Brecon Barracks

[zane]

Hi

This is my first post and it is a very long shot! My gg grandfather on my mothers side was called James Jones, he married my gg grandmother (Emily Chance)in 1907 , she was 25 and his address was Brecon Barracks, I know he was a soldier, in the South Wales Borderers and had a horse called Oyster and in 1907 he was aged 35, his father was called John Jones and he may have had a brother called Jack or possibly John, like I said it is a long shot, I dont know when he left the army, I cannot find him in any census and not knowing where he was born makes it very difficult looking up births, James Jones is a very popular name! |banghead|

Thanks for any help!

Extra

On the birth certificate of my nan who was the first born it has that James was in the South Wales Borderers but didnt have his service number on, so that doesnt help me much, I have their marriage certificate and it doesnt have it on there either, so I am still banging my head!! It is quite difficult trying to find out info from over here, might have to come back over to the UK for a holiday a family tree holiday, no visiting family just places where I can visit for information ha ha

[keith9351]

I'm not sure if this helps but Brecon was the South Wales Borderers training depot.
Looking at his age I think he would have been to old to have just enlisted, maybe he was training new recruits.

The 1st Battalion were in India and the 2nd Battalion were in Aldershot at the time of this marriage.

www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/024SWB.htm

If he was with the 2nd Battalion before going back to Brecon he could have fought in the Boer War and would have received a medal. I'm don't know if you can look these up on-line.

Keith

[blue eyes]

Hi Zane,

My grandfather was in the Welsh boarder guards special reserve at Brecon about 1911/12 and have been able to get his army record, this was from Kew (well got somebody else to do it). As I can rember he gave his place of birth, ( not address, told a few porky pies ) his fathers address and his brothers address. Whether this is the right way to go it may be another avenue for you to use.

Julie

[zane]

Hi

Thanks guys, I didnt give the Boar War a thought, so that is an avenue to try, I wish I had started looking for family trees ten years ago when my grandparents were alive! I dont have a place of birth for James yet... but I like the idea of getting his service record, I will keep on digging, I will keep you posted if I have any more luck! :)

[blue eyes]

Hi Zane,

Found this birth on the free bmd. As follows:-

James M Jones year 1913 mothers maiden name Chance dist Merthyr T. vol 11a page 1617.

Julie

[zane]

Thanks Julie, it is all coming together I have a death date and place as well, so have sent off for the certs.!

[zane]

just updating this brick wall which is still a brick wall :( James Jones was born on 24 Feb 1871 in Rhymney Monmouthshire and died in Aug 1960 in Conventry.

In the 1911 census he was an army pensioner and worked as a brick layer for an ironworks, he lived in Market St Dowlais - how many years would he have had to serve to become an army pensioner?

In Aug 1907 he was a soldier in the South Wales Borders, (my nans birth cert confirms this), in Feb the same year he was in the South Wales Borderers (Wedding cert confirms this)

I cannot find him on the 1891 and 1901 census - if he was over seas with the army would there have been a census done for them, 1901 he could have been in the Boer war as has been suggested, but as yet I have no service number for him, so struggling a bit here.

My nan (since died) has said that she rememberd her dad in uniform with a horse named Oyster, if he had re-enlisted because of the war, would he have joined TSWB again or another regiment, 1914 would have made my nan 7 which would tie in with her memory! Still struggling with this one, it seems to be hard with not having the service number as there are trillions of James Jones's!

Thanks for any more suggestions,

Zane

[Procat]

I cannot find him on the 1891 and 1901 census - if he was over seas with the army would there have been a census done for them, 1901 he could have been in the Boar war as has been suggested, but as yet I have no service number for him, so struggling a bit here.Zane

Hi Zane,

Unfortunately the names of soldiers serving overseas at the time of the 1891 and 1901 census were not recorded.

[zane]

Hi

Thanks for the reply, did think it was a bit of a wild card, think that may be one brick wall that will stay up a little longer :(

[Ladkyis]

The South Wales Borderers' Regimental Museum is at The Barracks, Brecon. Why not write to them and see if they can help. The museum is fantastic. I have some photographs of some of the displays, including the ones about Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift. They would probably have the regimental diaries, not that our ancestors would be mentioned unless they were very bad or very good.
If you would like a copy of some of the photographs PM me and I will sort something out.

[carolchipp]

Don't know if you have this:
1881
James Jones born Rhymney 1871 (the only other James Jones whose birthplace is specified as Rhymney is 9 at the time of the census, so too young)
His father is John Jones (pattern maker) and he has a 12 year old brother called John.
Ref RG11/5248 page 10 Copyright TNA

[carolchipp]

In 1891 there is a James Jones, House Painter, aged 20 born in Rhymney, living in Dowlais as a lodger. A possible perhaps?
RG12/4439 page 28 Copyright TNA

[zane]

Yes think I might do that ladkyis, they might be able to point me in another direction if they can't help me - thanks ;0

[jeffersj]

Zane

Like you I was struggling to find my g/father as he was missing from 1901 census and with help from this forum and the national archives I found out that he was indeed serving in the Boer war 1901-1902, althgough he was in the Northumberland Fusiliers he had been serving in India, Australia and Mauritius. The regimental number would assist you greatly.

Good Luck

Jeff

[zane]

Sorry Carolchipp must have missed your replys earlier, I have the 1881, census with him and yes that is him, havent looked at the 1891 one which could be a possibillty so will look at that one in a minute, emailed the South Wales Borderers Museum a couple of days ago, so hopefully will hear from them in the next few days, but without his regiment number don't hold out a lot of hope, but you never know ...............! ;0