ANN FOX
THE WIFE OF SERGEANT MAJOR FOX
I have already written about my Grandfathers Military career in a stand alone blog.
Maurice Frederick Perry 1901 - 1978: MILITARY (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)
I have also included my Great Grandfather, George Arthur Perry's ignominious army career in the blog of his life. So who am I going to include within the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks title post, Military?
Well, firstly this person is in fact no relation to me at all, but I came across the story, whilst trying to find out any little snippet of information as to who the above named Great Grandfather may be. I had discovered a newpaper article of a Sergeant Major George Fox, who had stood surety for a loan which my Great Grandfather owed him.
I was quite surprised at the number of Sergeant Major Foxes, there were. One committed suicide using a rifle, he had another rifle primed on the table in case the first one did not complete the task. But this incident occurred in 1866, years before the court case, so he wasn't the man.
However the military story I am going to relate may or may not be the Sergeant Major Fox associated with my Great Grandfather. But then the main part of the story is not actually about the Sergeant Major, but his wife. Anyone who has looked at my wider blog may have seen that I do like to write about strong, often single, women in my ancestry. Mrs Fox has her own Military story to tell during the First Boer War.
Although this photo is unclear it is one taken of the 94th regiment and the central figures are 3 women. One of these would be Ann Fox, whilst the other are Mrs Maistre and Mrs Smith, who had her 2 children with her.Unfortunately I have not been able to identify a definite marriage for Sergeant Major Fox and Ann(ie). I have found the pair in the 1871 census, with the Army at Aldershot.
38 Lieut. Fox served with the 94th Regiment in the Zulu war of 1879, and was present in the engagement at Ulundi, and in the subsequent operations against Sekukuni, including the storming of the stronghold (Medal with Clasp). Served in the Boer war of 1880-81, and was present with the 94th Regiment in the engagement at Bronkhorst Spruit—severely wounded (mentioned in despatches).
The London Gazette shows George Fox' promotion on Dec 17th 1881
The Connaught Rangers, Sergeant-Major George Fox to be
Quartermaster, vice P. Lacey, posted to the 4th Battalion. Dafed 17th
December,1881
The 94th Regiment having been incorperated into the Connaught Rangers.
From newspaper reports it would appear that Sgt Major Fox and his wife were well regarded by the troops and trainee's in his regiments over the years, with presentations of gifts at regimental dinners and suchlike.
As the Harts list indicates George Fox was wounded at the Bronkhorst Spruit, as was his wife. Both were captured by the Boers as Prisoners of War. During this time both Mrs Fox and another of the wives, Mrs Maistre, tended the injured and wounded fellow prisoners. For their care of these troops both women received the Order of the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria, both were early recipients of this medal, the first being Florence Nightingale. Mrs Smith received her own honour later.
https://collection.nam.ac.uk I am delighted to hear that a well-deserved tribute has been
paid to military nursing in the shape of a handsome marble memorial, which has
been erected in the cemetery at Southsea, in honour of the late Mrs. Fox, whose
death was, by special order of the Duke of Cambridge, signalised by a military
funeral. The inscription on the memorial is as follows : “ Sacred to the memory
of Mrs. George Fox, wife of Quartermaster George Fox, 2nd Connaught Rangers
(94th Regiment), who died at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth, on January 22nd 1888, from the effects of wounds received in the action of Bronker’s Sprint,
Transvaal. For her heroic and unselfish conduct on that ,occasion in nursing
the wounded-desperately wounded though she was herself-she was decorated by Her
Majesty with the Order of the Royal Red Cross. This monument is erected to her
memory as a token of affection and esteem by the officers (past and present),
non-commissioned officers, and men of the 2nd Connaught Rangers. Well done, thou
good and faithful servant’ .” The inscription is surmounted by the
regimental crest, a crown, an elephant, the word l‘ Seringapatam,” and “ 2nd
Battalion the Connaught Rangers.”
HAMPSHIRE TELEGRAPH. 28 January 1888.
A Heroine’s Funeral at Portsmouth
Unique Demonstration
Never before, so far as the proverbial oldest inhabitant’s
memory goes, in the garrison of Portsmouth has such a ceremony taken place, as
on Wednesday, when during the afternoon, with all the honours appertaining to
any warrior, the remains of the late Mrs Fox, wife of the Quartermaster of the
2nd Connaught Rangers were consigned to ‘Mother Earth’. A woman
amongst many the lady certainly was, a true soldiers wife she proved and it was
but fitting that all ranks in the garrison made an honoured tribute at her
obsequies. The deceased lady possessed a record of which any British woman may
be proud and even envy as the annals of the Red Cross Society will show:- ‘On
the 20th Dec 1880, the headquarters and two companies of the 94th
Foot on the march, were suddenly attacked by the Boers. The whole of the
officers, non commissioned officers and men were killed, wounded or taken
prisoners. Amongst the wounded was Mrs Fox, wife of the Regimental Sergeant
Major. To add to the anxiety of the situation Sergeant Major Fox, was himself,
badly hit and unable to render any assistance to his wife. The Hardships and
discomforts experienced by the wounded prisoners were bad enough for the men to
stand, but tenfold more for the women. Obliged by the severity of their wounds
to remain at Bronkhorst Spruit, where the attack was made, Mrs Fox, as soon as
she able to move, set to work to attend upon and alleviate the suffering of the
soldiers.’
