[Spelt HARDWICK on memroial] Sergeant 3413, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 5 February 1900 at Spion Kop. There is a memorial plaque to him in Bramford Church, Suffolk, and he is also commemorated on the gravestone of his wife's mother in Gt Blakenham, Suffolk, churchyard. Born c. 1871 in Ipswich, resident Bamford. Eldest of the 15 children of Joseph and Maria Hardwicke. He was a reservist of the 1st Durham Light Infantry and was recalled for service. On the eve of battle he wrote home to his parents from Spearman's Hill, near Ladysmith:

"Dear Mother and Father
Just a few lines hoping you all are well. I am quite well and I wish Lizzie lots of happiness. We have a hard battle to fight in a day or two, we are face to face with our enemy and we mean to do our duty to a man and go through at this time. We can see the Boers from here and they are in a very strong position. Do not worry for me. I feel if I get through this it will be a good step towards the return to Old England - God bless you all and my poor wife. If I fall, try and comfort her, we must do our duty and fight like British soldiers as our Country has a lot at stake and we have an artful and deceitful enemy to cope with but beat them we must and will, we hear there are nearly 50,000 to fight here, they are stronger than us. The paper came in handy. I had none. We have never received anything from England yet only a small piece of pudding but we are not near the railway now so it is hard to get things to us but it is worst for the poor fellows in Ladysmith, Walter is sending one as well as he is alright and sends his best respect to you all - give my love to all the girls and tell them to accept this as a letter to all, I was pleased with yours today, the heat is 114 in the shade today.

Goodbye this time, from your affectionate son. William Hardwicke Tell Joe to be a good boy."

Letter Copyright (c) 2006 Caleta Thomas

Also commemorated on Ipswich Boer War Memorial

Major, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action on the Upper Tugela 5 February 1900. Aged 42. Born June 1857.

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Johnson-Smyth.—Major Thomas Roger Johnson-Smyth, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action Feb. 5th, 1900, in the operations on the Upper Tugela. He was born June, 1857, educated at Rossall, and joined the 106th Foot from the Antrim Militia, Sept., 1878, being promoted lieut. April, 1879, capt. Feb., 1885, and major Aug., 1896. He served with the Soudan Frontier Field Force, 1885-86, and was present in the engagement at Giniss, receiving the medal and Khedive's star. Major Johnson-Smyth was adjutant of Militia from May, 1887, to May, 1892, and commandant of the School of Instruction, Militia and Volunteers, Aldershot, in 1899. He embarked for South Africa with his battalion in Oct., 1899, served with the Natal Field Force, and was mentioned in despatches, L.G., Feb. 8th, 1901.

Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died of wounds 17 September 1901 ay Vryheid. Aged 22. Born March 1879. Son of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis William Lambton (Scots Guards), of Brownslade, Pembrokshire.

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Lambton.-Lieut. Ronald Robert Lambton, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry (brother of Capt. Alexander Frederick Lambton, H.L.I. killed at Magersfontein), died of wounds received Sept. 17th, 1901, while serving near Vryheid with Major Gough's Column. He was the 6th son of Lieut.-Col. Francis William Lambton, of Brownslade, Pembroke, late Scots Guards, by his marriage with Lady Victoria Alexandrina Elizabeth, daughter of the second Earl of Cawdor. Lieut. Lambton was born in March, 1879, and educated at Wellington, where he was in the Orange, entered the Durham Light Infantry from the 3rd Batt. (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regt. May, 1899, and was promoted lieut. Nov. 1900. He went to South Africa with his battalion in Oct., 1899, which formed part of the Natal Field Force, was present at the battle of Colenso, and in the operations on the Tugela Jan. 12th and Feb. 6th, 1900, being severely wounded in the engagement at Vaal Kranz. He also took part in the advance through Northern Natal into the Transvaal. Lieut Lambton was mentioned in despatches by Gen. Lord Kitchener, Dec. 8th, 1901, for his"most gallant conduct in trying to repulse the boer attack" He is buried at Vryheid.

Also listed on Haverfordwest Boer War Memorial

Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action on the Upper Tugela 5 February 1900. Aged 21. Born June 1878.

