Skip to main content

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 22. Military

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. 


94th Regiment
94th regt nam.ac.uk Released prisoners of the 94th Regiment from Bronkhorst Spruit, Pretoria, 1881
NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM


 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.




crown copyright

This document suggests that Ann was born in Aston in Shropshire, around 1840/1. It also identifies that George's rank is 'Colour Sergeant of the 94th regiment.

Harts Army List of 1890 lists George Fox' military career 

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 


It would appear that Mrs Fox died of the wound she sustained at Bronkhorst Spruit, when she was shot in the abdomen, the bullet had not been removed.

The Nursing Record of May 17th 1888. P79

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.”



This very long dry article was written in The Hampshire Telegraph. I have read that in the Victorian era, writers were paid by the word, this would perhaps explain the why use one word when 5 will do, report. It is also interesting to read the Victorian attitudes towards women etc. However, this aside,  it gives an account of Ann Fox' funeral with military honours and some background history.

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.

So whilst we know Ann Fox died in 1888, what of her husband? Various articles online suggest he was unwell himself and was unable to attend his wife's funeral, however an article in the London Evening Standard dated 23rd May 1894, states the following:-
The Connaught Rangers - Quartermaster and Honorary Captain G Fox, retires on retired pay.

The only other possible mention of him, may be in Hampshire Advertiser dated 10 Jan 1890:- On the 6th November at All Saints Church, Port Nelson, New Zealand by the Revd Chatterton, Captain G Fox to Emily, eldest daughter of Frederick Pothecary of Southampton. 

This may or may not relate to the original Sergeant Major Fox, but if it does, there are a number of newspaper search hits for an Emily Pothecary and a George Fox in the right time frame related to London theatre. At the commencement of this blog I identified that the Sergeant Major and his wife had no genealogical link to myself and I hope this will explain why I have ended my searches at this point.  But like so many characters I have discovered in my search for my actual family, I believe Mrs Fox deserves to be remembered, especially as it would appear that the couple had no children of their own.

Comments

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 31. Favourite Name.

EUGENIE MARIA MARY CRETON JAY  The Affair: An 1875 engraving shows a man snooping on his wife as she meets with her lover …   This weeks theme is difficult, it is like picking a favourite child. I rather like my 2x Great Grandmother's middle and chosen name, Rosella, but I have already written about her in a previous post:  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Mothers Day (mypynthdev.blogspot.com)   Incidently my mother said, if she had known the name before I was born she would have chosen it for me. I'm not sure how I would have felt about that as child/teenager. Another name that has drawn me over the years is Catherine Sophia Lissa Woodley and whilst she had, in my opinion, a lovely name, she has an interesting story of her own to tell, I have already written her story:  Catherine Sophia Lissa Woodley: Sister of Mercy (mypynthdev.blogspot.com) So who have I chosen for this weeks post? Well she does have a nice name, but I have for some reason been drawn to her, since s...

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 29. Fashion.

WOMENS HOME INDUSTRIES A Post War Home Workers Story  This post was inspired by a dress.* A family member manages a charity shop (thrift store, op shop) for The Plymouth Drake Foundation and received a donation of a bag of vintage dresses. Amongst these were some by the designer, Emma Hanbury and one that had all the elements of haute couture construction and made of silk. The label inside was:- I was asked to see if I could find any information about Dorothy Law of 10 West Halkin St, Belgrave Square, London, sadly I was unable to pinpoint the lady. However what I did find was a post war band of home workers utilising their needle skills to earn "dollars" for the UK economy. This is the story of Womens Home Industries of no.11 West Halkin Street. In post war Britain, there was a need to rebuild the countries economy, it was seen that there was a wealth of talented women, that could be given practical work that they could undertake at home. Under the instigation of Stella Isaa...

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 48. Strength.

  FLORENCE STEWART PERRY nee ANDREWS 1882-1957 Kindly shared by JP If you have read any of my previous posts you will have perhaps noticed, I write a lot about the women in my tree. In the most part this is because many focus on the males in their tree, their occupations, their military service etc, but there are often 'strong' women beside them, caring for their children, managing on what money may or may not be coming in and often undertaking sideline home work which was so badly paid. One of those women was my Great Grandmother Eliza Pitts, but I have already written about her under the theme, 'Loss'. So today I am writing about another lady, the wife of my half Grand-Uncle, Florence Stewart Perry nee Andrews wife of John Arthur Perry. When writing his autobiographical journal, 'By Devious Paths' John A. makes this dedication:-  Dedicated to the constant and faithful companion on my Pilgrimage, 'By Devious Paths MY WIFE. Writing this I am well aware that ...