Widows of the 24th

Interesting comment about Pearson's ability

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Stratford-upon-Avon Herald - Friday 28 March 1879

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The Steam-Ship Balmoral Castle
(John Young Collection)

JY

There were 42 widows in the 1st Battalion. The suggestion was put forward that the widowed families stay on in South Africa as settlers. A fund was started in King William’s Town for the bereaved families and £215 (equivalent to £103,900 at today’s values) was collected in two weeks and on 2nd February 1879 a memorial service was conducted in the Military Reserve. The text chosen was: ‘The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places’.

A total of 36 widows and 59 children from the 1/24th Regiment plus Mrs. Shepstone, George's widow, sailed home to England from Cape Town on the mail steamer Balmoral Castle.

The steamer arrived at London Docks on Saturday 22nd March 1879 and was reported in all the national and provincial newspapers.

This newspaper provided details of what happened when the Balmoral Castle docked:

“The mail steamer Balmoral Castle…arrived at London Docks on Saturday afternoon. Quite a number of people were assembled to meet the vessel, among them being friends of colonists on board, and about twenty soldiers who had acquaintances or relations on the ship…The twelve widows of the soldiers who fell at Isandula were on board, with their children…who have asked and are being sent home at Government expense. They were met by many of the late husbands’ soldier friends and comrades. The women and children were all neatly dressed in mourning, and the meeting in several instances between them and their friends was very affecting. They were met by a Government official, who inquired of each woman as to her intended destination, and provided her with ample means to reach her journey’s end. To each of them was given a stamped envelope addressed “Captain Gilder, 5, Wilton terrace, Kensington, W..” to which place they were instructed to write if they required advice or pecuniary assistance, which was to be furnished them by the Relief Committee lately formed. The women one and all expressed themselves as deeply grateful for the kind treatment which they had received at the hands of everybody on board the Balmoral Castle. The commander of the steamer, Captain Edward Jones, Royal Reserve, did all in his power to secure their comfort, and at a concert which was given on board over £32 [equivalent to £15,470 at today’s values] was collected and divided among the women.” The Monmouthshire Merlin and South Wales Advertiser, 28th March 1879.

The Belfast Morning News Saturday 1st March 1879 and the Cape Argus 28th January 1879 gave the names of the widows (with one or two errors). Among them was the widow of my own relative.