http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index is the site for all the Rootsweb archives. Just fill in the name of the list you want to view. Carol Lylyk Calgary, Alberta Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pam Gaudio" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2003 6:31 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR] Archives > Could someone on this list advise if there are Archived files, that I could look at before posting my queries. > Thanks, > Pam > > > > ==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== > C J Genealogical Collections > Web Page http://freespace.virgin.net/genealogical.collections > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Could someone on this list advise if there are Archived files, that I could look at before posting my queries. Thanks, Pam

Hi Listers I am new to the list. I am wondering how I can track whether or not our George Whitehead b.1874 Brimington, Derbys, participated in the Boer-War. He is missing on the 1901 Census. His brother, Joseph, b.1871Brimington was in that war, so I'm wondering if George joined up, too. This is what we have on Joseph: (Info from my cousin): "Medical Orderly in 2nd Battalion Notts. & Derby (Sherwood Foresters) The Medal Rolls for the Sherwood Foresters (WO /100) list one Joseph Whitehead on the roll for the India Medal 1895 and he is 3724 Private J. Whitehead, with bars Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98. At this time it was the 2nd Battalion who were serving in India, and they served from 1882 - 1898. Joseph was then transferred to the 1st Battalion as many did then, to take part in the Boer War. He appears on the roll of the 1st Btn, 3724 Pte J Whitehead, Queens South Africa Medal, bars Johannesburg, Cape Colony, Orange Free State and then again on the Kings South Africa Medal with bars, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902. " Any ideas on how I can go about finding out? Regards Caroline Boston (nee Whitehead) Ontario, Canada

Dear Karin If you have not already done so it is advisable to see whether your grandmother, if she died in SA, left an estate by searching NAAIRS (national automated archival information system). See the National Archives of South Africa website. The death notice, if there is one, should show whether her husband survived her or predeceased her. Smith may have also have died in SA and left an estate. This, and other information gleaned from the estate file/s, may narrow your search. Regards Adolph Landman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karin Serfontein" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 2:35 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR] Please Help > > Hi Listers, > > Can someone please be so kind to do a look-up for me. > I would like to know if more than one Frederick Ernest Smith came to South Africa for duty during the Boer War. > I have been doing research on my grandfather since 1996. > Unfortunately I have received a letter from a very kind lady, telling me that the man that I have been doing research on died in 1904. My grandfather fell in love with my grandmother during the Boer War, they got married in 1911. > I don't know if he went back to England or stayed on in S.A. > > I am in desperate need of help, > > Kind regards, > > Karin Serfontein (nee Smith) > > > ==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== > C J Genealogical Collections > Web Page http://freespace.virgin.net/genealogical.collections > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

Hi Listers, Can someone please be so kind to do a look-up for me. I would like to know if more than one Frederick Ernest Smith came to South Africa for duty during the Boer War. I have been doing research on my grandfather since 1996. Unfortunately I have received a letter from a very kind lady, telling me that the man that I have been doing research on died in 1904. My grandfather fell in love with my grandmother during the Boer War, they got married in 1911. I don't know if he went back to England or stayed on in S.A. I am in desperate need of help, Kind regards, Karin Serfontein (nee Smith)

Gary, Yes, both suggestions are plausible. The casualty lists show men who died of disease but not those invalided home because of disease. His service record should throw some light on the situation. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Samson <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 9:26 PM Subject: RE: [BOER-WAR] Request for casualty lookup: Capt S.E.D. Webb 1st Bn, York & Lancaster Regt > Many thanks indeed for this, David. Two other possibilities have been > suggested by folk in the village where Captain Webb had considerable > influence. One is that he contracted enteric fever and was invalided home. > (Would he have appeared on the casualty lists with this condition?) The > other is that he was (understandably) so traumatised by what he saw in > action at Spion Kop, Ladysmith, Tugela Heights and Pieters Hill that he was > no longer effective as an officer. His service record exists at the > National Archives and I'm hoping that this might shed some light on his > military service. > > Thanks again for your help. > > Gary

