battallion Cheshire Regiment to the 2nd Battallion.
The regiment sailed to South Africa aboard SS Britannic, leaving Southampton on 7th January 1900, arriving at Cape Town on 27th Jan 1900.
The Britannic sailed from Southampton Jan 7 with the following: 2/Cheshire Regiment ( 27 officers, 1 warrant officer, and 962 men); 2 officers of the RE: 3 officers and 12 men of the Army Pay Dept. ; 3 officers and 57 men of the RAMC, and 4 officers and 31 men Hospital Staff, 5th Division
(London Times 8th Jan 1900)
Along with the 2nd South Wales Borderers, 1st East Lancashire, and 2nd North Staffordshire, the 2nd Btn Cheshire Regiment formed the 15th Brigade under Major General A G Wavell. They joined the main army advance from the Orange River to Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and were in action at Karee Siding on 29 Mar 1900. After the capture of Johannesburg, their brigade became the town's garrison force. On 5th December 1900, the battalion took over as the garrison force of Frederickstad. In January 1901, part of the battalion was holding a post on the line south of Johannesburg when the enemy attacked fiercely. The attack was very gallantly driven off. In 1901 the battalion furnished the infantry of columns under Sir H Rawlinson, Colonel E C Williams, Colonel Hickie, and other commanders, which did much arduous but useful work in the South-West Transvaal.
Frederick's medals list shows that he was awarded clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal. However, his name is recorded as F Heeson.
Frederick died on 27th August 1901, of enteric fever (typhoid). He was 23 years old.
Entrance to Burgershoop Cemetery, South Africa
Researched by S. Lewington June 2025