Worcestershire Regiment

I am a military historian and battlefield guide based in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Last week, while in the Free State town of Ficksburg, I came across the grave of Lance Corporal A Gillings - the same as my surname (which is not all that common) of the 1st Worcesters. The date of death is shown as 11th February 1901.
According to the list of casualties on the website, a L/Cpl Gittings died of disease in this area.
The metal cross on his grave clearly states that his surname is Gillings.
Will it be possible to check the Regimental records? If necessary, I can ask the South African Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (which is now tasked with maintaining military cemeteries where there is a minimum of 10 graves) to amend the name. I have a photograph of the cross should you require it but am not certain if it can be posted onto this site. I can e-mail it to you if you wish.
Kind regards, Ken Gillings

Hello Ken, I don't have access to Regimental archives but checking on Ancestry for you I would say the cross should read Gittings....it does show an A Gittings Lance Corporal !st Worcesters dying that day but no man called Gillings at all.....Regards Colin

Thank you Colin. Do you know of anyone at the Worcesters' archives who could verify it? Odd that the cross (one of those erected by the Guild of Loyal Women) should read Gillings if he was a Gittings.
As mentioned, I have a photo of the cross, so if you'd like to see it my e-mail address is ken.gillings@mweb.co.za . I'll e-mail it to you with pleasure.
Which brings me to the next point of course; if you need help with any South African field work, I'm here; let me know.
Regards, Ken

Ken...Looking at the records available on this site L Cpl A Gittings had the number 5353....but I'm sure a more knowledgeable member will be in touch soon..... cheers Colin

Ken,
5353 L/Corp. A GITTINGS 1ST Batt. Worcesters was awarded the Queens S Africa Medal with the clasps CAPE COLONY, WITTERBERGEN ,S.A 1901.
The medal roll states DEAD and DECEASED 01. His army number indicates enlistment between 1/2/1898 and 5/1/1899.
corona.

Many thanks indeed. That solves that riddle, but the next stage is to give the poor man his proper name - change Gillings to Gittings. Once I have the authorisation from the Regiment, I can approach the CWGC to change it.
Regards, Ken

Hi Ken,

As far as I can tell the name is correctly shown on this website as Lance Corporal A. Gittings (5353).

Regards,

Louis (webmaster)