The regiment also boasts of another heroine, the fact taken
from the same journal being as follows:- ‘Mrs Maistre, wife of the then
orderly-room sergeant, whilst on the march was, with the others, attacked at
Bronkhorst Spruit, where Lieutenant-Colonel Austruther, Captains Nairne and
McSwiney, Lieutenant Hume and 88 non-commissioned officers and men were
wounded. All the wounded officers died with the exception of Lieutenant Hume.
The colours were carried on that disastrous day and out of action by Colour
Sergeant Maistre and Sergeant Master Tailor Pearce and were eventually torn
from the staves and concealed under the clothes of Sergeant Bradley and
Conductor Egerton, who thus carried them safely to Pretoria. Both men were
awarded the medal for distinguished conduct in the field and Sergeant Egerton
was subsequently promoted to a commission in the 94th Regiment. It
was in the action of the 20th December 1880 that Mrs Maistre, wife
of the Sergeant who carried and saved the colours fairly won the decoration of
the Royal Red Cross Order by rendering valuable aid to the surgeon at the
critical moment and during the four months that the wounded remained Prisoners
of war. The assistance, runs the dry official report, rendered by Mrs Maistre
and Mrs Fox, the cheerful resignation and laudable fortitude with which their
hardships and sufferings were borne, were beyond all praise.
Instead of quailing under the hail of bullets that for half
an hour rained upon the surprised detachment from some of the best rifle shots
in the world, Mrs Maistre calmly went about her true woman’s mission of
soothing, suffering, rendering help which men were powerless to give.
The deceased lady (Mrs Fox) was born in Birmingham and was
47yrs and 9 months old. She was married 23 years ago and had relations in
Wisconsin, America, where her heroic deeds have been the theme of much applause
and genuine appreciation. As was only natural on such an exceptional occasion
the funeral partook of a most unusual and unique character. In order to render
due to honour to the brave dead, every effort was made to render the due honour
the occasion a memorable one. Of course to bury the body of a lady – even
though she was the wife or other relative of an Army Officer, however
distinguished, with military honours, requires a good deal of consideration by
‘the powers that be’ but the estimation of the deceased lady’s services in the
cause of humanity called forth the following telegram from Horse Guards on
Tuesday dated January 24th 4.55pm from HRH The Duke of Cambridge to
the General Commanding the Troops at Portsmouth:- ‘His Royal Highness approves
of an exceptional case, owing to Mrs Fox’s special good service in the field.’
The funeral cortege left Cambridge Barracks about 2 o’clock.
Every available officer and men of the regiment was drawn up on parade – which
was practically an ‘all present’ one and in addition to these there were a
number of other regiments and departments in the garrison. A guncarriage of the
3rd Depot Brigade Royal Artillery of Hilsea, drawn by six horses
carried the coffin, which was literally covered with wreaths of the most
handsome description, amongst those sent being some by Colonel Bunbury and officers
of the regiment, the Sergeant Major and other non-commissioned officers of the
corps, Major Froom, Major Brooke, Captain Ellis, Captain Connor, Captain Anton,
General and Mrs Montague, Colonel and Mrs Brook, Sergeant and Mrs Maistre, Mrs
Smith. After the firing party, who marched with arms reversed, under Captain
Connor and Lieutenant Pollocks came the guncarriage bearing the coffin, the
pall-bearers being Colonel Bunbury, Major Brooke, Major Froom, Captains Ellis,
Orton and Massey following the mortal remains came the mourners comprising
Quartermaster Fox, Lieuts. Jones, Mitchell, Carden, Chichester and Hobbs. Then
came the whole of the regiment and a long list of officers and others from
other regiments and depots in garrison desirous of paying a last tribute of
respect to an honourable and honoured woman. The coffin was borne by the
following non-commissioned officers all of whom were wounded at Bronkhorst
Sprint, viz. Sergeant Major Earle, Quartermaster-Sergeant Jamieson,
Paymaster-Sergeant McClelland, Master Tailor Pearce, Colour Sergeant Babbington
and Sergeant Scott. Captain Trollope A.D.C. was wounded at Bronkhorst Sprint
viz, Sergeant Major Earle, Quartermaster=Sergeant Jamieson, Paymaster-Sergeant
McClelland Master Tailor Pearce, Colour Sergt. Scott, Captain Trollope, A.D.C
to General Sir George Willi represented the Commander in Chief of th Southern
Military District. Along the line of route, which was an extended one, the
bands played alternately the ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul’ and other funeral dirges
and the thoroughfares which the cortege passed were lined with large numbers of
spectators. Attached to the wreath sent by the officers of the regiment was a
card bearing the following inscription: ‘From the officers Connaught Rangers in
affectionate remembrance of Mrs Geo. Fox; 25th January 1888.’ At the
crematorium gates the coffin was met by the Rev. J. Y. Barton senior Chaplain
to the Forces, who conducted the funeral ceremony. Around the grave the men of
the regiment formed up, and the closing ceremony was a solemn and impressive
one. The final words of the beautiful service of the dead as prescribed by the
Church of England having been pronounced, three volleys were fired over the
grave and the crowd of military, naval and civil personages, which had
assembled to do honour to the departed, gradually dispersed.
