Pendeen Cemetery. The war memorial is in the centre of the photo at the end of the path, but we shall take a look around the cemetery first. As I mentioned in the previous Pendeen post, some of the headstones we shall visit here are those of miners who lost their lives plying their trade deep beneath the Cornish earth.
Of course, mining was a reserved occupation during the Great War; the miners were required at home to supply the ever-expanding needs of war-time industry. Apart, that is, from those whose expertise was needed overseas, where, from 1915 onwards, underground warfare was taking a more and more prominent role beneath the shell craters of No-Man’s Land.
Which makes the fate of the 31 men, like James Vingoe Trembath, who died in the Levant mine disaster on 20th October 1919, and whose grave is pictured here, all the more poignant. Although I don’t know for sure, men who had survived the horrors of the war beneath the trenches probably died that dreadful day when the man engine collapsed down the shaft, taking its human cargo with it.
A lone South African, a long, long way from home. His date of death is two years after the war’s end, and I wonder why he was still in this country at that time. I can’t imagine there are very many later South African First World War burials over here.
And so to Pendeen war memorial:
hi my name is Tracy i am a Cornish Mining Researcher i am researching the Wheal Owls mining disaster of 1893 i am looking to find a local miner call James Hall also went by the name Farmer James Hall, he was a witness to the mining disaster. i am looking to find his grave stone and also any additional information regarding him. anything information received would be treated in confident and would not be passed on and full credit will be given. this is not for a collage project or university course work it a interest that i have, look forward to hearing from you
Tracy Williams
Tracy, I wish I could help but I’m just a visitor to Cornwall a couple of times a year, so I don’t think I’m much use to you. Let’s hope this page is read by someone who is.
If your relative was buried in Pendeen Churchyard, you should be able to find that on COPC website, Genuki or Pendeen Churchyard which will give you all burials from about 1837. Pam Urquhart, Toronto, Canada
Re:A lone South African, a long, long way from home. His date of death is two years after the war’s end, and I wonder why he was still in this country at that time. I can’t imagine there are very many later South African First World War burials over here.
Reply:His brother lived at St Just-James’ death was recorded in Penzance-he could still have been suffering from battlefield wounds.
PrivateROSCHOLAR, J J
Service Number 10944
Died 21/11/1920
Aged 34
8th Regt.
South African Infantry
Son of the late James and Clavissa Roscholar
I reckon that’s the answer, Geoffrey. Very sad. Thanks for commenting.
A couple of comments on the Great War war memorial:
1- I rather think that the Roll of Honour web site suggesting John H. Davy was lost on the Lusitania, may be in error. There was a J. H.Davey of the Somerset Light Infantry who died around the same time, but he was lost in the sinking of the Transylvania off the Italian coast.
Private DAVEY, J H Service Number 30126
Died 04/05/1917
3rd Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
2- Re Edward T Lowry
I think the surname should be Lawry-the memorial looks like Lowry.
I have just posted this message on your sister site
Today, I received a copy of the death certificate in respect of Great War soldier Private Edward Thomas Lawry-he was a Tunnellers Mate, aged 22.
He was discharged from the army on 1st February 1917 and the prognosis was that he would not survive long. Indeed he died later that moth, cause of death given as abscess on the lung but his medical discharge report is in no doubt that his condition was entirely due to military service. He Served in France 2 January 1916 to 12 July 1916 and suffered from Phthisis originating at La Bassel in June 1916 when he caught a chill while on duty, sent to hospital at Bethune, developed pneumonia, sent to England 6 months 10 days sick furlough, taken ill at home, admitted 22 October 1916 for pneumonia that changed to Phthisis.
He was the son of Edward Arnold Lawry and Ann, of Leswidden Cottage, St Just, Cornwall.
I am assured there is a more than reasonable chance that he will be accepted as a casualty of the war, but CWGC, who would then erect a wargrave pattern marker on his grave or somewhere in the churchyard/cemetery, need to know the burial location as part of the adjudication process.
Can you help me with his please?
Thanks once again for your comments Geoffrey. I have emailed you, so check your Spam if you haven’t received the mail.
Some notes on James John Roscholar, from a project I worked on some time ago.
He was a Cornishman, but mining in South Africa when he signed-up. Many men, from St Just and Pendeen parishes, served in colonial and US forces in WW1.
James John Roscholar
bn 6
th
March 1886 in Redruth
1901 Census
Trewellard Cliff,1,James Roscholer,Head,M,49,,Tin
Miner,Employed,Wendron Cornwall,,
,,,Clerissa Roscholer,Wife,M,,47,,,Sithney Cornwall,,
,,,Richard Roscholer,Son,S,20,,Tin Miner,Employed,Sith
ney Cornwall,,
,,,James Roscholer,Son,S,15,,Tin Miner,Employed,Redruth Cornwall,,
,,,William Roscholer,Son,,13,,,,Redruth Cornwall,,
,,,Clara Roscholer,Dau,,,11,,,Redruth Cornwall,
His Royal Navy record shows he enlisted on his 15
th
birthday for 12 years,
his occupation given as
miner.
He was posted to HMS Impregnable from 25
th
July 1901 to 12
th
August 1901
Then to HMS Lion from 13
th
August 1901 until being discharged 22
nd
November 1901 due to
defective vision.
In 1911 his parents, married sister Mary Sy
mons and her 2 daughters Clarissa 3yo & Dorothy 2m
both born in Devonport, and his two younger siblings William (23yo single tin miner) and Clara
(21yo single) all still lived at Trewellard Cliff. His father was now a tin dresser and an employer
His olde
r brother Richard (tut worker underground in tin mine) lived at 21 Carnyorth with his wife,
Edith and their daughters Pearl 7y & Violet 4m.
He next appears in February 1914 as a 27yo miner sailing from Plymouth to Cape Town intending
to reside in South A
frica.
In 1915Q1 he married Janie Thomas in Penzance district.
In April 1915 he sails from London to Cape Town as a 29yo miner, his previous permanent
residence shown as South Africa.
As yet no record found of his time in America
He served as Private 1
0944 in the 8
th
Regt of South African Infantry.
He joined in April 1916 & was discharged in April 1917, unfit. During his service he spent a large
proportion of his time in German East Africa hospitalised with malaria. His wife’s address was
given as 26
Carn Bosavern, St. Just on his military record.
He died at his parent’s home in no 22, Carnyorth on 21
st
November 1920 after several months
illness and was buried at Pendeen Parish Church on 24
th
.
His obituary in The Cornishman states he “spent 8 years
in different parts of America. He also made
two visits to South Africa and was a year in German East Africa with the colours”.
On the South African War Graves records his cause of death is given as “consumption of lungs,
wasting and cardiac”. His grave
is also listed as a war grave by Commonwealth War Graves
Commission so his death must have been attributed to his war service.
JamesJohnRoscholar.doc
Thank you Chris. Very interesting, As you say, so many Cornish miners had to go abroad for a living.