Info on 84th Battery, Royal (Field?) Artillery, please.

[Tinker]

I have discovered that an ancestor enlisted with the Royal Artillery on 29 November 1893, at Plymouth, Devon, aged 14 years and 11 months. Where would he be likely to have served between then and 1901, and what would a recruit of his tender years have done? I would have assumed that he was something like a powder monkey if he were in the Royal Marines Artillery, but this is (I'm assuming) the Army version, so I'm rather baffled, and most of the info I can find pertaining to the Royal Artillery seems to focus on the two World Wars!

[zeno]

I have discovered that an ancestor enlisted with the Royal Artillery on 29 November 1893, at Plymouth, Devon, aged 14 years and 11 months. Where would he be likely to have served between then and 1901, and what would a recruit of his tender years have done? I would have assumed that he was something like a powder monkey if he were in the Royal Marines Artillery, but this is (I'm assuming) the Army version, so I'm rather baffled, and most of the info I can find pertaining to the Royal Artillery seems to focus on the two World Wars!
Try www.firepower it's The Royal Artillery Museum.

[zeno]

Try www.firepower it's The Royal Artillery Museum.
Sorry that should read www.firepower.org.uk

[Tinker]

Thanks, Zeno. I had a look, but the 'history' on the website was more about the museum itself than the actual regiment, so not particularly helpful, and I'm afraid that going there to use the research facilities is not an option for me at the moment.

[simonorch]

As you've likely guessed from the dates your ancestor's battery was involved in the Boer War. The 84th Bty arrived in South Africa on the 11th february 1900, it saw action to the South of Belfast amongst other places. It was equipped with 15 pounders during the campaign.

you'll find a little more in 'British Regiments in South Africa: 1899-1902' by John Stirling and 'The history of the Royal Artillery: from the Indian Mutiny to the Great War' a modern reprint of Major-General Sir John Headlam's book.

[Tinker]

Thank you very much, Simonorch! I have since discovered that he was awarded a War Disablement pension, but haven't yet got round to ordering the paperwork, so I'm guessing that he must have been wounded while in South Africa severely enough to put paid to his army career. What surprises me is that he enlisted in the Army, given that most of his family were connected to the Royal Marines/Navy or the Dockyards at Devonport in Plymouth!

[taniav]

Have a look at Asplin Military site got lots of interesting info on the Boer War

[Tinker]

Thank you Taniav, I will do!