Boer War Records

[Andalucia]

Hi All

Im Anthony and im new. just find this site and it looks great.

Just after some advice pleas.

My greatr grandfather served with the East Lancashire Regiment during ww1. i have since found out that he was on a reserve list when ww1 started and had served before with the army in India and South Africa. As he was born in 1878 i assume he would have taken part in the Boer war. Trouble is i have no regiment for him. is it possible to do searches for soldiers records during the Boer war. Would he have served with the East Lancashire Regiment first time around and be placed on their reserve list? he served in the 1st Battalion during ww1.He was from Liverpool.

Not much to go on sorry.

Thanks

Anthony.

[keith9351]

If you try Kevin Asplin site it my be of use

He has the story of a chap called Bates Foster in the 1st Batt. from when he enlisted to being sent to India and S. Africa. Hope it can give you an insight to life in the East Lanc. at that time.

Keith

[Andalucia]

Thanks Keith i will have a look

[Terry Reeves]

With the information you have given, it may well be that he left the Army before the outbreak of WW1, but still had a reserve commitment. He would then have been recalled to his unit in August 1914. If that is the case, then his service record might be in the National Archive in the WO363 or 364 series of documents. This should include his pre-war record as well. However, their is only about a 40% survival rate due to wartime bombing and many of the papers are incomplete. A personal visit is neccessary to conduct the search.

If he left the Army before 1913, and had completed any reserve commitment before then, his pre-war record might in be in WO97. These are original paper records , filed in alphabetical order.

Terry Reeves

[Andalucia]

Thanks Terry.

I will have a look at that