Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, CC, Tvl, Wittebergen, Surgeon Major, Doctor John William “Jerry” Jerome, Royal Army Medical Corps. A long serving Doctor who retired as Lieut Colonel.
Officially engraved in Officer’s Style: “Major J.W. Jerome. R.A.M.C.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
His detailed obituary in the Army and Navy Gazette, 28th September 1912:
“Lieutenant Colonel John William Jerome, retired pay, late Royal Army Medical Corps, died at The Highlands, Norwood Hill, on the 9th inst, aged 55.
Colonel Jerome was educated at King’s College, and qualified as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England as a Licentiate of the London Society of Apothecaries in 1880.
He joined the Army Medical Service as Surgeon on 4th Feb 1882, and became Surgeon-Major 4th February 1894.
During the South Africa War, 1899-1900, he served with the 8th Division, and was present during the operations in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen, and in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River (Medal).
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 4th February 1902, and retired 15th October following.”
Lt-Col Dr John William Jerome or Jerry to his friends, was born on 11th November 1856.
He was the son of Major General John W. Jerome, 86th Foot, and Harriett Newton.
His father was Irish born, being half Irish and half French, “His mother was a descendent of Sir Isaac Newton. and of the very ancient Newton family of Shropshire, while one of the Colonel’s Ancestors, Reverend George Walker, defended the walls of Londonderry. In fact he came from a family of soldiers, an uncle, then Captain Jerome, winning of the the first Victoria Crosses awarded in the Indian Mutiny.”
Note “Doctor of Divinity” George Walker was an English Soldier and Anglican Priest, joint Governor of Derry during the 1689 Siege and was killed that next year in the famous Battle of Boyne on 1st July 1690 whilst he was going to the aid of Frederick Schomberg, the 1st Duke of Schomberg, Commander in Chief of all Williamite Forces in Ireland, when he was wounded.
Dr Jerome’s Grandmother was Jane Walker, of Trim, Meath, the descendant of Governor George Walker.
Surgeon Jerome’s Grandfather was Captain Joseph Marie Jerome, 86th Foot, who married Ann Bartrom, of Harfleur, Haute-Normandie, France.
“Major General Jerome VC and his brother (Father of Dr Jerome), Colonel John Jerome, a former Commanding Officer of the 86th, were sons of an old Officer of the Regiment, Joseph Jerome, who was quartermaster for the long period of 28 years. Colonel John Jerome (Father), by the way, shared with a Major Adams the reputation of being one of the strictest martinets (disciplinarian) ever known to the 86th, and it is not surprising to learn from the Regimental History that when the battalion moved from Curragh to Aldershot, under his command, not a man was drunk or absent.”
His uncle was also Henry Edward O’Dell Jerome VC, who like John’s father had also served in the 86th Royal Irish Regiment and won the Victoria Cross in the Indian Mutiny. (Now in Ashcroft Collection)
John was one of two sons, his brother Colonel Henry William Jerome CB CMG, had a similarly long and distinguished career.
His extensive set of medals and awards were sold in Noonans during 2021 for £6k Hammer.
https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/past-catalogues/608/catalogue/405673/?
The brothers would both serve in the Boer War as Majors.
John was like his brother, born whilst his father was on service, being born in Colaba, Bombay, India during 1856.
Around this time his father finally retired as a Major General and the family settled in St Helier, Jersey where he grew up and most of his family lived.
Once John became of age he was sent to London to study at King’s College in London to become a Doctor, it was a family tradition for men of the family to become Army Officers, which John would proudly continue.
Surgeon Captain, 4th February 1882.
Surgeon Major, 4th Feb 1894.
3rd February 1897, arrived from Glasgow in Malta.
12th June 1898, went home on leave
7th September 1898, returned back to Malta.
6th July 1899, home on leave
31st August 1899, Returned to Malta.
6th December 1899, returned to England and then sent on to South Africa for the Boer War.
Retired after the end of the war on 15th October 1902.
