Dear folk: I'm about to find someone to make an attempt to find some PRO records about my ancestor John HUKIN (b 1871, Sheffield, YKS), who was a Corporal with the York and Lancaster Regiment in 1895 (when he married) and cannot be found on the 1891 census for Sheffield (where he lived all his life when not in the military). Thus he appears to have served from at least from 1891-1895. He left the army soon after his marriage in 1895 (at home, working as a stationer's assistant on birth certificates of children.) He then re-enlisted sometime after Feb 1900 (named as stationer's assistant on daughter's birth certificate - named her Cecila Rhoda!), served in the Boer War, and then returned home again before October 1902 (a daughter born July 1903). He was one of the lucky ones. I note that there is no family tradition that John served in WWI, but I suppose it is possible. Some questions: 1. I'm a bit at sea when it comes to trying to determine what battalion John might have served with, even assuming he re-enlisted with the York and Lancaster Regiment for the Boer War. According to http://www.regiments.org/milhist/uk/inf/065YL.htm the York and Lancaster Regiment was formed in 1881 by the union: 1st Battalion, formed by redesignation of 65th (2nd Yorkshire, North Riding) Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion, formed by redesignation of 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment of Foot 2. Do I need to know the battalion before looking in the medal rolls? 3. This was a land force. Is there any chance that John's discharge papers will exist in WO 97? 4. Might there be more than one set of discharge papers if he enlisted and left twice (ie 1895 and 1902)? Thank you in advance. Kay in Alberta, Canada