Many thanks indeed for this, David. Two other possibilities have been suggested by folk in the village where Captain Webb had considerable influence. One is that he contracted enteric fever and was invalided home. (Would he have appeared on the casualty lists with this condition?) The other is that he was (understandably) so traumatised by what he saw in action at Spion Kop, Ladysmith, Tugela Heights and Pieters Hill that he was no longer effective as an officer. His service record exists at the National Archives and I'm hoping that this might shed some light on his military service. Thanks again for your help. Gary -----Original Message----- From: David Humphry [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 10 June 2003 19:26 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] Request for casualty lookup: Capt S.E.D. Webb 1st Bn, York & Lancaster Regt Hello Gary, He isn't shown in the casualty lists and there could be any number of reasons why he went back to the UK to retire on half pay. It may have been at his request although he could have been 'asked to retire', possibly because his operational service wasn't considered entirely satisfactory. This wasn't unusual and many officers were replaced during the course of the war. Regards, David

Hello Gary, He isn't shown in the casualty lists and there could be any number of reasons why he went back to the UK to retire on half pay. It may have been at his request although he could have been 'asked to retire', possibly because his operational service wasn't considered entirely satisfactory. This wasn't unusual and many officers were replaced during the course of the war. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Samson <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 8:32 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR] Request for casualty lookup: Capt S.E.D. Webb 1st Bn, York & Lancaster Regt > Hi, > > I wonder if SKS with access to a casualty list would be happy to do a lookup > for Captain Somerset Edward Deane Webb of the 1st Battalion, York and > Lancaster Regiment. I've only just started researching Captain Webb's > military career which, it seems, might have come to an early end in the Boer > War. Who's Who and Army List entries detail various operations and actions > in which he was engaged up until the middle of 1900 and then there's > nothing. He lived on until the late 1930s, joining the Remount Department > in 1914, so my guess is that he was wounded in South Africa before retiring > on half pay in 1902. Can anyone confirm this? > > Many thanks > > Gary Samson

Hi, I wonder if SKS with access to a casualty list would be happy to do a lookup for Captain Somerset Edward Deane Webb of the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. I've only just started researching Captain Webb's military career which, it seems, might have come to an early end in the Boer War. Who's Who and Army List entries detail various operations and actions in which he was engaged up until the middle of 1900 and then there's nothing. He lived on until the late 1930s, joining the Remount Department in 1914, so my guess is that he was wounded in South Africa before retiring on half pay in 1902. Can anyone confirm this? Many thanks Gary Samson Canterbury, Kent Researching Woodchurch 1914-1919

Message forwarded by Admin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephen Bailey" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: 08 June 2003 08:53 Subject: Medals Hi Looking for Richard Ormonde Second Battalion Royal Highlanders, received South African Clasp, Cape Colony,Paardisberg Olive and the Distinguished Conduct Medal between 1899 and 1900. But I cannot find any data base records of who he married, parents names or any more form the Black Watch about the battalion. Can you advise if the records have been destroyed Cheers Steve Bailey --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.488 / Virus Database: 287 - Release Date: 05/06/03

Thank you David, you are very right. I guess I just jump at anything that might connect. Julia Schmitz ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Humphry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 7:27 AM Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] for Julia Schmitz > Hello Julia, > > I don't want to disappoint you but the chances of the other man in the photo > being your grandfather are as remote as they can be. There were 13,000 > servicemen in the siege of Ladysmith and two men in uniform photographed > together are most likely to have been mates from the same regiment or > perhaps brothers, etc. In a separate posting I have also queried whether > Kathleen's grandfather was in the relief rather than the defence force with > the photo possibly taken in Ladysmith after the siege was lifted. > > Regards, > > David > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Julia Schmitz <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2003 12:44 AM > Subject: [BOER-WAR] Fw: Returned mail: User unknown > > > > > > > To: <[email protected]> > > > Cc: <[email protected]> > > > Subject: Ladysmith > > > Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 16:41:02 -0700 > > > Kathleen: I am very much interested in a copy of your picture via > e-mail, > > > as I do believe my Grandfather also fought at Ladysmith. I received > > e-mail > > > from David Humphry whom is very familiar with the Boer War. I have > copied > > > and pasted the original letter I sent to him and his replies. I have > just > > > found my Grandfather's burial place after all these many years of > > searching. > > > I began in 1955. > > > Perhaps the other young man in the picture may be my Grandfather. I > have > > > not had time to follow up with David's information he has supplied me, > due > > > to the fact my husband just got out of hospital with a quadruple heart > by > > > pass. Sincerely yours. Julia Schmitz > > > > > > > ==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== > Have you used Tree Tops? > The Free FAMILY TREE & WE'LL MEET AGAIN SERVICE > http://freespace.virgin.net/tree.tops > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

