John's Story.
Private J Scragg of 4th Btn Cheshire Regiment died of typhoid (enteric fever) on 6th May 1901 at Springfontein, South Africa. The various newspaper reports of his death give a different regimental number of 5619 (and sometimes a different month of death) from the Army Record of Deceased Soldiers Effects, which uses the regimental number 4480. I believe that these are one and the same person, and that he may have transferred from the Militia in Staffordshire to the Cheshire Regiment.
Incorrect date of death - or a different soldier?
The Medals List for the 4th Btn shows Private J Scragg as 4480, and there are no other Scraggs recorded.
What do we know about John?
Assuming that both regimental numbers belong to the same person, we can state that John was born in Goldenhill, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and that his parents were Samuel and Jane. The 1891 census shows a family of the right names living at Queen Street, Goldenhill, and lists John as aged 19 (born c 1873) and with siblings Joseph, Rachael, James and William. A miner by occupation, John enlisted on 25th July 1899, when he would have been about 27 years old.
The first contingent of the 4th Btn left Britain on 24th February 1900 aboard the SS Orotava. They reached Cape Town on 16th March.
John died of typhoid on 6th May 1901, and was buried in the cemetery at Springfontein. He would have been about 29 years old.
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025)
John died of typhoid on 6th May 1901, and was buried in the cemetery at Springfontein. He would have been about 29 years old.
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025)