In an interesting article on Thursday on the funeral of Mrs
Fox at Portsmouth, the Daily Telegraph says:-
A more than usually moving spectacle was witnessed yesterday
by the inhabitants of Portsmouth, where the body of a brave Englishwoman was
escorted through the chief thoroughfare of that important garrison town with
all the ‘pomp and circumstance of war’. This extraordinary tribute of respect
was, with the ready approval of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief paid
to the remains of the late Mrs Fox, wife of the Quartermaster of the 2nd
Connaught Rangers now stationed at the Cambridge Barracks, by virtue of a
district order promulgated by Lieut-General Sir George Willis and directing that
the deceased lady’s funeral should be conducted ‘with military honours.’ With soldierly brevity and simplicity of
diction the order sets forth the services of entitling Mrs Fox to receive thus
unwonted post-mortem distinction. Sir George Willis states that she was
‘dangerously wounded in action at Bronkhorst Spruit, Transvaal, and remained
for four months prisoner of war in the Boer Camp, where in spite of her own
serious injuries she nobly devoted herself to alleviating the suffering of her
wounded fellow prisoners under circumstances of exceptional hardship.’
Subsequently the decoration of the Royal Red Cross was conferred upon her by
the Queen’s personal command, ‘for special devotion with competency displayed
in onerous duties with Her Majesty’s troops.’ Few more splendid obituary
records have come to our knowledge of late years than that thus tersely
narrated in the district order issued by the distinguished officer at present
in command of Portsmouth garrison. It bears conclusive testimony not only to
the heroic courage manifested by Mrs Fox upon the field of battle, but in her
great mercifulness of ‘unstrained quality,’ irrepressible humanity and
magnificent self-abnegation. The dead woman thus unwontedly honoured was at
once fearless in danger, resolute in the endurance of physical pain, and
tenderly pitiful at the anguish suffered by her gallant comrade’s captive, like
herself, to a rough and undisciplined foe. The discharge of ‘onerous duties’
with which she is officially credited in the above quoted rescript must have
been in the nature of voluntary services, spontaneously rendered and the
outcome of high souled patriotism, for even as the wife of a commissioned
officer, she cannot have held any recognised position in a corps ------ and if
only by privilege of her sex, was most assuredly, a non-combatant. Mrs Fox
probably accompanied her husband to South Africa by permission of the superior
military authorities; it can only have been in obedience to her own sense of
wifely duty that she shared with him the fatigues and perils of an arduous
campaign in a semi savage country. She may, it is true, have been attached to
the ambulance service in the character of a volunteer hospital nurse or
attendant, but is still more likely that she succeeded in getting to the front
by indomitable force of will, all rules and regulations notwithstanding.
Whither the gallant Quartermaster orders took him thither proceeded his
great-hearted wife. When her husband’s comrades went into action at Bronkhorst
Spruit, Mrs Fox marched with them, faced the enemy and received a dangerous
wound under fire. Taken prisoner by the Boers, her brave spirit never blanched,
but prompted her tend her fellow captives, nobly unmindful of her own painful
hurts. This was, indeed, a noble woman, an honour to her country, one of whom
every true Briton might aptly say, in the words of Shakespeare, ‘She should
have died hereafter.’ Her deeds have rendered her a name in the history of our
Army, a name which will be venerated by English soldiers throughout ages to
come.
Thank you for sharing the story of Mrs. Fox, she is a heroine worth remembering. Her experience, and death, in South Africa could be a movie.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
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