"One Flag, One Queen, One Tongue" the proceedings of the 1999 conference on the "South African (Boer) War" held in Wellington, New Zealand has recently been published by the University of Auckland Press (their agents are HarperCollins NZ I think). The co-editors John Crawford & Ian McGibbon are historians with the Ministries of Defence & Culture & Heritage respectively. While largely written from a New Zealand perspective, overseas speakers included Craig Wilcox from Australia & Thomas Packenham. Cost is $NZ 39.99; ISBN 1 86940 293 6. For details see website: http://www2.auckland.ac.nz/aup/books/crawford-oneflag.html Yours, John Wilson (Wellington, New Zealand)

Hi David, Thanks for all your looking for J. Crawshaw.I'll have to see if any of my sisters can shed any light on him. perhaps they can write to his decendants to find this info.for me. They won't write to me because I've discovered things they wanted left alone. Thanks again for trying. Sincerely Thelma ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Humphry" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 7:23 AM Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] John Crawshaw > Hello Thelma, > > The Life Guards were - and still are - part of the Household Cavalry which > is technically the monarch's personal cavalry bodyguard. Together with the > Blues and Royals they are still used as ceremonial mounted troops as well as > being a mechanised unit which can be called upon in times of conflict. > > Now for the bad news. I have the cavalry medal roll and there is no Crawshaw > shown as being in the Life Guards and the casualty lists show no cavalryman > called Crawshaw as having died in the Boer War. The only J. Crawshaw is > Lieut. & Riding Master John Rolan Crawshaw of the 20th Hussars but he > survived the war unscathed. The only other Crawshaw in the cavalry was Sgt. > A. Crawshaw of the 6th Dragoon Guards who was severely wounded at > Springbokfontein 28/1/1902 but survived. The only Crawshaw who died in the > war was Pte. W.H. Crawshaw of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (an infantry > unit) who died of enteric fever. > > Regards, > > David > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Thelma Goodnow <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 2:50 PM > Subject: [BOER-WAR] John Crawshaw > > > > Hello List, > > I'm looking for info on my Gr Uncle John Crawshaw. The only info. I have > is that he was born 1873 in Fockerby, Lincoln. He was a soldier in the > Lifeguards Reg. and was killed in the Boer War in So.Africa. I would like to > know where he was killed and where and when he was buried > > > > Thanks > > Thelma. > > > > > > > > ==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== > C J Genealogical Collections > Web Page http://freespace.virgin.net/genealogical.collections > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > >

Hello Thelma, The Life Guards were - and still are - part of the Household Cavalry which is technically the monarch's personal cavalry bodyguard. Together with the Blues and Royals they are still used as ceremonial mounted troops as well as being a mechanised unit which can be called upon in times of conflict. Now for the bad news. I have the cavalry medal roll and there is no Crawshaw shown as being in the Life Guards and the casualty lists show no cavalryman called Crawshaw as having died in the Boer War. The only J. Crawshaw is Lieut. & Riding Master John Rolan Crawshaw of the 20th Hussars but he survived the war unscathed. The only other Crawshaw in the cavalry was Sgt. A. Crawshaw of the 6th Dragoon Guards who was severely wounded at Springbokfontein 28/1/1902 but survived. The only Crawshaw who died in the war was Pte. W.H. Crawshaw of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (an infantry unit) who died of enteric fever. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Thelma Goodnow <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2003 2:50 PM Subject: [BOER-WAR] John Crawshaw > Hello List, > I'm looking for info on my Gr Uncle John Crawshaw. The only info. I have is that he was born 1873 in Fockerby, Lincoln. He was a soldier in the Lifeguards Reg. and was killed in the Boer War in So.Africa. I would like to know where he was killed and where and when he was buried > > Thanks > Thelma.

