7904 Private A Smithers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). The battalion deployed to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing from Gibraltar on the Pavonia, arrived at the Cape about 18 Nov 1899, and was at once sent round to Durban. Along with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, they formed the 6th or Fusilier Brigade under Major General Barton, part of the Ladysmith relief force. Pte Smithers served in the Mounted Infantry company. The battalion fought at the battle of Colenso on 15 Dec 1899 and in the battle of Tugela Heights 14-27 Feb 1900, the final breakthrough battle to Ladysmith. After the relief of Ladysmith, the battalion remained in the Eastern Transvaal. Pte Smithers was severely wounded at Witklip on 30 May 1901. He died of his wounds a week later. His original burial site is not known. His remains were later reinterred at Petronella Military Cemetery, about 25km North of Pretoria.
7904 Private A Smithers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). The battalion deployed to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing from Gibraltar on the Pavonia, arrived at the Cape about 18 Nov 1899, and was at once sent round to Durban. Along with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, they formed the 6th or Fusilier Brigade under Major General Barton, part of the Ladysmith relief force. Pte Smithers served in the Mounted Infantry company. The battalion fought at the battle of Colenso on 15 Dec 1899 and in the battle of Tugela Heights 14-27 Feb 1900, the final breakthrough battle to Ladysmith. After the relief of Ladysmith, the battalion remained in the Eastern Transvaal. Pte Smithers was severely wounded at Witklip on 30 May 1901. He died of his wounds a week later. His original burial site is not known. His remains were later reinterred at Petronella Military Cemetery, about 25km North of Pretoria.
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