Curry/Currie in Boer War

[julied]

Is there a way to find out information online of serving members in the Boer War? I am trying to find information for Joseph and his brother Charles Currie/Curry, who I believe were both in the West Yorkshire Regiment. Joseph survived the war, but Charles was killed and is buried in a marked grave in South Africa.
Thank you.

[Lesley Robertson]

Is there a way to find out information online of serving members in the Boer War? I am trying to find information for Joseph and his brother Charles Currie/Curry, who I believe were both in the West Yorkshire Regiment. Joseph survived the war, but Charles was killed and is buried in a marked grave in South Africa.
Thank you.

Just suggestions rather than hard data - have you looked for a regimental archive or museum? My great Uncle George also died in the Anglo-Boer War and the Black Watch (his regt) Museum were even able to give us a photo taken before he sailed for Africa. Also, many soldiers seem to have served in WW1 as well, it might be worth checking for information linked to that.

[Geoffers]

Is there a way to find out information online of serving members in the Boer War?

It depends what you want to find out. There isn't much detail about those who fought, unless they did something that is particularly noteworthy. If you are after service records and the like, have a browse of TNA's research guides on the British Army (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1#b). Some soldiers records are online, see this TNA news item (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/166.htm) - but it depends on when they served.

Some Medals and awards for bravery are searchable using TNA's catalogue

If the one who survived left the army before 1913, then his dicharge papers will be held at TNA and can be searched using TNA's catalogue (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp)

In the word of phrase field, enter - cur*
In the year range, enter - 1901-1913
In the department or series code, enter - WO97

You will get 5 hits. Look for the reference where your chap's surname appears alphabetically. The names given are the first and last names in this file. You can request TNA to look for your chap's discharge papers (the one who survived) and provide you with a copy (there is a fee for this). If you want to cheat, read below

Attestation Papers (which wll include the one who died) are in WO96. Again using TNA's catalogue:
In the word or phrase field enter - West Yorkshire
In the year range, enter 1895-1905
In the department or series code, enter - WO96

Again look for the fle where CURRY will fit alphabetically.

Kevin Asplin (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/kevinasplin/home.html)has a useful site for the Boer War.













So you want to cheat - I would urge you to try the search for yourself, it is the only way you will get used to using TNA's web-site which is a great resource. But - if you really want to cheat, the search I suggest above produces these hits (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=cur*&txtfirstdate=1901&txtlastdate=1913&txtrestriction=WO97&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=38&image1.y=16)

Click on the last one of the list and you will see this (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=693567&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CCURTIS&accessmethod=0)
Look above it and to the right and you will see a button 'request this'.
Select that button and follow the instructions for ordering a copy by paper or pdf.

For attestation papers, the result of a search gives these hits (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=west+yorkshire&txtfirstdate=1895&txtlastdate=1905&txtrestriction=WO96&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=20&image1.y=6)

and the file containing your chaps will be here (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=738&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CWEST%2CYORKSHIRE&accessmethod=0)

[julied]

Thanks for all that. I'm all for a bit of cheating if it saves some time going "round the houses", looking for information. I have tentatively looked at the site but always seem to see the "you will have to visit us to find this out" message, so have been put off delving too deeply. I will pluck up the courage one day to vist.
julie

[Geoffers]

Thanks for all that. I'm all for a bit of cheating if it saves some time going "round the houses", looking for information.

But then if you cheat you will never learn. "Going around the houses" is the way to understand how to make short cuts.



I have tentatively looked at the site but always seem to see the "you will have to visit us to find this out" message, so have been put off delving too deeply.

Visiting TNA is one of the better experiences in London

As mentioned, you don't necessarily need to visit to be able to order documents; but you do need to use the catalogue and research guides - after all they're free and you won't break them - if you want to learn you will have to explore, read and comprehend what you find.

Good luck

[kaigs]

Is there a way to find out information online of serving members in the Boer War? I am trying to find information for Joseph and his brother Charles Currie/Curry, who I believe were both in the West Yorkshire Regiment. Joseph survived the war, but Charles was killed and is buried in a marked grave in South Africa.
Thank you.

Hello Julied, I have a database of all known British dead for the Boer War on which there are 7 Currie's and 2 Curry's. 4576 Sergeant CW CURRY, with the 3 Battalion Yorkshire Regiment 'Alexandra Princess of Wales Own', died of disease at Kroonstad and his name appears on the following monuments, Kroonstad, York Town & Richmond Yorkshire. If you would like to see the other Curries/Currys then please contact me separately.

Regards
Brian Kaighin