The basic family story handed down from my Gran was that her Uncle Alf Eastwood
fought in the Boer
war in South Africa and deserted, retuning to Blighty as Westwood some
time after his disappearing act.
The truth (or rather, whats recorded) is actually different but it shows
you how family stories can change
or be recalled inaccurately over time. Some of the details are correct
but its the numerical information in the
form of dates that's mainly incorrect.
Events in chronological order.
Alfred Eastwood jnr was born on 24th February 1891 so was too young to fight in any Boer wars.
In Manchester, Alf joins up for the Royal regiment of Artillery (no 29715) on 7th October 1908 aged 17
leaving a blacksmiths job at
New Moss colliery, Audenshaw & moves from 22 Audenshaw Rd (next
to St Stephens school). Although relatively minor, the first lie is his age. According to his baptism records, he
is not 18 and 9 months as shown by the attestation paper. This might be the parents fault as they did have
14 children. The fact remains that during the early 1900's, the minimum enlistment age for the British Army
was 18.
He leaves Gosport, Hampshire on 1st Dec 1908 and begins his military service in earnest.
In July of 1909, his medical records show him hospitalised for 19 days at Glencorse military hospital near
Edinburgh, Scotland with Gonorrhoea while in the 21st company of Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA)
which is in Leith. Before the first world war, it was a specialist referral centre treating this type of ghastly
beastliness according to parliamentary records.
His Empire service abroad starts in Cape town, South Africa staying
there from February 1910 for 5 years.
This is just a few months before South Africa began the journey to Independence from the UK
starting with
its unification. By 3rd March, he is a gunner in the 84th company RGA who's divisional HQ is at Dover.
The March 1911 census for England and Wales confirms this was the state of affairs then.
He goes AWOL from the examination boat at Cape town docks on 21st Febuary 1915. The seriousness of
this is escalated by the court of inquiry (15th March 1915) declared on Army Form B. 115 acting Bombardier
Eastwood officialy AWOL:
His army statement of the services actully classifies him with the more serious conviction of
deserter.
Family letters then get sent trying to locate Alf, recording the upsetting
scene. The first one is from Alfs Brother in law,
Samuel Jackson Cheetham in October 1914:
This is curious because the letter is 5 months before he goes missing
and officially declared AWOL by court martial.
Alf's Mother Ann Eastwood (Ann Barrett) enquires about his whereabouts
again in June 1916, saying he was last heard of
entering the German East African Campaign (now Tanzania) :
I suppose its at this point, Boer war and German East Africa can become
confusing.
He was still missing in 1921 as his sister (Ellen Eastwood - Samuel
Cheethams wife) was still writing to the Army.
We don't have a copy of the letter but we know from this record that
the Army received it:
Maintaining correspondence with the Army could be a rouse by the family keep them off the scent. Its well known that
the forces actively track down deserters but I don't know if any such 'visits' occurred in this case.
Alfs army record shows the RGA wrote back to the family telling then he deserted in 1915.
The Westwood truth
The Eastwood family grave in St Stephens church yard commemorates Alfs death with the following headstone inscription:
Charles William Eastwood son of Alfred & Ann Eastwood who died 21st March 1900 aged 18 years.
Also Alfred Eastwood 14th April 1910 aged 55. Also Alfred son of above died Cape town South Africa
18th February 1923 aged 32 years. Also Ann wife of the above Alfred Eastwood (Senior) died
8th August 1924 aged 72
The important connecting detail set in stone is the date of death. A statutory death record exists in South Africa
for an Alfred Westwood who died in Victoria Hospital Wynberg. Date of death is the same, as is birth year and
occupation.
Surprisingly, Alf is recorded as married but his wife does not register the death (which is probably
down to national differences in registration rules).
The Elopement
Piecing together the known facts about Alfs death lead to the discovery of a marriage record.
Alf marries Sarah Sophia Sheldon at St. Saviour's church in Claremount, south of Cape Town
on 11th October 1915, 8 months after going AWOL.
The connecting details on the register entry are his age and profession before enlisting - blacksmith.
The signature on his attestation paper seems to be similar to that on the above record.
Sadly, no trace of Sarah Sophia is found or any offspring. The mystery continues but at least one rumour is confirmed.
He did change his name to Westwood but we don't know if he ever came back to England.
Concluding heirloom
Recently, a rolled gold oval photo locket passed down through the family was discovered with portrait photos of
2 different men in it. One appears to be in military uniform, the other isn’t and the later could be a spouse,
son or brother of the original locket owner.
As can be seen, the photo is of a teenager and the uniform can be identified as an RGA other ranks dress tunic.
Of particular note are the rounded collars with Brass flaming cannon balls / flaming grenade badges on each lapel.
One can assume this is dated sometime in 1909, perhaps taken in Dover.
Sources.
First World War soldiers' service and pension records (WO363) - The
National Archives
L923 Monumental Inscriptions of St Stephen's church yard Audenshaw (1976),
Tameside local studies. (qL923)
House of Commons oral Q&A 29 April 1913, volume 52 of
Hansard
South Africa, Cape Province, Civil Deaths, 1895-1972 from IGI
South Africa estate records - Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004.
Sale item on Bulldog Militaria for Royal Garrison Artillery Other Ranks Dress Tunic.
Thanks to Michael McCann for his invaluable assistance with South African records.
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Last updated 25-January-2024