Hello Steve, The papers on regular soldiers who died on service were officially destroyed so unless he served in the Imperial Yeomanry, Militia, Navy, Marines or a colonial unit there wouldn't be any point in hiring a researcher. If you let me have his name I'll check him against the casualty lists I have and give you the relevant information. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Jones <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 8:22 AM Subject: [BOER-WAR] Boer War Records PRO > Hello! > Just wondering if anyone has had experience hiring a researcher to find > Boer War records at the PRO? > My relative wishes to hire a researcher to find her grandfather who died > during the Boer War. We are wondering how likely that records will be found > and if so, would there be any details of family included in these records? > A reputable researcher has been recommended, but he says that it is > possible that not much will be found. > Would be interested to hear of others experiences. > > Thanks very much, > Judy Jones. > > Steve, Judy, Samuel and Brett Jones > Brisbane, Australia > mailto:[email protected]

After trawling through the 1901 census I seem to have 'lost' some relatives. In 4 cases there is a spouse who considers themselves still married. 2 of my people though are a little strange as one would have been about 61 and the other his daughter (her husband and 4 children are found living with her mother). This is my list:- John Robert BAGSHAW age 61 * William Richard BAGSHAW age 39 James BAGSHAW age 27 Elizabeth HARRISON (nee BAGSHAW) age 36 * John STANLEY age not known * Frederick MITCHELL age not known * The '*' indicates a spouse has been found who is not widowed. Can anyone help solve my mystery or guide me to the place to look to see if they served in the Boer War. Also would a man of 61 and a female been involved. Many thanks Tina :-) Eltham, London ** beware semi-newbie genealogist at work ** researching:- MAPP - All and especially Marylebone/Hackney/Woolwich/Worcester HARRIS - Gravesend/Grimsby/North Woolwich SMITH - Dublin/Sligo/Clapton/North Woolwich FOSTER - Brighton/Hackney I transcribe for FreeBMD - http://freebmd.rootsweb.com

I thought this report from SA might be of interest to the list Regards Deirdré Snook Mystery graves may be from Boer War @ http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,1356161-6078-0,00.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Marleen Smith Dozens of mystery graves discovered recently in Kimberley may date from the South African War when Boers besieged the town for four months, an archaeologist believes. David Morris, from the local McGregor Museum, said archival evidence pointed in this direction. "There was mounting malnutrition in Kimberley towards the end of the siege on February 19, 1900," Morris said. "Records show that large-scale fatalities due to the malnutrition continued into March of that year." The graves were uncovered a few weeks ago by municipal workers building a stormwater trench outside the town's Gladstone Cemetery. About 180 metres of unmarked graves were disturbed by the workers before archaeologists became aware of the discovery of human remains. Construction has since stopped. Morris said as many as seven skeletons were found in some of the graves. A salvage team, including archaeologists, was now excavating the site, sifting through the remains. Unearthed remains were being kept temporarily at the McGregor Museum. Another explanation for the mystery being investigated by scientists was the 1918 flu epidemic, which killed nearly 4,500 Kimberley residents within two weeks. Morris said the graves contained many skeletons and the fact that no signs of coffins were found indicated a disaster situation. Large numbers of people must have been buried hastily, he said. Although coffins disintegrate over the years, they usually left behind visible markings. This was not evident in these graves. The absence of goods such as buttons also puzzled them, Morris said. The team only found traces of textiles like hessian in which the bodies must have been wrapped. Boer forces besieged Kimberley for four months until British soldiers relieved the town on February 19, 1900. The flu epidemic hit the town in 1918 in what became known as Black October. Historical records showed that local undertakers ran out of coffins during the epidemic, and mass burials were common, Morris said. Sapa

