Zulu War

[fortuna]

Having just found your site about various wars and I wonder if anyone can help me. My Grandfather Joseph Leonard Dobson b.1858 Hungerford joined up as a boy soldier and enlisted with the Kings Own Royal Lancasters. He was one of the few survivors of the Zulu war and was injured at the battle of Conference Hill 1878/79. He served in South Africa, Ireland, India and the UK. I have no concrete information except his date of birth and regiment.
Any information? Thank you,
Fortuna

[Peter Goodey]

Providing he didn't die in service, the best place to start is probably his discharge papers at the National Archives in WO 97. See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14

You will see from reading that that knowing when he was discharged will help to speed up the search.

[neil1821]

1636 Private J. Dobson, according to the Zulu War medal roll for the 4th Foot (Kings Own Lancaster).

It would be wrong to say he was one of the few survivors of the war. In fact, there were comparatively few casualties really except for the 24th Foot at Isandhlwana.

Neil

[fortuna]

Neil,
Thank you so much for that information, I've only just joined BG and it's great to have success with a problem so quickly.
Which leads me to another problem. Can you or anyone help find my other Grandfather?
Sergeant Ernest John Wyse (Born c.1879 Binfield, Near Maidenhead, Berks) and living in Maidenhead.
No 8727 c Company Prov Battalion (at sometime serving at L?nn Farm Camp, East Mersea, Essex).
I don't think he was in the first WW, I believe he was an enlisted soldier around 1910/15 and was possibly discharged due to contracting Tuberculosis and entering Peppard Sanatorium, Henley.
Thanks again
Fortuna

[fortuna]

Thanks for your help.

[neil1821]

Re Pte Dobson, I'd advise still looking for his discharge papers as Peter has said.

As for Ernest John Wyse, can I ask where the reference to No 8727 c Company Prov Battalion comes from, and what date is that?

Provisional Battalion is obviously not his unit per se. A prov battalion is an ad-hoc unit that is thrown together in wartime from any detachments of men who might be available. You need to look for his parent unit.
Assuming that he might have been in WW1, I found a MIC for this possible match:
241009 Warrant Officer Class 2 Ernest J Wyse, Ox & Bucks LI

You'll need to check further to see whether this is him.
Neil

[fortuna]

Neil and Peter,
Thanks for your replies. The address was on a postcard written to him by his wife but unfortunately the stamp is missing and there is no postmark. All I know is that he was very ill by 1927 so this service was obviously prior to the TB. I am living in Spain and find searching very difficult as I can't get to record offices. Neither do I have broadband as we're up in the mountains and I'm pretty ignorant about How, What, Why and Where!
So any help is really welcome,
Jill (fortuna)