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Shafto. - Lieut. Charles Duncombe Shafto, 1st Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action in the operations on the Upper Tugela, Feb. 5th, 1900. He was born June, 1878, entered his regiment in Feb., 1898, and was promoted lieut. Jan., 1900. He accompanied his battalion to South Africa in Oct., 1899, and served with the Natal Field Force.

Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died of dysentery at Kroonstad, Orange River Colony, 21 April 1901. Educated at Wellington (Kempthornes from 1888-90).

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Sowerby. - Lieut. Francis Hubert Airey Sowerby, 3rd Batt. Durham Light Infantry, died of dysentery at Kroonstad, O.R.C., on April 21st, 1901. He was educated at Wellington (Kempthornes from 1888-90), and entered the 3rd Batt. Durham Light Infantry in Sept., 1898, being promoted lieut. Dec., 1900. He volunteered for active service, and accompanied his battalion to South Africa in Feb., 1900, and is reported to have served with distinction.

Also listed on St Mary's SA Memorial, Barnard Castle, Durham

Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action at Tanaksberg 29 January 1901. Aged 24. Born 5 March 1876 at Warboys, Huntingdonshire. Son of Rev. W.H. Bromley Way, late rector of Warboys, Hants. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.).

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Way.-Lieut. Arthur Strachan Way, D.S.O., 2nd Batt. Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action at Tabaksberg, south of Welcome, Jan. 29th, 1901, in the fighting with De Wet. He was the fourth son of the Rev. W. H. Bromley Way, late Rector of Warboys, Hants, was born in March, I876, and educated at Marlborough. He was a keen sportsman and a good Rugby forward. He entered the Durham Light Infantry from the Royal Military College in Feb., 1896, being promoted lieut. July, 1897. He saw much service during the campaign and at Sanna's Post, and when surrounding Prinsloo, behaved with conspicuous bravery. Lieut. Way was awarded the D.S.O., Sept, 28th, 1901, and the medal with five clasps for Paardeberg, Wittebergen, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Driefontein. He was mentioned in dispatches, London Gazeete, Sept. 10th, 1901. The following is an extract from the orders of his battalion (then stationed in Burmah), of Feb. 4th, 1901: "The Commanding Officer announces with great regret the death, in South Africa, of Lieut. A. S. Way, who was killed in action Jan. 29th. Lieut. Way was a most promising and zealous officer, and his death is a great loss to the battalion, where he was known and liked by all ranks as a good all round sportsman." His battalion has put up a marble cross in his memory at Welcome, and his name is inscribed on a tablet placed in Marlborough College Chapel in memory of all Marburians who fell in the war.

Also listed on the Huntingdon Boer War Memorial and the Warboys Boer War Memorial

Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died of enteric at Kroonstad, Orange River Colony 15 January 1901. Aged 19. Born June 1881. Educated at South Eastern College, Ramsgate.

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Williams. - 2nd Lieut. John Condé Williams, 3rd Batt. Durham Light Infantry, died of enteric at Kroonstad Jan. 15th, 1901. He was born in June, 1881, educated at the South Eastern College, Ramsgate, and entered the Durham Light Infantry Dec., 1899, and joined the 3rd Batt., which was then embodied. He accompanied it to South Africa in Jan., 1900, and served in the Cape and Orange River Colonies up to the time of his death.

Also listed on St Mary's SA Memorial, Barnard Castle, Durham

Lieutenant-Colonel, 3rd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Died of enteric at Kroonstad, Orange River Colony 21 March 1901. Son of Richard Bassett Wilson, of Cliffe Hall, Piercebridge, Darligton. Brother of the Richard Bassett Wilson. Educated at Rugby. Awarded the C.M.G.

Extract from The Last Post: Roll of Officers Who Fell in South Africa 1899-1902 by Mildred G Dooner reprinted by Naval & Military Press

Wilson. - Lieut.-Col. and Hon. Col. Richard B. Wilson, C.M.G., commanding 3rd Batt. Durham Light Infantry, died of enteric at Kroonstad, March 21st, 1901. He was the third son of the late Richard Bassett Wilson, Esq., of Cliffe, and brother of Col. J. G. Wilson, C.B. Col. R. B. Wilson was educated at Rugby, and took his battalion out to South Africa in Jan., 1900, and served with it till his death. He was mentioned in despatches, L.G., Feb. 8th, 1901, and was awarded the C.M.G.

Also listed on St Mary's SA Memorial, Barnard Castle, Durham