During the Boer War, as a member of the Eighth Infantry Division under Lt General Sir Leslie H. Rundle he took part in at least 2 notable battles the Battle of Biddulphsberg and Battle of Wittebergen.
He would have been particularly busy at Biddulphsberg, of particular note was a large grass fire that occurred creating a massive blaze across the battlefield, which burned many of the Grenadier Guardsmen present:
“The veld was by then burning over a large expanse. At first the grass on the plain afforded the soldiers some protection, but it soon caused a worse disaster. The wind, blowing in the afternoon from the east, changed direction and began blowing from the west, driving the grass fire towards the soldiers. The men were obliged to run through the flames which rose 1,8 metres high. The Boer shooting increased and casualties began to mount. Many soldiers, not wounded, were badly singed, while the wounded, immobile on the ground, lay helpless and were burnt to death. Amidst the roar of rifle and artillery fire, the stretcher bearers carried their loads of dead and dying through the dense clouds of smoke to the field dressing stations far to the rear. Their work became so great that the fatal cases had to be left on the veld and were ultimately brought away in the presence of Boers long after the troops retired. Meanwhile, the Scots Guards drew some Boer fire and afforded their comrades brief respite before retiring; the West Kent Regiment also supported the general retirement at about 15:30 (see map). The Boer Krupp at the farmstead, silent for a while, once again began shooting and the Pom-Pom, brought out from cover, fired for the first time, under cover of smoke and dust. Seeing the British withdrawal, De Villiers, with a few men, charged out ahead. A bullet struck him in the jaw. He was later to die from his wound.”
http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol086sw.html
In the lead up to the Boer War, Dr Jerome spent some years in Malta.
The Malta Chronicle, 14th Sept 1897 recalls: “Surgeon Major J.W. Jerome, A.M.S. has assumed the duties of Embarking an Disembarking Medical Officer. Address, Great Britain Hotel, Strada Mezzodi, Valletta.”
The Reminisces of an Army Surgeon, of Lieut-Colonel W.A. Morris RAMC retired, from the RAMC Journal Volume 54-55 recalls him as “Jerry”, including an amusing mixup when “Surgeon Jerome” got mixed up with “Surgeon Home” so everyone at the camp was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the great VC winner Surgeon when he showed up instead.
“We were further honoured and encouraged by Surgeon-General Sir Anthony Home, KCB VC, but we were not much in the favour of Benjamin Simpson, the head of the IMS, and for a good reason which I shall relate directly.
Sir Anthony was a most distinguished Soldier Doctor, but rather exclusive and unsociable. He could be cynical, and was strict. I think that it was a shyness from which he could not escape that caused him to be dreaded by Doctors and unpopular with others. He was a great administrator and a very brave man.
Surgeon J. Jerome was also a member of our society. He was with me at King’s and I knew ‘Jerry’ well.
Now, Sir Anthony was daily expected at Allahabad, and Mr Traynor, the Assistant Surgeon at the Rest Camp who met every train was warned to watch for the great Man.
One morning Traynor saw a little man get out of a first class carriage. Immediately he asked him his name and Jerry said, ‘Surgeon Jerome’. Traynor waited on him and carried his luggage, procured a cab, and when he had seen him out of sight tore away to Dr Hendley and told him that Sir Anthony Home had arrived.
He immediately communicated with the hospital until Jerry arrived at P.M.O.’s Office to report himself.
Dr Hendley asked if he had asked if he had travelled with Sir Anthony or had seen him, Jerry spoke of the great attention he had received and it then appeared he had been mistaken for Sir Anthony…”
He recalls earlier in his reminisces of “men of his batch”:
‘There as Lockheed, who became an expert surgeon in the South African War but died before promotion could reach him. James was an FRCS, He was a charming fellow, commanded the Depot and became a CB.
Jerome had been with me at King’s and we had known each other for many years. Jerry was good company and a favourite, but never would allow himself to be overworked…”
He also notes that many of the Surgeons had interest in music and “Barrett once sang ‘The French French Bean’ and was called The Bean till the end of his service. Heath and E.O. Wight and Jerome, who was a Violinist, would sit and listen.”
