St John's Church, Stratford, E15
St John's Church, Stratford, London E15


Photo of The Essex Regiment Boar War Memorial
The 1st Essex Volunteer Artillery brigade headquarters was located between what is now Cedars Road and The Green, off Water Lane, where the U.E.L.s 'Artillery House' now stands. At least seven batteries of artillery were stationed there from 1874 to 1964. St. John's, at that time, was their parish church.

The City Imperial Volunteers originated in 1899 in conversations between the Lord Mayor of London and Lord Garnet Wolseley, a senior Army officer, as to the possibility of raising a force of volunteers for the war in South Africa. Having received authorisation from the War Office and having been assured of financial support by the masters of the City Livery Companies, bankers and merchants, a fund for that purpose was opened by a donation of £25,000 voted by the Common Council on 20 December 1899.

On 1 January 1900 the first volunteers were sworn in at Guildhall by the Lord Mayor, five aldermen and the sheriffs. On the 12th of January volunteers received the Freedom of the City of London and the following day the first detachment embarked on the troopship 'BRITON' at Southampton. The C.I.V.s served in South Africa until October 1900. On the 29th of October they landed in England and marched through the City of London to be welcomed by the Corporation. On the 31st of October 1900 the Force was disbanded.

A C.I.V. Old Comrades Association was formed in 1902, its last reunion appears to have been held in 1964 at the Pigeons Hotel in Romford Road.



1st ESSEX VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY
PRO
PATRIA

In January 1900 during the BOER WAR
the following Non-Comd OFFICERS & MEN of the 1st ESSEX Vol ARTILLERY
were selected from the 240 who volunteered for active service abroad.
On them was conferred the honour of serving their Queen & Country
and of representing their Corps in the CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS
raised by the LORD MAYOR of LONDON.

Sergt W.H.BUCKINGHAM.
Sergt W.A.BODGER.
Sergt S.G.MANNELL.
Sergt S.J.PYE.
Sergt P.J.CARR.
Corporal E.STEPHENS.
Gunner A.BIDDELL.
Gunner A.J.COATES.
Gunner E.J.DOWSETT.
Gunner H.F.FLOWER.
Gunner T.GOODMAN.
Gunner C.P.HOLLAND.
Gunner H.KIRBY.
Gunner H.PILGRIM.
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After taking an honourable part in the campaign, they all
with one exception returned to their homes & civic duties.
Sergeant PERCY JAMES CARR, aged 28 years,
the only Son of a Widowed Mother,
DIED at SPRINGFONTEIN on MAY 25th 1900.
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This tablet is placed here to honour the Memory of the DEAD
and to perpetuate the remembrance of the eager readiness
of the CORPS to engage in active service in the hour of
NATIONAL DANGER.
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VAIN, MIGHTEST FLEETS OF IRON FRAMED,
VAIN, THOSE ALL SHATTERING GUNS,
UNLESS PROUD ENGLAND KEEP, UNTAMED
THE STRONG HEART OF HER SONS.


If you have any further information regarding this memorial, or the people named on it, we would be most grateful for a copy of it.

 
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