James's Story.
Private James Duffy, of The Prince of Wales's Volunteers, 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, 5621, was killed in action on 8th June 1900 in South Africa.
The 1st Battalion left the Peninsula Barracks, Warrington, UK on Tuesday 5th December 1899, to sail on the steamship Canada from the port of Liverpool. The ship had been due to depart on Thursday 30th November 1899 but was delayed:
"The steamer Canada, at Liverpool, Nov 30, to embark 1827 officers and men, including the staff of the 1/South Lancashire Regt ....." (London Times, 22nd Nov 1899)
The Guardian, 6th Dec 1899
A bystander described the "wildly enthusiastic crowds farewelling the South Lancashires as they marched out of the barracks. Men were desperate not to miss out on an adventure that many thought would be over by Christmas."
The three week journey to South Africa must have been a novel experience for Private Duffy and his comrades:
"The voyage to South Africa would have been new and exciting. Dolphins leapt and raced alongside the ship as it sailed south, the waters alight with phosphorescence at night. On board, the daily routine included cleaning the ship, physical drills and rifle practice. Men passed their off-duty hours playing cards or holding impromptu smoking concerts, at which each man was expected to sing or recite verse. " (Red Roses on the Veldt: Lancashire Regiments in the Boer War, 1899-1902, by John Downham)
S.S. Canada
Six months later, Private J Duffy was killed in action on 8th June 1900, at a battle against Boer soldiers at Botha's Pass.
Botha's Pass (aka Botha's Kraal or Botha's Nek) was a pass through the Drakensberg mountain range. It was 25 km north-west of Newcastle, on the road to Memel, on the border of Natal Colony and the Orange Free State. The pass was named after Cmdt-General L. Botha's grandfather who had owned a farm in the area. It was used in October 1899 by a large Boer commando to enter Natal. On 8th June 1900, as the Boers retreated from Natal, General Sir Redvers Henry Buller in a surprise move seized the pass. General Buller advanced 22,000 men and 26 guns against General Chris Botha’s 2500 men, at a cost of 26 British casualties. (Source: JB Hayward & Sons Gazetteer)
One of those casualties was Private J. Duffy, 5621. He is recorded in the South Lancashire medals lists, having been awarded the QSA and clasps for Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Laing's Nek.
Do we know any more about Private J Duffy?
He is remembered on the Northwich Boer War Memorial at St Helen's Church, Witton.
His name is also on the Prince of Wales's Memorial in Queen's Gardens, Palmyra Square, Warrington (below).
We can be fairly confident he had some link to Northwich, as he is remembered on the Memorial there, as well as in Warrington, but it is hard to establish precisely who his family was. The following information is just one suggestion .....
Could he have been James Duffy, born on 25th July 1866 in Northwich, Cheshire? James was the second son of John Duffy and Catherine nee Sheeran, both from Ireland. He and his twin brother William were baptised when they were 4 days old at St Wilfrid's Catholic Church, Witton Street, Northwich, but sadly William died in infancy a year later. James was also brother to Catherine, Mary, Michael, Bridget, Elizabeth, John and another William (born 1879). In 1871 and 1881, the family home was at 10 Church Street, Northwich, next door to the Queen's Head pub. By the time he was fourteen, James was working as an errand boy. It appears from the census of April 1891 that James was living with his parents at 4 Sheath Street, Northwich, and was employed as a labourer. Note that in 1891, Sheath Street was the name of a road adjacent to Dane Street, not a more modern road of the same name located further east in the town.
Map of Northwich c 1880
Sheath Street, c 1891
Could you be related to James?
His sister Bridget, born on 29th April 1869, married John Patrick Ormrod in 1890, and they had four children - Albert, Peter, Florence and Madeline. Bridget died on 30th January 1957.
If you have more information about Private Duffy, please contact Cheshire Roll.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025
The Guardian, 6th Dec 1899
A bystander described the "wildly enthusiastic crowds farewelling the South Lancashires as they marched out of the barracks. Men were desperate not to miss out on an adventure that many thought would be over by Christmas."
The three week journey to South Africa must have been a novel experience for Private Duffy and his comrades:
"The voyage to South Africa would have been new and exciting. Dolphins leapt and raced alongside the ship as it sailed south, the waters alight with phosphorescence at night. On board, the daily routine included cleaning the ship, physical drills and rifle practice. Men passed their off-duty hours playing cards or holding impromptu smoking concerts, at which each man was expected to sing or recite verse. " (Red Roses on the Veldt: Lancashire Regiments in the Boer War, 1899-1902, by John Downham)
S.S. Canada
Six months later, Private J Duffy was killed in action on 8th June 1900, at a battle against Boer soldiers at Botha's Pass.
Botha's Pass (aka Botha's Kraal or Botha's Nek) was a pass through the Drakensberg mountain range. It was 25 km north-west of Newcastle, on the road to Memel, on the border of Natal Colony and the Orange Free State. The pass was named after Cmdt-General L. Botha's grandfather who had owned a farm in the area. It was used in October 1899 by a large Boer commando to enter Natal. On 8th June 1900, as the Boers retreated from Natal, General Sir Redvers Henry Buller in a surprise move seized the pass. General Buller advanced 22,000 men and 26 guns against General Chris Botha’s 2500 men, at a cost of 26 British casualties. (Source: JB Hayward & Sons Gazetteer)
One of those casualties was Private J. Duffy, 5621. He is recorded in the South Lancashire medals lists, having been awarded the QSA and clasps for Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith and Laing's Nek.
Do we know any more about Private J Duffy?
He is remembered on the Northwich Boer War Memorial at St Helen's Church, Witton.
His name is also on the Prince of Wales's Memorial in Queen's Gardens, Palmyra Square, Warrington (below).
We can be fairly confident he had some link to Northwich, as he is remembered on the Memorial there, as well as in Warrington, but it is hard to establish precisely who his family was. The following information is just one suggestion .....
Could he have been James Duffy, born on 25th July 1866 in Northwich, Cheshire? James was the second son of John Duffy and Catherine nee Sheeran, both from Ireland. He and his twin brother William were baptised when they were 4 days old at St Wilfrid's Catholic Church, Witton Street, Northwich, but sadly William died in infancy a year later. James was also brother to Catherine, Mary, Michael, Bridget, Elizabeth, John and another William (born 1879). In 1871 and 1881, the family home was at 10 Church Street, Northwich, next door to the Queen's Head pub. By the time he was fourteen, James was working as an errand boy. It appears from the census of April 1891 that James was living with his parents at 4 Sheath Street, Northwich, and was employed as a labourer. Note that in 1891, Sheath Street was the name of a road adjacent to Dane Street, not a more modern road of the same name located further east in the town.
Map of Northwich c 1880
Sheath Street, c 1891
Could you be related to James?
His sister Bridget, born on 29th April 1869, married John Patrick Ormrod in 1890, and they had four children - Albert, Peter, Florence and Madeline. Bridget died on 30th January 1957.
If you have more information about Private Duffy, please contact Cheshire Roll.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025