WILLIAM MADELEY 

Sapper William Madeley of the 10th Railway Company, Royal Engineers (regimental number 57) died of disease at Bloemfontein, South Africa on 20th April 1900. He was 33 years old. He is buried in Grave 133 at President Brand Cemetery, Bloemfontein.

William is commemorated on a plaque on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, Earle Street, Crewe, along with six local men from the Royal Engineers who did not return to Crewe from the Boer War, Sappers Ankers, Coops, Darlington, Evans, Foy, Roberts, Robinson and Talbot, and Lieutenant Charles Trotter from Polesworth in Warwickshire.

There are some facts of which we can be sure. We know, for example, that William Madeley was born in the spring of 1867, according to his LNWR employment records for May 1900 which show his age as 33 years and 2 months when he died in South Africa. His work number was 3711.

Could this be the same person? William Madeley was born in late January 1867, the second son of William (1831 - 1883) and Sarah Ann nee Jepson (1841 - 1919) and brother to John George (1859 - 1918), Sarah (1864 - 1930), Thomas (1870 - 1943), Elizabeth Jane (1873 - 1952) Margaret and Nellie. His birthplace was Wrinehill, also known as Checkley cum Wrinehill, a village on the borders of Staffordshire and Cheshire, located at different times in either county. He was baptised on 6th February 1867 in the parish of Wybunbury, about five miles away. 

In 1871, the family home was at "Checkley, Wybunbury, Cheshire" but by April 1881 teenager William was employed as a domestic servant for Mr and Mrs Garnet, who lived on Newcastle Road, Willaston. The rest of his family had moved to London Road, Walgherton, near Nantwich. His father died in 1883, aged 52. Four years later, in 1887, William gained a stepfather when his mother married Richard Lovatt (1837–1905). Sarah and Richard were living on Newcastle Road, Hough, near Crewe, in April 1891. 

We are sure that William was in the employment of the London and North Western Railway Company, as a labourer. Their records show that he died in South Africa, aged 33. His name appears on the memorial in Queen's Park, Crewe and on the plaque in the Municipal Building. But is he the same William who came from Wrinehill ......?

The pension record of Sapper Willam Madeley, 10th Railway Company, Royal Engineers, regimental number 57, who died of disease on 20th April 1900 at Bloemfontein, and was buried the following day in Grave 133 at President Brand Cemetery, Bloemfontein, South Africa.