Hello Pauline, My Grandfather was in the ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILLIERS and also fought in the Boer War. He was in the defense of Ladysmith. As a matter of fact I have a picture of him taken with another young man. If you let me know I can email the picture online if you are interested. The letter you have is invaluable and I am sure people on the list can assist you with a search. [email protected] Kathleen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Treehouse" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 10:08 AM Subject: [BOER-WAR] 27 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1899 > Hello, > I just found a letter written by my ggrandfather to [I think] my > ggrandmother . He was in South Africa in the Boer War. > > I think this is quite a find but I would be interested in any ideas about > how I can utilize it to further my research. > > I will copy it here the way it was written eg: spelling mistakes and > punctuation mistakes. It is written in pencil on paper that has a crest > embossed on it. > > South Africa, December 8th, 1899 > > Dear Minnie, [I don't know that that is my ggrandmothers name.] > > I write to let you know that I am in good health. Hoping you are the same > and Bobby and Frank [ I think this is my grandfather]. I would like to hear > how you and the children is getting on it is so long since I got any news > from you and I would like a letter very much we do not get any time for > writing nor we wont to this is over but you might keep on sending letters > we > are up cuntry within 12 miles of ladysmith > let them all know at home I am well at present > Dear Minnie this cannot last more than one month you must not expect many > letters of me for I do not get any time to write we cannot get any ink here > no more at present from your loving Jack > > No 2422 pte > John Thompson > D Company > 27 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers > South African Field Forces > > These directions will find me any where out here > XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX > > Regards and Thanks > Pauline Leonard > > ______________________________ >

Hello Kathleen, The Inniskillings weren't at the defence of Ladysmith although there were some 'odd' men from various regiments not present as a unit attached to other regiments during the siege. Although he may have been such a man - in which case he was something of a rarity - it's more probable that he was in the 1st Battalion which took part in the operations to relieve Ladysmith including several fierce actions. The relief force ended up in and around Ladysmith for a while after the siege was lifted so an undated photo in Ladysmith may have been taken after the siege. Regards, David ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathleen Donnelly <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 10:57 PM Subject: Re: [BOER-WAR] 27 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1899 > Hello Pauline, My Grandfather was in the ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILLIERS and > also fought in the Boer War. He was in the defense of Ladysmith. As a matter > of fact I have a picture of him taken with another young man. If you let me > know I can email the picture online if you are interested. > The letter you have is invaluable and I am sure people on the list can > assist you with a search. > [email protected] > Kathleen