William's Story.
Trooper William Lightfoot, 3949 B Squadron, 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards died of typhoid on 5th May 1901.
What do we know about William?
His regiment had deployed to South Africa on 8th January 1901, sailing from Liverpool on the SS Maplemore, a trooping ship that was also used to transport soldiers from Australia. The ship called in at Gravesend on 9th January.
The Maplemore will sail from Albert Docks today or tomorrow for South Africa with cavalry reinforcements. (London Times, Tuesday 8 Jan 1901)
SS Maplemore, pictured in Australia
A soldier from another regiment wrote a description of the scenes at Liverpool, when his ship sailed out on the Mersey to the Irish sea:
"It was a never to be forgotten scene, a lovely afternoon, lots of great ships, a vast crowd … All down the Mersey we were escorted by pleasure-boats packed with crowds of people, right out to sea. They yelled and played patriotic tunes."
The Dragoon Guards arrived in the Cape Colony at the end of January 1901, in time to take part in the pursuit of De Wet, but without allowing time for men and horses to get into campaigning condition. The regiment joined the Prince of Wales's Light Horse, G Battery RHA and the 3rd Dragoon Guards in a new brigade under Colonel Bethune. This force, strengthened by six squadrons of the Imperial Yeomanry, was then taken to the north-east of the Orange River Colony, and along with other columns operated there under General Elliot for the greater part of 1901.
What do we know about William?
His regiment had deployed to South Africa on 8th January 1901, sailing from Liverpool on the SS Maplemore, a trooping ship that was also used to transport soldiers from Australia. The ship called in at Gravesend on 9th January.
The Maplemore will sail from Albert Docks today or tomorrow for South Africa with cavalry reinforcements. (London Times, Tuesday 8 Jan 1901)
SS Maplemore, pictured in Australia
A soldier from another regiment wrote a description of the scenes at Liverpool, when his ship sailed out on the Mersey to the Irish sea:
"It was a never to be forgotten scene, a lovely afternoon, lots of great ships, a vast crowd … All down the Mersey we were escorted by pleasure-boats packed with crowds of people, right out to sea. They yelled and played patriotic tunes."
The Dragoon Guards arrived in the Cape Colony at the end of January 1901, in time to take part in the pursuit of De Wet, but without allowing time for men and horses to get into campaigning condition. The regiment joined the Prince of Wales's Light Horse, G Battery RHA and the 3rd Dragoon Guards in a new brigade under Colonel Bethune. This force, strengthened by six squadrons of the Imperial Yeomanry, was then taken to the north-east of the Orange River Colony, and along with other columns operated there under General Elliot for the greater part of 1901.
William died of enteric fever (typhoid) at Bloemfontein on 5th May 1901. He was buried on 6th May 1901 at President Brand Cemetery. He is commemorated on the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards Boer War memorial in Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Greater Manchester, England, and on a brass plaque at St Mary's Church, Church Walk, Nantwich.
His QSA medal bore clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and SA1901.
WORK IN PROGRESS
His QSA medal bore clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and SA1901.
WORK IN PROGRESS