Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900. Died of dysentery at Ladysmith.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has endeavoured to research this man who is shown as 'B. DOE' on the Willesden Boer War memorial. From The South African Military History Society website we know his name, rank and number was Private Bertie Doe, No.973 and he had been attached to the Metropolitan Corps (Wembley) of the St John Ambulance Brigade when he volunteered to serve overseas in the Second Boer War.
We believe that Bertie Doe was born on 21 March 1881 in Barking, Essex (now Greater London), the fourth of the nine children of William John Doe (1853-1908) and Sarah Ann Doe née Tomlin (1850-1923). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1881 in the Romford Registration District, Essex (now Greater London). On 1 May 1881 he was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Mossford Green, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex (now Greater London).
His eight siblings were: Edith May Doe (b.1875); Alice Mary Doe (b.1876); George Edward Doe (1878-1947); Grace Sarah Doe (1883-1968); Albert Edward Doe (1885-1915); Lily Doe (b.1887); Sarah Ann Doe (b.1889) and Daisy Doe (1891-1966).
In the 1881 census he was shown as aged 1 month, living at 6 Vaughan Cottages, Barkingside, with his parents and two elder siblings: Edith May Doe and George Edward Doe. His father was described as a constable in the Metropolitan Police.
He was shown as a 10-year-old scholar in the 1891 census, living at 5 Ship Street, Poplar, London, with his parents and six siblings: Edith May Doe; George Edward Doe; Grace Sarah Doe; Albert Edward Doe; Sarah Ann Doe and Daisy Doe. His father was still listed as a constable in the Metropolitan Police.
He died, aged 19 years, on 22 June 1900 at Ladysmith, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, from dysentery and his body was buried nearby in the Intombi Netural Camp Cemetery. The location of his grave is now unknown as all the headstones were removed to new positions near to the cemetery memorial upon which he is commemorated. He is also shown as 'Doe. B.' in the St John Ambulance Book of Remembrance in St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, South Africa and, incorrectly, as being a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps on the main Boer War Memorial at Ladysmith, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.
From the angloboerwar.com website, we learn that he was posthumously awarded the Willesden Tribute Medal. He would have also been posthumously awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal and the St John Ambulance Brigade Boer War Medal.
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