GRACEY, William Parr

Trooper, Natal Mounted Police, Second Boer War

Interred in Pretoria Old Cemetery, South Africa
Remembered on family memorial in Bangor Cemetery

William Parr Gracey was born on the 9th February 1882 in Monaghan. He was the eldest child of James Gracey from Co. Down , manager of the Monaghan branch of the Belfast Bank, and his wife Elizabeth Whitla a local Monaghan girl. The family home at the time being  Dublin St., Monaghan.

Why he ended up in South Africa at such a young age is unclear but go he did and he enlisted in the Natal Police on 5 April 1899. His service number was 2308.

The Second Boer War began on 12th October 1899. After a number of small engagements the British withdrew to Ladysmith. The northern Natal Police, approx 90 men, where also brought to Ladysmith which became besieged by the Boers on 2nd November 1899. The siege lasted for 118 days before it was relieved.

Siege of Ladysmith — a bird’s-eye view by A. Sutherland 1900.  http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/doyle/boerwar/17.html

The Times, 9th March 1900

It is reported that the Natal Police casualties during the siege were one man killed, three wounded and three died of disease.

One of those was the unlucky William Gracey who is recorded as dying of enteric fever on 27th February, the 117th day of the siege – and the last day – the relief column arriving the next day 28th February 1900.

Further information on the Natal Police can be found at www.angloboerwar.com