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To The Memory Of The Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives In South Africa

1902 Created to the memory of the soldiers, who lost their lives in South Africa.

Montrose C. Chappell, First Contingent, 74th Regiment, died of Tonsilitis, Dec. 13, 1899, at Belmont. Capt. Charles F. Harrison, Second Contingent, 8th Hussars, Transport Officer, Mounted Rifles, died June 10, 1900, of Enteric Fever at Wynberg Hospital, Capetown.

Patrick Henry McCreary, First Contingent, 74th Regiment, killed in action before Paardeberg, 18-20th Feb. 1900. Joseph M. Johnson, First Contingent, 62nd Regiment, killed in action at Paardeberg, Feb. 27, 1900. Jacob B. Scott, First Contingent, R.C.R.I., killed in action at Paardeberg, Feb. 27, 1900. Frederick W. Withers, First Contingent, 3rd Regiment C.A., killed in action at Paardeberg, Feb. 27, 1900.

Inscription worn away.

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Revives Boer War Ceremony

Part of History: Reginald Fendick says it's important we honour all veterans, even if they are no longer with us.

By Mike Hawkins, Times Globe, Friday, February 26, 1999

Nearly two decades after the last ceremony in Saint John to remember veterans who fought in the Boer War, their sacrifice will again be honoured.

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Fendick said a ceremony has been planned for 2:00pm tomorrow at Riverview Park on Douglas Avenue.

Feb.27 is an important milestone for the Canadian military's involvement in the South African war which lasted from 1899 to 1902, Mr. Fendick said.

The date is the 99th anniversary of the Battle of Paardeberg in which Canadian soldiers participated in the winning of their first battle in the history of Canadian arms in foreign wars.

About 8,300 Canadians were sent to South Africa during the war which started after years of strife and controversy over the British colonization and expansion of their holdings in South Afirica and the Boer states.

Of the Canadians that were sent to fight, many were New Brunswickers who volunteered and served with the Royal Canadian Regiment, the Canadian Mounted Rifles, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Strathcona Horse and two artillery battalions. More than 100 men from the Saint John 62nd Fusilers fought in the war, he said.

He said the remembrance ceremony stopped in this region after the last surviving veteran passed away, but Mr. Fendick is one of many people who want to honour the memory of all Canadians who fought in a war.

"There's a great tendancy to play up the Second World War now because survivors are still around. The World War One people are gradually disappearing and the Boer War is almost out of it yet they're all equally important to Canada's history. I think we have to keep a perspective on that", he said.

The idea to revive the ceremony came from a friend in the military living in South Africa, Mr. Fendick said.

"He sent me an e-mail asking me what Canada is doing to recognize this. I didn't have a clue so I started asked around. It then just kind of snowballed", he said.

Mr Fendick felt a personal conviction to make sure something was done despite the fact he never knew any of the veterans from the Boer War.

Mr.Fendick met with members of the Royal Canadian Regiment and got the event organized. He said the ceremony is open to anyone and would especially like those with Boer War veterans in their ancestry to join in the ceremony.

"When we say We Will Remember Them, let us be very sure that we remember all Canada's Sons who have fought and died in all wars for our country, and not just those known to people still living."

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