South African Veterinary Corps
James William WELCH
Dresser, graded shoeing smith
Died 7 January 1918 · Aged 59
His story
Shoeing smith James William WELCH, no. 1065, was born in Geelong, Victoria, on 29 September 1858. An engineer in Durban, he had served with Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry and later as a farrier sergeant in Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts during the South African War. His parents James Henry and Alice lived in Bendigo, while his nephew Richard Baker Welch lived in Durban. Welch died at Mingoyo on 7 January 1918, aged fifty-nine, and is buried at Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, grave 6. J. 24.
His service card records embarkation at Durban aboard Ingoma on 17 October 1917 and arrival at Dar es Salaam on 27 October. He died from malaria at 32 Casualty Clearing Station, Mingoyo.
Before the war
- Nationality
- South African service (born Geelong, Victoria, Australia)
- Date of birth
- 29 September 1858
- Place of birth
- Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Occupation
- Engineer in Durban; previously served as a farrier sergeant
- Family
- James Henry and Alice WELCH — parents, of Bendigo; Richard Baker WELCH — nephew, of Durban
Military service
- Rank recorded
- Dresser, graded shoeing smith
- Service number
- 1065
- Corps or service
- South African Veterinary Corps
- Enlistment or entry recorded
- Taken on strength 29 September 1917
- Earlier service
- Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry (1899–1901); Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, farrier sergeant (1901–1902)
Death and burial
- Date of death
- 7 January 1918
- Age
- 59
- Place of death
- 32 Casualty Clearing Station, Mingoyo
- Recorded cause
- Malaria
- Cemetery or memorial
- DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY
- Grave reference
- 6. J. 24.
Connected men
- John AITKENAlso buried at DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY
- Charles Hugh BARRETTAlso buried at DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY
- Mattas Johannes Adrian DE BEERAlso buried at DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY
- William Simon LEWISAlso buried at DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- CWGC-DERIVED CASUALTY DETAILS
- SOUTH AFRICA WAR GRAVES PROJECT — WELCH
- SOUTH AFRICA WAR GRAVES PROJECT — SAVC ROLL
- Original record image
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “James William Welch”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/sa_james_william_welch/.
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