Off the top of my head the Black Watch under Wauchope and the first time trenches were used in 'Modern Warfare' Regards, David Bossenger, who has sat on the battlefiel and felt sorry for the Scandinavians who fought on the Boer side! -----Original Message----- From: Doug & Pat Frykberg [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 26 May 2003 04:51 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] Re: Dull Khaki Uniforms And haven't I read somewhere that at Magersfontein (I think) a highland kilted regiment, pinned down all day in the sun by Boers were practically all hospitalized because of bad sunburn to the backs of their legs? Pat -----Original Message----- From: John Wilson <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Monday, 26 May 2003 10:51 AM Subject: [BOER-WAR] Re: Dull Khaki Uniforms >Dull Khaki Uniforms without decorations: > >Thomas Pakenham in "The Boer War" (Ch 12) mentions the Gordon >Highlanders at Ladysmith camp before the battle of Elandslaagte, 21 >October 1899. They had just arrived from India and were preparing to meet >the Boer on the veld: "There were kilts to be patched and mended, khaki >covers to be sewn over the hairy black and white sporrans, and the usual >mixture of brown paint and cow-dung to be painted over the white webbing >..... their Highland dress was half-hidden by all the battle equipment: twin >cartridge pouches on the chest, balancing, under the criss-crossed webbing, >the neatly rolled greatcoat, and the water-bottle; Lee Metford rifle; >bulging >haversack, a hundred extra rounds, field dressings and the rest." > >But "despite those attempts to camouflage themselves with khaki and >cow-dung, the Highlanders were natural targets. Their dark green kilts >stood out against the grey-brown veld; and the bulls-eye, so to speak, was >the place where the black and white sporran hung below the Highlander's >belt." (ouch!) > >Later at the Orange River four of the six casualties of a reconnaissance >patrol were officers (Ch 16). "Those gleaming insignia, the stars and >buttons and buckles of the professional soldier, were all very well in the >drawing-room. In the sunshine of the veldt they blazed like a heliograph." >Buller told Methuen to follow Symond's example in Natal and make the >officers dress like the men. > >Barbara Tuchman in "August 1914" (Ch 3 page 47) mentions that while the >British had adopted khaki and the Germans were about to change from >Prussian Blue to field-grey the French were still wearing blue coats with >red >kepi and trousers despite Messimy's attempt after seeing the Balkan front in >1912 to change uniforms to a dull colour: grey-blue or grey-green. > >Yours, John Wilson (Wellington, New Zealand) > > >> So when did the practice of painting black -----badges, buttons, and all >> 'brass'fittings - >> >> --when in battle conditions start , please, I presume to cut the >> reflection from snipers sites ? >> >> My husband says that when he did National Service in the 50's-- they >> used WW11 uniforms, which all had black painted brass buttons..... >> >> June Adderley > > >==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== >Have you used Tree Tops? >The Free FAMILY TREE & WE'LL MEET AGAIN SERVICE >http://freespace.virgin.net/tree.tops > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > ______________________________

Hi, I am trying to find any information on the REHABILITATION HOSPITALS in Ireland that were used to help the injured soldiers returning from the Boer War, 1899 - 1902. My gfather, PATRICK CONNOR, was supposedly spent some time in a rehabilitation hospital, upon his return from South Africa, in CORK (I don't know if this was the city of Cork or County Cork). According to my Father, the rehab hospital where my gfather was staying was a mansion that was used by the British Army as a hospital. My gmother, ANNE KENNEDY, was a nurse at the rehab hospital that my gfather was sent to - that is where they met. Once my gfather was released from the rehab hospital, they were married. I would be very grateful for any ideas from anyone as to where I go to find information on the rehab hospitals. Many thanks in advance, Susan -- Researching: CONNOR, KENNEDY, CAHILL, KENNA or KENNAN, FARRELL, LADEROUTE, HICKSON, NAUGHTON

Hello, Does any one know if there is any information available about the HOSPITAL SHIPS that brought soldiers injured in the Second Anglo Boer War from South Africa back to Ireland? My gfather, PATRICK CONNOR, was injured just outside Pretoria, SA in 1900. He was sent back to Ireland on a hospital ship. I would like to find the name of the ship, the dates it was at sea and any information about his condition while at sea and about the ship itself. Any ideas on where I might go to find information would really be appreciated. Thanks Susan -- Researching: CONNOR, KENNEDY, CAHILL, KENNA or KENNAN, FARRELL, LADEROUTE, HICKSON, NAUGHTON