3rd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment
Jesse George Webber, who was born on 27 August 1870 at Shrewton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, the illegitimate son of Ellen Webber, was registered at Amesbury, Wiltshire as Jesse Green Webber. It is understood his father was a Mr Green. Ellen Webber died on 10 April 1871, aged 28 years, and the 1881 Census return shows Jesse Webber living with his maternal grandparents, and presumably guardians, Robert and Susan Webber in Sutton Veny, Wiltshire. It is not known when, or indeed why, he changed his second Christian name from Green to George but it occurred by the time he married.
On 4 April 1896, Jesse George Webber married Fanny Floria Burgess, the daughter of Henry and Esther Burgess, at Highworth Register Office, Wiltshire. At the time of his marriage he was living at 17 Chapel Street, Gorse Hill, Highworth. It would appear they had nine children. Their firstborn, a daughter, died aged seven months, followed by twins, who died shortly after birth. A son resulted from the third confinement, and the fourth and fifth confinements resulted in miscarriages. Healthy children then followed, namely: Florence Eleanor – known as Florrie — (born 21 November 1898, Tetbury), George Redvers (born 24 March 1900, Tetbury), Dorothy Frances May (born 22 May 1904, Tetbury), Ernest John — known as John (born 9 September 1908, Stroud), Beatrice Mary – known as Mary (born 7 August 1910, Cheltenham).
Jesse served with the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment (service number 2338) in the Second Boer War under General Sir Redvers Buller VC. He was injured, and taken prisoner at Rensberg Siding, near Colesberg, Cape on 14 February 1900 where, purportedly, his captors tortured him. He received the Queen’s South Africa Medal and ‘2338 Pte J Webber’ is inscribed on the rim. The clasp is inscribed: SOUTH AFRICA 1901, TRANSVAAL, ORANGE FREE STATE, CAPE COLONY.
It was on 29 September 1914 that Jesse was invested, in Cheltenham, into the Special Reserve Wiltshire Regiment, and was posted to Devizes the next day for service in WW1. His home address was given as Stockwell Farm, Birdlip. He gave his age as 44 years and 9 months, and trade as a labourer. He had blue eyes, dark brown hair, and his height was 5 feet 6½ inches. He was discharged as being no longer physically fit for war service on 31 January 1916, and his disability was described as ‘G[eneral] Paralysis Insane’, originating at Littlemore Camp in 1915. His WW1 service of one year 125 days was spent in the UK and he did not see any overseas service.
Jesse was serving in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment when he died of general paralysis at 15 Guestriss Cottages, Marle Hill Court Road, Prestbury, Cheltenham on 18 February 1917, aged 46, albeit his death certificate and memorial records him as being 45 years.
Private Jesse George Webber is buried in the east of St Mary’s Churchyard, Prestbury, with his wife Fanny, who died on 31 July 1921, aged 49 years. He is commemorated on the Prestbury (St Mary’s Church) Roll of Honour, and on the Prestbury War Memorial where, unfortunately, he is listed as Jessie George Webber.
Researched by Baden Russell March 2008
In compiling this article I wish to thank and acknowledge, the following: Dave and Jimmy James, for their website ‘Leaving Cheltenham’; Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker for their book ‘Leaving All That Was Dear’ and Redvers Webber, son of George Redvers and Grandson of Jesse Webber.