British Garrison between the wars

[Brodie]

Does anyone know where I can find out whether there was a British garrison in Heidelburg, Transvaal between the 1st and 2nd Boer War and, if so, which regiments were involved?

Were soldiers on such garrison duties allowed to take their families out with them? Or would that only be possible above a certain rank?

[Sue Mackay]

Does anyone know where I can find out whether there was a British garrison in Heidelburg, Transvaal between the 1st and 2nd Boer War and, if so, which regiments were involved?

Were soldiers on such garrison duties allowed to take their families out with them? Or would that only be possible above a certain rank?

I am not an expert on the Boer Wars but I have transcribed BMDs from a 19c Cape Town newspaper where the baptisms at the Military Chapel make it clear that many soldiers even as low as the rank of Private had their families with them.

Regiments at the Anglo Zulu War of 1877-79 were:
1st (King’s Dragoon Guards)
17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own Lancers)
3rd (East Kent (Buffs)
4th (King’s Own Regiment)
13th (1st Somersetshire)
21st (Royal North British Fusiliers)
24th (2nd Warwickshire)
57th (West Middlesex)
58th (Rutlandshire)
60th (King’s Royal Rifle Corps)
80th (Staffordshire Volunteers)
88th (The Connaught Rangers)
90th (Perthshire Volunteers)
91st (Argyllshire Highlanders)
94th (The Scotch Brigade)
99th (Duke of Edinburgh’s Lanarkshire)
Commissariat & Transport Dept.
Army Service Corps
Army Hospital Staff
Army Hospital Corps
Ordnance Store Branch & Corps
Royal Engineers
Royal Regiment of Artillery
General H.Q. Staff
Army Chaplains’ Dept
Natal Native Contingent
Natal Native Horse
Natal Carbineers
Natal Mounted Police

(taken from www.genealogyworld.net)

See also http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol065ec.html

[SloopJB]

Sue,

What an interesting reply.

My greatgrandfather was in the 4th Kings Own ( 2nd Bat ). I think the first battalion saw more action. Nevertheless he was there. I would like to find out more about the battalion's role and will follow up you links with interest.

By the way I am glad you referred to the Zulu wars. I was confused by people referring to two Boer Wars.

[Geoffers]

By the way I am glad you referred to the Zulu wars. I was confused by people referring to two Boer Wars.


In case it helps to get with the chronology:

1879 - Zulu War

1880-1 - The First Boer War

1899-1902 - The Second Boer War.

[idredge]

my g grandfather James Sumsion was in the Zulu War, he joined 2nd 3rd The Buffs in 1871 and by 1880 he had returned home and married. The little book which has his movements between these time is still with the grandson (youngest son of the youngest son) and the medal is with it also. I would love to see this book and medal but the cousins book and medal are in Australia now. James Sumsion died in 1941 and was given a Military Funeral.

I do have some information on the Buffs movement which was sent to me from the Museum but I would still like to find out more on their movement from Dover to Ireland in 1872 where we found the muster roll for him and from there what happened to them and where they went.

Irene

[ladysmith]

Does anyone know where I can find out whether there was a British garrison in Heidelburg, Transvaal between the 1st and 2nd Boer War and, if so, which regiments were involved?

Were soldiers on such garrison duties allowed to take their families out with them? Or would that only be possible above a certain rank?


The first Boer War in 1881 was won by the Boers and as a result the Transvaal and the Orange Free State became independent of Britain. This status remained unchanged until the British conquered and re-annexed both Boer Republics during the 2nd Boer War. As a result there was no British garrison in Heidelberg during the inter war period.

[Brodie]

Thanks Ladysmith - that's really helpful. I am researching a man who, so the family goes, was part of such a garrison but I think they may have got the timeframe wrong. I don't suppose you know anything about a British presence in Heidelburg at any other time do you?

[ladysmith]

Sorry Brodie but I haven't got any specific info on Heidelberg. Your man could have been garrisoned there during and/or after the 2nd Boer War or possibly before the 1st Boer War.

[Ann_Cestor]

Hi Sue

How do I access the transcribed BMDs you mention please? I have been to the site quoted twice but can't find the actual list. I want to find out if my GGmother went to S Africa with my GGfather, and if any children were born which died there. It would answer a lot of my questions.

[Sue Mackay]

Hi Sue

How do I access the transcribed BMDs you mention please? I have been to the site quoted twice but can't find the actual list. I want to find out if my GGmother went to S Africa with my GGfather, and if any children were born which died there. It would answer a lot of my questions.

Go to http://www.genealogyworld.net/settlers/index.html and scroll down until you come to a series of transcriptions from the South African Commercial Advertiser, starting 1824 (CO53/1 through CO53/5 - am currently working on CO53/6. 1840 has been completed but not yet uploaded as the webmistress has been ill). Of course these will be too early for you if you are interested in the Boer War period. I mentioned the transcriptions purely to show that it was quite usual for families to travel with soldiers.