Topic: South African War Memorial - Marsland Hill
Topic type:
Marsland Hill, New Plymouth
This memorial fountain (now not operational) to the Taranaki men who fell in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) was unveiled by Lord Islington, Governor of New Zealand, on the 26th of January 1911.
It was made by New Plymouth monumental mason, William Francis Short. He was also responsible for the drinking fountain in Pukekura Park and the New Zealand Wars memorial scroll at St Mary's Cathedral.
In 1979 the central column was moved from its original location on Marsland Hill to the newly-established Devon Mall pedestrian precinct.
The mall was removed in 1997 and the memorial was re-instated to its original site on Marsland Hill.
Side 1
In Memory Of
the
Taranaki men
Who fell in the
South African War
1899 -1902
Erected
By the people of the district in
Admiration of their patriotism
In volunteering
To join the Motherland forces
To uphold the Empire
Side 2
Troopers
W.J. Goodland
L.E.Smith
W.S. Fleetwood
A.H. Blyde
L.O. Newsham
L. H. Arden
N.T. Patterson
V. Meredith
Side 3
Sergt Major
S Smith
Farrier Sergt
A.W. Sisley
Troopers
T.A. Hempton
C.E.Wiggins
H. Finch
J.M. Patterson
C.E Enderby
Side 4
Unveiled
By
His Excellency the Governor
Lord Islington KCMG DSO
26th January 1911
W.F. Short New Plymouth
Of the above Farrier-Sergt A.W.Sisley and Trooper V. Meredith are not listed in the New Zealand Nominal Rolls (Stowers 2009) Of the remaining 13, 6 died of enteric (typhoid) fever in South Africa and 3 of pneumonia in New Zealand.
Albert Sisley
Australian National War Memorial records show Farrier-Sergeant Albert William Sisley, #930, joined in New South Wales and served in the 2 NSW Mounted Rifles. He died 20 January 1902.
Valentine Meredith
It appears that V.Meredith was not actually with the military (although listed as a Trooper on the New Plymouth memorials) but was employed by the Natal railways. The Hawera Star (29 Sept 1900) has the following report -
Mr V. Meredith who went to the Transvaal, died of pneumonia last month. Deceased, whose parents reside at Koru (near New Plymouth) was the brother of Mr Percy Meredith, lately of the Star staff.
and in Taranaki Herald 12 Oct 1900
....the late Valentine Meredith who died in August last at Ladysmith. The deceased had volunteered for active service in South Africa, and not being accepted he went there on his own account, and while waiting for military employment he took a billet in the Natal Railway Service in which he was engaged at his death.
Also see a letter from G.S. Duane re his visit to Meredith’s grave at Ladysmith and need to ask "the Railways Dept to erect a stone over the grave.".: Hawera Star, 12 December 1900.
