Commemoration Plaque Restored and Repositioned
A plaque commemorating five OAs who fell in the South African War (1899-1902) has been restored and repositioned in the OA Room. It has been moved from its original location in the alcove in the Westgate Room where it was hidden by furniture and in need of cleaning and restoration.
Picture and biographies of these OAs have been found and are mounted underneath the plaque. These are also included below.
Captain Arthur Douglas Raitt
2nd Battallion Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Born January 10th, 1869.
Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant R.W.S. Regiment, June 28th, 1890 Promoted Lieutenant, December 15th, 1891, and Captain, September 13th, 1898 Embarked with his Battallion for South Africa, October, 1899. Died of wounds received January 21st, 1900, in operations on the Upper Tugela.
Queen's Medal with one clasp, "Relief of Ladysmith."
Captain Edward David Prows Wickham
22nd Battallion (" Roughriders ") Imperial Yeomanry. Served with the first contingent of Imperial Yeomanry as Sergeant during 1900. Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, March 3rd, 1901. Promoted to the rank of Captain, March 27th, 1901.
Killed in action at Doorn River, Orange River Colony, October 16th 1901.
Queen's Medal with four clasps, "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Belfast", "South Africa, 1901".
Sergeant John Clifford McIlwraith
34th Company (Middlesex) Imperial Yeomanry, 11th Battallion. Originally, Sergeant in Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Left England, February 28th, 1900; arrived Cape Town, March 20th; left Maitland Camp, April 19th; captured at Senekal Kopje, May 25th. Returned to the firing line at Harrismith, October 14th; 1900.
Left ill at Reitz, December 7th, 1900. Died of enteric fever, December 7th, 1900.
Queen's Medal with three clasps, "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal".
Corporal James Howard McIlwraith
Younger brother of Sergeant J. C. Mcllwraith, 34th Company (Middlesex) Imperial Yeomanry, 11th Battallion. Originally Corporal in Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Left England, February 28th, 1900; arrived Cape Town, March 20th; left Maitland Camp, April 19th.
Left ill at Sterkfontein, January 5th, 1901, for hospital. Died of enteric fever at Winburg, January 22nd, 1901.
Queen's Medal with four clasps, "Wittebergen", "Cape Colony", "Transvaal", "South Africa, 1901".
Trooper Cecil F. Longland
23rd Company (Duke of Lancaster's Own) Imperial Yeomanry. Served in South Africa during 1900, and the early part of 1901.
Died at Harpenden, May 22nd, 1901, of enteric fever contracted on the homeward voyage on board the troopship "Orotava".
Queen's Medal with four clasps, "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal", "South Africa, 1901".
The plaque in its new position in the OA Room.