Serlby Park Boer War Memorial

(Photograph by  W.Taylor (12/9/12))

The memorial consists of an ashlar pedestal surmounted by an ashlar urn decorated with goats' heads and grapes. The inscription on the pedestal reads :

"This monument erected by Vere, Viscountess Galway, in honour and loving memory of those of the Sherwood Rangers 10th Company 3rd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry who fell in South Africa 1900-1902. Trooper R. W. Bond, L. J. Mackinder, F Kempster, F Kirk, J. H. Bowness F. E. Lowless, Lieut. A. Williams, Sergt. A. F. Tomlinson, Lance Corporal G. W. Webb, Corporal G. Duckmanton, Trooper G. Pepper, A. F. Clarke, F. Bell, H. Oglesby."

Accordiing to "The Last Post - Roll of Officers who fell in South Africa 1899-1902" by Mildred G Dooner, published by Naval and Military Press and London Gazette 8th February 1901 :

2nd Lieut. Arthur Cole Williams, Nottinghamshire (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry Cavalry, was killed in action at Boshof, April 5th, 1900, a victim to the abuse of the white flag by the Boers. He was educated at Wellington, where he was in Saunders House, 1887-91. He was for a time in the Surrey Militia; he then became a brewer. The loss of this officer is referred to "with regret" by Lieut.-Gen. Lord Methuen in his despatch of April 6th, 1900, L.G., Feb. 8th, 1901, who reports that "Lieut. Williams was killed deliberately after the white flag was held up." The Boer who killed Lieut. Williams was at once shot. 2nd Lieut. Williams had only entered the Nottinghamshìre Yeomanry Cavalry in Feb., 1900, proceeding immediately after to South Africa.

Sergt. Tomlinson and Farrier Pepper were killed in action at Lindley and Lichtenburg respectively.  Trp. Clark died of wounds received at Lindley and Trp. Oglesby died of wounds received at Zeerust.  The remainder all died of illness, mostly enteric fever (typhoid), which was rife in the army in South Africa at that time.  Unfortunately this was often fatal, as anti-biotics had not yet been discovered.