4th (Militia) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
4th (Militia) Battalion Cheshire Regiment
The 4th (M) Bn Cheshire Regiment were the name given to the embodied 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England on the 1st Jul 1881. The Bn were based in Barracks Square, Macclesfield, England and served in the Boer Wars.
History
1 July 1881. Unit embodied from the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia.
- 25 February 1900. The 4th Battalion (2nd Royal Cheshire Militia) also volunteered and proceeded to South Africa where it was engaged in holding the Bethulie bridges over the Orange River and the town of Burghersdorp.
- 9 May 1902. They were stood down.
- 1902 - www.orbat.com/site/history/historical/uk/ukreserve1902.html
- 31 July 1908 Disbanded when the Territorial Force was created (British Reserve Military Forces 1902 v.1.0 March 17, 2002).
- 01-Apr-1908. Converted from 1 The Cheshire Regiment Volunteers
- 04-Aug-1914. Embodied
- 15-Mar-1915. Converted to 1/4 The Cheshire Regiment
- www.1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t92165.html
- 07-Feb-1920. Reformed.
- 26-Aug-1921. Converted to 4/5 The Cheshire Regiment.
- 31-Mar-1939. Converted from 4/5 The Cheshire Regiment.
- 01-Sep-1939. Embodied.
- 31-Aug-1945. Active in the United Kingdom.
20-Jun-1946. Suspended Animation.
Notable Action and Medals
Boer Wars - Bethulie bridges over the Orange River and the town of Burghersdorp. During the campaign, Sergeant-Major M. FOLEY, Colour-Sergeants H. G. COWAN and H. GRAYSTON, Sergeants J. LATIMER, S. YOUNG and A. H. HOPE were awarded the medal for distinguished conduct and general good service before the enemy and throughout the war. Colour-Sergeant J. H. HOLLAND was awarded the medal for gallant service at the capture of a laager, when he, single-handed and far from his men, captured two Boers under a heavy fire, and Privates OULTRAM and MASON were awarded the same distinction for carrying ammunition to an outlying post under fire on the 12th January, 1901, on the occasion of an attack on Kaalfontein.
4 September 1901. Those listed below were mentioned in dispatches by Lord ROBERTS.
Lieutenant Colonel C H BECK
Major M H NICHOLLS
Major W WOODWARD
Captain F C T TURNER
2nd Lieutenant E B FLANAGAN
Sergeant Major J G WILLIS
Colour Sergeant R BULL
Sergeant Instructor E DAVIES
Sergeant G BRANSON
Corporal M HAVAKIN
Lance Corporal H CARTWRIGHT
Sergeant-Major J. G. WILLIS, Sergeant-Instructor M. E. DAVIES and Corporal W. SHAW of the 4th Battalion received the medal for consistent gallantry during the campaign. The casualties of the regiment during the campaign amounted to 1 officer and 56 N.C.O. and men killed in action or died of disease, and 1 officer and 53 N.C.O. and men were wounded. A memorial has been erected in Chester Cathedral bearing the names of all men of the Regular, Militia, and Volunteer battalions of the regiment, who lost their lives in South Africa.
Officers
Sir George Henry Bowyer, 4th/9th Bt. succeeded to the title of 5th Baronet Bowyer, of Radley, co. Berks (G.B., 1794) on 30 May 1893. He succeeded to the title of 9th Baronet Bowyer, of Denham, co. Bucks (E., 1660) on 30 May 1893. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the 4th Battalion, Cheshire Militia. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the Staff and 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. On his death, his 1794 baronetcy became extinct.
1899-1901. Second Lieutenant Flanagan Evelyn BRANSCOMBE, b.19 March 1881. He served in the South African War from 1899 to 1901, for which he was mentioned in Despatches, received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 27 September 1901). He was invested by the King 17 December 1901. He subsequently joined the 10th Gurkhas, Indian Army. QSA (3) CC OFS Trans (2nd Lt Cheshire Regt), 1914-15 Star (Cpl E Surrey Regt), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (2nd Lt RAF). Harpers 1997. Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book).
25 April 1902. Shipping records from The Times, (page 8b & c). The Britannic left for England 21 April 1902 with the following on passage home: 4/Cheshire –
Colonel C H Beck, CB
Major W Woodward
Captain & Quartermaster A Gregory
Captain J T Hartford
Captain H S Marshall
Captain F W Von Herbert
Captain M P Rathbone
Captain F C Turner
Captain L H T Friederichs
Captain A B Stone
Lieutenant G J Oakey
Lieutenant D’A R Baker
Lieutenant F W Woolnough
Lieutenant M T Cramer-Roberts
and 420 men.
