The surname Lightening originates from the ancient Anglo-Saxons – from a family who had once lived in a clearing or a glade.
This surname is derived from an old English word ‘Leoht’, which means light, and specifically means ‘a place of light’.
Eric Charles Dalton Lightening of the South African Infantry’s 2nd Regiment, was born on November 30, 1896.
When the time came for his birth, his mother, Leonie Opal Lightening was sent from India to Fareham at Hampshire in England for the child to be born on English soil.
His father was Charles Stratton Lightening and he was the grandson of Honourary Captain, Charles James Lightening.
Charles Stratton was born at Ferozepore in the Punjab province of India on September 29, 1871 to his parents, Charles and Ellen Lightening.
He served in the British Army from Calcutta and came to South Africa in the 1890s, and enlisted with the Natal Police on September 26, 1898.
On January 28, 1901 Charles Stratton enlisted with the Steinacker’s Horse in Pietermaritzburg as a detective, and also served in Swaziland during that period.
He reenlisted with the Natal Police in Pietermaritzburg on October 4, 1902 with the rank of a Sergeant Warder.
Charles Stratton served throughout the Zulu rebellion and in the years 1906 and 1907, was stationed at Eshowe Gaol (prison).
Among other decorations, he was awarded the Queens South Africa medal.
When Eric enlisted with the South Africa Oversea Expeditionary Force (SAOEF), it was noted down on his attestation form that his father was a gaoler at Vryheid.
As far as could be traced, Eric had two siblings.
Audrie Clare Lightening was born in June 1910 and was at first married to Robert Devereaux Capell, and later after his death married Rodger Ferguson in March 1938 in Pietermaritzburg.
Then there was Esmé Murial Saunders (neé Lightening), who was born in India in 1898 and was married to Reginald Onge Saunders in Johannesburg in 1923.
When Esmé died in Durban in 1937, her residential address was listed as Gwelo in Southern Rhodesia, and that of her parents, Charles and Leonie as the Maifair Hotel in Salisbury, in Southern Rhodesia.
At 19 years old, Eric joined the SAOEF on August 28, 1915 at the military camp in Potchefstroom.
He was single, a member of the St Peter’s Congregation in Vryheid, and was employed as a clerk with the South African Railways in Vryheid.
It was further documented he suffered from epilepsy.
After receiving military training, Eric left from England on December 29, 1915 aboard the H.M.T. Saxonia and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on January 12, 1916.
From there it was onward to Mersa Matruh on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt.
On March 29, 1916, Eric departed Alexandria on board the H.M.S. Megantic and arrived at Marseilles in France on April 12, 1916.
From there, it was onward by foot to the battlefront.
Eric Lightening was killed in action during fierce fighting at Bremen Redoubt, Ypres on September 21, 1917 and his remains were interred at Zonnebeke, West Vlaanderen, in the Tyne Cot Cemetery.
This Commonwealth war cemetery is a memorial to the many missing.
A bronze plaque in the St. Peters Anglican church in Vryheid reads as follows: “In proud and affectionate memory of those members of the congregation who lost their lives in the cause of Justice and Freedom during the Great War. 1914 – 1918. Herbert Eminson. Willie Minott. Eric Lightening. Egbert Northern.”
The letters E.C.D.L, along with those of other brave men, are also engraved on a silver chalice which is on display inside the same church.
The name of Eric Charles Dalton Lightening is inscribed on the War Memorial, outside of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Vryheid.
Lest we forget.
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