Boer war?

[paulphillips25]

Hi,
Happy new year to everyone out there. I am hoping for some guidance on the following.
My GGGrandfather Harley Phillips served in the Lincs Rgt in WW1, I have his service number 20163 from his medal edge but apart from this nothing else on what he did or where, can this be found?

The reason I ask is that he was born 1876 and so was 38 in 1914 and I thought this quite old for a soldier in this war? am I correct in thinking this?

I know he was married in 1902 aged 26 and he is not to be found on the 1901 Census. I was always told he relieved his Brother-in-law by the surname Brotherhood at the battle of mafekin? maybe family tales...... but he appears on all other Census' and his ommission from the 1901 census would add weight to this tale.

Harley was from Loughborough Leic and I know this Rgt was out in Africa at this time. How can I progress from here?

Any advice welcomed.
Paul

[Geoffers]

Happy new year to everyone out there. I am hoping for some guidance on the following.
My GGGrandfather Harley Phillips served in the Lincs Rgt in WW1, I have his service number 20163 from his medal edge but apart from this nothing else on what he did or where, can this be found?

Surviving army service records from WW1 are held at The National Archives (TNA) at Kew. They have been electronically scanned and placed online - they can be access via the pay-per-view site 'Ancestry'.

Note that I mention 'surviving' records - not all have, see this research guide for the bad news (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=18).

You can however use your information to locate the unit in which he served in WW1 and the war diaries (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=20)make very interesting reading, some are available online via documentsonline. (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/war-diaries.asp)


The reason I ask is that he was born 1876 and so was 38 in 1914 and I thought this quite old for a soldier in this war? am I correct in thinking this?

Yes, he was quite old for volunteering in the war.


I know he was married in 1902 aged 26 and he is not to be found on the 1901 Census. I was always told he relieved his Brother-in-law by the surname Brotherhood at the battle of mafekin?

Battle of Mafeking. Use a search engine and you will find some detail about the battle. Have a look at the web-site angloboerwar.com

If he had pervious service in the Boer War AND he then left the army AND his WW1 army service record survive - then you should find mention that he had previously served in the army in the attestation form for WW1.

If his service was continuous from the Boer War through WW1 - then there should just be one service record, which if it has survived will be on Ancestry.

Does his marriage certificate in 1902 show him to be a soldier?

One caveat - if he continued to serve in the army after WW1 and was still in the army after 1920 you will need to apply for a service record via The Veterans Agency - click on this TNA guide (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierafter1913.htm?WT.lp=rg-3114)and scroll down the page for the link to the agency.

I hope that all makes sense, but if not please ask again.