From The (Western) Morning News:

March 1900

Private John Jordan*, 2nd Devon Regiment, who was killed in the fighting near Ladysmith on February 17th, belonged to Ipplepen, and was greatly esteemed by his officers, who, two or three years since sent him to London under a chef to be instructed in cooking, and he was, when the regiment left England, cook to the officer's mess. A pathetic incident in connection with his death is that he was fighting, not only for Queen and Country, but to release his sister's elder son, named Croote, who belonged to the telegraph staff in the beleaguered town. His sister and brother-in law reside in Natal, the latter being a foreman on the railway. Great sympathy is felt with Jordan's widowed mother who still lives in the village of Ipplepen.