Boer War records & medals

[Bull]

I've just received a copy of an article from the Walsall Observer dated 8/5/1915 about the death of my gr. grandfather in ww1, it also says he fought in the Boer war was captured and, was awarded 3 medals with 7 bars. I don't want to sound ignorant but where do i start trying to find his records, i've been trying the National Archives but had no success. Anyone got any pointers.

Iain

[Bull]

I'm taking it for granted that he was with the South Staffs in this war as well as ww1. I'm at present on Kevins site, i'm on the shipping lists as i believe that the 1st Btn South Staffs sailed on the Aurania on or about the 18/3/1900, along with the 1st Worcestershire, 2nd Manchester and, the 2nd Royal West Kent. Again it's only officers that are named.
Iain

[Bull]

His name is John Sanders/Saunders and, he was born in Bloxwich. I don't think his army no., of ww1 would be the same ( 8990 ).
Another query i have is, in ww1 he was with the 1/5th South Staffs. I have heard that when a man enlisted the no, 1 in front of the 5 states that he was willing to serve abroad and, 2 in front was a home battalion, any truth in that.

Iain

[crimea1854]

Hi Iain

Can I suggest that you register with the following site, and post your question there. I say this because Mark, who runs the site, collects medals to the Staffordshire Regiments, and if anybody can answer your question he will. He is almost certain to have access to the Boer War medal roll for the South Staffs.

www.victorianwars.com/"]https://www.victorianwars.com

Martin

[stickymone]

Hi Iain,

Have a look at this site:-https://angloboerwar.com/units%20imperial/south_staffs_regt.htm It will give you some idea what the South Staffs got up to.

The whole site is worth exploring, there's a lot of info contained in the various links

Stickymone

[Bull]

Thanks for that guys, will check them out.
Iain

[cathy1969]

Hi, Hope you dont mind me jumping in on your thread but I am looking for information about my GG Uncle who was in the Boer War. I have a copy of his War diary but I dont know if there are any MIC's for him.

He was 3276Pte. Benjamin Biggs, born 1975 in Careby Lincolnshire & died 1926 in Surrey. He married in 1902 in Surrey.

Any Info would be great.

Cathy

[cathy1969]

Just found out a bit more about my GG Uncle.

He was

3276Pte. Benjamin Biggs 2nd Battalion Kings Own Regiment Field Horse.
S. Africa.

Any info would be great

Cathy

[ladysmith]

Cathy - There was no regiment by that name but I think it's probably the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. What looks like 'Field Horse' may be 'Field Force'.

With this information your best bet is to check him out at the National Archives at Kew. If you can't get there in person you can use the services of a researcher.

The attestation and service papers of regular soldiers of the period are in series WO 97. These are arranged alphabetically not by regiment. There is a survival rate of about 70%.

The Queen's South Africa Medal rolls for the KORL Regiment are in sub-series WO100/168. These all survive and will confirm his medal and clasp entitlement.

Incidentally, 75% of the 2nd battalion KORL fought at Spion Kop. This is covered by the Relief of Ladysmith clasp on the QSA medal although the clasp in itself doesn't prove that a man was necessarily at Spion Kop. His diary might indicate his presence. If he mentions dates look for 24/1/1900.

David

[cathy1969]

Hi David,

Thanks for the info. His Diary starts on the 2nd December 1899 and its pretty much a day to day diary with dates when he has reaced a new destination or something significant happened, like :

"Both received the news of Cronge's surrender, and the 25th Jan 1900 an armistice on both sides to bury the dead."

"We set off again on the 28th May 1900. We entered the Transvaal, on over the buffalo river bridge at noon This Bridge was erected by the Natal and Transvaal Government. It is a grand bridge cost 12,600 pounds."

"June 5th we received news that Roberts had taken Pretoria."

"25th to July 2nd on line of communication, the Beers are now about 7 miles
from here at a hill called Mooi-Magersfontein July 8th still in the same place. 10th The Boers tried to shell us, but they were a long way short on the 12th they had another try but shut up after firing 3 shells."

"1st Oct., all was quiet, but at night, we received the news that the Boers had captured a convoy of ours and a quick firing gun (Hutchkiss), which fires a 3lb. shell, but like all other things that happen, we don’t know the result of them if we don’t see it ourselves. It was coming from Dundee to here, but we find we are deprived of our little drop of rum and several other little things through while the next one comes in."

"Today is the 13th of Dec. All around is quiet and we can see a convoy coming in from Dundee, which I hope is with reinforcements and some more ammunition, for we could not stand against another attack like we did without the ammunition giving out, both for rifle and big guns, which don’t think they will attack us again now, as the convoy will land here tomorrow."

"Morning of the 15th the convoy advanced on the town, but no Boers are to be seen With A
large force is in pursuit of the Boer's but no details as yet.
We are to be relieved for a rest, to be stationed at Dundee which we have been, and now our
rest is escorting convoys into Vryheid, which went to take part of this duty, when I was taken
ill of intense fever, which I was ill 3 months out of a year and seven months, which I consider I
have done my duty as an absent- minded beggar and one story I must speak of after going
through my experience on my voyage home as an invalid. The boat contained 1,025, and by neglect on someone’s part, we were run ashore off the Isle of Wight. looked rather dickey, although, we were so near old England's shores, which shook hands with myself on setting foot on Southampton Dock."

That was his last entry.