10 May 1902. Shipping records from The Times, (page 12c). The Britannic arrived at Southampton yesterday (9 May 1902).
8 August 1894. Captain C. H. Beck to be Major.
4 April 1903. Lieutenant Colonel and Honorary Colonel C. H. Beck, C.B., resigns his Commission, with permission to retain his rank and to wear the prescribed uniform on retirement.
1940s
Macc Times (Reel 31a) Newspaper 06/06/1940. Pte Stanley RICHARDSON of Barracks Square.
1911 Census
Not searchable by address
1901 Census
No military personnel listed in the census due to service in the Boer War
To the memory of the following Officers, NCO's and men of the 4th Bn Cheshire Regiment (Embodied from the 2nd Royal Cheshire Militia) who were killed in action or died in South Africa during the Boer War. 1900-1902. Boer War Memorial
2Lt Frederick Albert Betteley Pook. Died of enteric at Burghersdorp, March 4, 1901. He obtained his commission as 2nd lieut. in March, 1900, and volunteering for active service joined his battalion, which was embodied, in South Africa, and served with it up to the time of his death.
CSgt J White (Colour Sergeant 5040. Committed suicide 4 October 1900 at Bethulie Birdge)
Sgt J J Bailey
Sgt H Lawford (Sergeant 3664. Died of disease 7 July 1900 at Springfontein_
Sgt J McCaffery (Colour Sergeant 3433. Died of disease 15 June 1900 at Queenstown)
Cpl E Mendes (Corporal 4317. Died of disease 3 February 1901 at Burghersdorp)
LCpl P McGerty (Lance-Corporal 3460, 3rd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Killed in action at Caledonfontein Drift 28 January 1901. [Listed as 4th Battalion in The Boer War Casualty Roll 1899-1902])
LCpl Walter McKay. Died of enteric fever 1 February 1901 in Springfontein, South Africa.
LCpl J H Rowbotham (Lance-Corporal 4410. Died of disease 21 January 1901)
LCpl J Westwood (Lance-Corporal 4305. Died of disease 17 February 1901 at Burghersdorp)
Pte J Bradley
Pte J Cusick
Pte T Downie
Pte J W Flynn
Pte A Frain (Private 2795. Died of disease 3 April 1902 at Burghersdorp)
Pte M or J (?) Gerrighty
Pte J Gillighan (Private 155. Died of disease 2 June 1900 at Springfontein)
Pte J Golden
Pte W Greenhalgh (Private 3044. Died of disease 12 January 1901 at Johannesburg. [Listed as 2nd Battalion in The Boer War Casualty Roll 1899-1902])
Pte H Hague (Private 2710. Died of disease 17 December 1900 at Springfontein)
Pte A Haye (Private 3342. Died of disease 29 January 1901 at Springfontein)
Pte H Higginbotham
Pte C Holt
Pte J McGarry (Private 2731. Died of disease 20 June 1900 at Bloemfontein. [Listed as 2nd Battalion in The Boer War Casualty Roll 1899-1902])
Pte J McManus
Pte A Mellor (Private 4392. Killed in action 31 March 1901 at Van Tondrs Drift)
Pte G Mellor (Private 3062. Died of disease 3 June 1900 at East London)
Pte J T Owens (Private 2256. Died of disease 12 March 1901 at Burghersdorp)
Pte A Reynolds (Private 2588. Died of disease 7 May 1901 at Springfontein)
Pte J Scragg
Pte S Sheldon (Private 4487. Died of disease 10th MArch 1901 at Springfontein)
Pte S Sheppard
Pte W Stonier
Pte M Thomas (Private 2760. Died of disease 29 August 1900 at Springfontein)
Pte W Turner (Private 566. Died of disease 4 December 1901 at Springfontein)
Pte T Walsh (Private 7629. Died of disease 9 June 1900 at Springfontein)
Pte T Whitfield (Private 3959. Died of disease 11 December 1900 at Springfontein)
Battle Honour
4th Battalion: South Africa 1901-02.
Sgts Mess (1891 census)
Sgt Maj William Stagg
QMS James Lemon
QMS (Perm Staff, Chelsea Pensioner) Henry Wright
Drum Sgt Thomas S Richardson
CSgt Ulick(?) Burke
CSgt William Delanty
CSgt George Langsburg
CSgt Godfrey Mendes
CSgt Robert Sparks
CSgt John G Willis
Sgt John M Caffrey
Sgt Isaac Cliff
Sgt Richard Eager
Sgt Amos Goodchild
Sgt William Irvine
Sgt John Nolan
Sgt Thomas Torson
Sgt James Whellan
Drummers (1891 census)
Drummer William J Douglas
Drummer Juke T Hitchen
Drummer James Nobles
Drummer James Pownall
Drummer Charles Sharp
Drummer William M Shepenson
Drummer Joseph Wallworth
Roll of Honour
Useful links
Moretonhampsted Historical Society extracts from 1799 diary
- View Barracks Square on Google Maps.