Dear List, I have been searching for a very long time for my husbands grandfather's role in the Anglo Boer War. The only information we have got on him is a letter written by his 2nd wife in 1932 saying that he served in the 85th Battery Field Artillery Special Service volunteer as a farrier. In the Great War in the Kalahari Horse as Farrier Sergeant. I found in the National Archives on Documents Online a certain CLAY, GEORGE WILLIAM however not sure if it is the same person. Can you please inform me who the "85th Battery Field Artillery .........etc" fought under? And how can I find out what his Army number is??? I did find out that the 85th R.F.A. was part of the 9th Division - Lieut-General Sir H.E. Colvile and that this 85th division joined after Poplar Grove. Then I also found out that the Brigade Division of R.F.A., 7th Div was to embark at Tilbury Dock in the Manchester Port which consisted of 83rd, 84th & 85th Batteries???? This confuses me a bit as some 85th were with the 9th Div and some with the 7th Div. ARE THESE TWO DIFFERENT LOTS??? Please let me know as I really would love to find out more about him. He did not die in the War at all. Regards, Glynis South Africa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.361 / Virus Database: 267.12.4/146 - Release Date: 21/10/2005

Hi Glynis, Arthur Conan Doyle states that the 85th RFA were along side the 7th Division on 3rd May 1900 see (he seems to suggest they were with the 11th though) http://www.pinetreeweb.com/conan-doyle-chapter-25.htm The London Times (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/heatherasplin/bwsl00.html) states: 01/01/00 "At Tilbury Docks, the Manchester Port is embarking a brigade division of field artillery consisting of 83rd, 84th and 85th Batteries, with divisional brigade staff, the whole consisting of 545 officers and men, 427 horses and 18 guns." 11/1/00 " The Glengyle left South West India Dock at 6:30 a.m. yesterday for SA. She carried the ammunition column for 83rd, 84th and 85th Batteries of Field Artillery and a number of officers. The troops consisted mostly of Hussars and RA with a few Dragoons, about 140 officers and men. Also 230 horses, 14 large wagons, and over this number of smaller wagons." 18/1/00 "The Brigade Division of RFA, 7th Div. is to embark to-day, at Tilbury Dock, in the Manchester Port. They consisted of the 83rd, 84th, and 85th Batteries and a detachment of ASC. The equipment consisted of 18 guns and 34 wagons . The rest was 545 officers and men and 427 horses." "Dateline Tilbury, Jan. 18. The Manchester Port sailed from Tilbury between 4 & 5 this afternoon. She sailed with 20 officers, 565 men, 449 horses, 18 guns, and the compliment of ammunition wagons." "Dateline Adelaide, Jan. 26. The Manchester Port has arrived at Las Palmas." "12/02/00 (Monday)p5e The Manchester Port arrived at Cape Town yesterday". Lord Carver's "Boer War" states: "On the 16th December [1900] orders were given to raise a 7th Division and four more artillery brigades the former embarking between the 3rd and 18th January 1900, the latter between the 21st and 27th" which seems to conflict with The Times. The 7th Div were under Major-General Charles Tucker, and Carver first mentions them in action on the 21st Feb at Kitchener's Kopje and then later at Poplar Grove on the 7th March. The 9th Div also served at Poplar Grove, having arrived during Feb1900 and taken part at Jacobsdaal 18th Feb. Regards, JonB -----Original Message----- From: Glynis Millett-Clay [mailto:glynis@kwikmark.co.za] Sent: 23 October 2005 20:20 To: BOER-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [BOER-WAR] WILLIAM GEORGE RICHARD CLAY Dear List, I have been searching for a very long time for my husbands grandfather's role in the Anglo Boer War. The only information we have got on him is a letter written by his 2nd wife in 1932 saying that he served in the 85th Battery Field Artillery Special Service volunteer as a farrier.