Bandmaster Pepperell 1904

“In Loving Memory

William Arthur Pepperell

Bandmaster Carrow Works

Late Bandmaster

1st Northamptonshire Regiment

Also formerly of the 11th P.A.O Hussars.

 

Who fell asleep 29th December 1904

In his 47th Year.

 

Thy Will be done”

 

William can probably be seen at this site.

www.achart.ca/york/schoolmasters.htm

 

If you scroll down the page you come to a fine picture of three NCO’s captioned:-

 

“Non-commissioned officers of the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1896 at Secunderbad, India, where the battalion was then stationed. Schoolmaster D. Gould (on the left) is shown with Sergeant-Major Noon and Bandmaster Pepperell.”

 

 

On the 1901 Census , the 44 year old William, who had been born at Newbridge in Ireland, was living at 18 Old Palace Road, Norwich, and was employed as a Starch Maker. He was living there with his 40 year old wife Caroline who had been born in Colchester, and their 18 year old daughter Maud who was born at Leeds.

 

This would appear to be the only time William appears on the census for England & Wales.

 

The 1st Battalion certainly seems to have been involved on active operations up until 1898 on the North West Frontier of India, receiving three Battle Honours as a result.

 

This includes

"The Last Stand Of The 'Northamptons' At Saran Sar, Nov 9. 1897."

 

"Our gallant troops were in difficulties on the ridge after fierce and desperate fighting, and a signal was given to some of the Northamptons to seek assistance from the nearest quarter. Grandly they executed their mission; but on the return Lieut. Macintire and 12 men were cut away by the enemy. Wounded men lay around them and they would not desert them. Hoping in vain for help, they fought under the shadow of the rugged rocks until not a man was left. Their stripped bodies were found next day: Macintire well to the front. They did their best for England, home and duty, and they did not die in vain. The wounded were all brought in. True specimens, these gallant boys, of British pluck and heroism !"

The Illustrated London News

 

www.ilnpictures.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductDetailID=...

manybooks.net/pages/various16191619116191-8/0.html

 

Campaign fatalities were

 

1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

3966 Corporal John Ashwell - killed on march from Bagh to Barkai 14 December 1897

3740 Private John Bull - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3933 Private Harry Burgess - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

4264 Private George Burton - wounded at Saran Sar 9 November 1897. died of wounds

3918 Lance-Corporal Frederick Gardiner - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

2704 Lance-Sergeant Arthur Goffey - wounded at Saran Sar 9 November 1897. died of wounds

2108 Private Daniel Hearne - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

4443 Private Arthur Line - killed on march from Bagh to Barkai 10 December 1897

2682 Drummer Harry Little - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

4317 Colour-Sergeant Robert Luck - killed at Arhanga Pass 20 November 1897

3358 Private Garrett Newell - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

4142 Private George Okey - killed at Maidan 16 November 1897

3661 Private William Packington - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3709 Private George Passingham - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3680 Corporal Frederick William Pearshall - killed at Arhanga Pass 20 November 1897

2864 Private Robert Plummer - killed at Saran Sar 8 November 1897

4007 Private George Prosser - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3914 Private George Henry Quinn - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3922 Corporal James Morris Roddy - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3053 Drummer John Edward Simpson - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

4501 Private Lewis Underwood - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3981 Private John Woolford - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

3841 Private David Worth - killed at Saran Sar 9 November 1897

 

www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/tirahx1.htm

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirah_Campaign

 

On 31 October 1897, 9,700 troops of the 12,000-strong Tirah Expeditionary Force under General Sir W.S.A. Lockhart, KCB, KCSI entered Afridi Tirah and camped at Maidan. On 9 November, a reconnaissance was made of the crest of Saran Sar 5 miles east of Maidan. A Force commanded by Brigadier General Westmacott and consisting of: No. 8 Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery; No. 5 Bombay Mountain Battery; No.4 Company Madras Sappers and Miners; 1st Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment; 1st Battalion The Northamptonshire Regiment and 15th and 36th Sikhs was chosen to make this reconnaissance. Writing his despatch from Rawalpindi on 26 January 1898, Lockhart reported that: ‘During the advance but few of the enemy showed themselves, but in the retirement, which began at 2 P.M., the Northamptonshire Regiment forming the rear-guard was closely pressed. Its movement from the crest into the valley, which was much delayed by the steepness of the descent and by the number of wounded men who had to be carried by their comrades, was covered by the guns, the flanks being held by the two Sikh regiments. Eventually a portion of the Northamptonshire Regiment became entangled in a deep ravine, where they were fired into at close quarters by the tribesmen. The 36th Sikhs were sent back to extricate them, but evening was coming on, and before assistance could be rendered a party consisting of an officer and 12 men was cut off and shot down. Had the battalion kept to the high ground where its flanks were protected by the two Sikh regiments, its loss would probably have been small; but unfortunately a route was chosen which offered every tactical advantage to the enemy, the result being that some of our troops became isolated, and were then attacked in overwhelming numbers.’

The bodies of the fallen, many of them mutilated were recovered the following day. The ferocity of the attack may be judged by the number of casualties, especially the wounded/killed ratio, the Northamptons suffered one officer, Second Lieutenant A.H. McIntyre, who with 12 other ranks made the famous last stand, killed and one wounded and 21 NCO’s and men killed (or died of wounds) and 27 wounded.

Before Tirah The Northamptonshire Regiment had escaped battle casualties but during this campaign their losses totalled three offices killed and one wounded and 26 other ranks killed (or died of wounds) and 40 wounded.

www.elite-collections.com/Singles_1.htm

 

Traditionally the bandsmen of a regiment served as the stretcher bearers in battle, and cared for the wounded, a role that was supervised by the Bandmaster. Thus amongst the dead of the small party cut-off whilst bringing in the wounded we find two drummers, men who would probably have been well known to William.

 

 

Done