Hi List, I think my forebear was in the 2nd Boer War but I don't know enough about which regiments were involved. I know that the PRO at Kew might have the answers but before I take this step, I wonder if anyone can give me a little bit background on his specific regiment and others that were definitely involved so I can make the most of any future visit. Here is what I know; 1891 Census has him as a Private based at the Citadel, St Andrews, Plymouth. It is stone fort built by Charles II in 1600. It says he is from the Dorset Regiment along with many others. This regiment is not actually officially based here. I can't find him on the 1901 census but he appears back in the country to get married in 1903. This would suggest that he was enlisted prior to the 2nd campaign and was out of the country during the correct time between 1899 and 1902. He therefore survived the campaign. I have looked From a photograph of him in uniform, a helpful lister offered the following; the dress, appearance and khaki drill uniform suggests a period of 1880 -1900, a similar uniform was used in India (1885)and also the Sudan in 1884-85 when a force was sent to relieve Gordon at Khartoum. The final assessment was that he might have been serving in India in the 1880's or was in the Sudan Expeditionary Force of 1885. But he might have been too young for this since he was born 1869. At the time of the assessment, I had not identified his age, his regiment or wherabouts in 1891. The buttons etc in the photograph are blurred so regiment could not be identified. My specific questions are then (1) why would the Dorset regiment be mustered at the Citadel when it was the base of another outfit (2) was this regiment involved in the Boer War (3) what was it's role (4) if not the Boer War, what other war would they be involved in (5) where were they normally based (6) why might he have enlisted in the Dorset (& Devonshire?) when he was from Hampshire (7) is the 'Dorset Regiment' enough information, or do I need to identify the specific unit (8) would every soldier involved in the war I have looked at some very informative websites such as http://hometown.aol.co.uk/kevinasplin/home.htmlbut , but my lack of military knowledge makes the information confusing. Hope someone might be able to shed some light Regards Jamie

Jamie, The following summary is taken from or based on "Our Regiments in South Africa" (1903) by John Stirling and may be of partial assistance: The 2nd battalion Dorsetshire Regiment sailed on the Simla on 28/11/99 and arrived at the Cape about 17/12/99 and was sent to Durban. It was part of the 10th Brigade under Major General Talbot Coke which was part of the Vth division under Sirs C. Warren. The Battalion was involved in operations about Ventners Spruit and Spion Kop and gained the summit of the latter on 24/01/00. A detachment acted as part of a burial party on the 27th. In Warren's despatch of 01/02/00 the Dorsets were mentioned as "rendering great service in carrying down a large quantity of ammunition which would otherwise have fallen into the hands of the enemy." On 21/02/00 the brigade crossed the Tugela and occupied the Colenso position but not without severe fighting. Up to the 27th the brigade had held positions chiefly between the Tugela and the Onderbrook and were constantly under fire except during an armistice on the 25th. After the relief of Ladysmith the Brigade was put under the command of General Hildyard and it was involved in the turning of the position at Laings Nek. On 08/03/00 the brigade assisted the attack and capture Botha's pass-although it seems only to have had a supporting role- and on the 11th it fought at Allemans Nek taking a strong hill position on the right of the Nek. (9 men were killed, 2 officers and 53 men were wounded) After the Pretoria-natal Railway had been occupied the 5th Division was chiefly engaged in marching through and occupying the S.E. portion of the Transvaal and acting as a garrison at Wakkerston and other posts in the immediate district. Throughout the summer of 1901 the Battalion did a lot of heavy marching as the infantry of a column under Brig Gen. Bullock which operated in the S.E. of the Transvaal and the North of the Orange River Colony and between the Delagoa and Natal railways. Lieutenant Moeller's "Two years at the Front" is said to give a clear account of the work of the column. In September 1901 the Battalion appears to have been engaged in fighting following Botha's attempt to reinvade the Natal at that time and the Dorsets represented at the actions at Fort Itala and Fort Prospect. A section of the Battalion also served in the 2nd Battalion, Mounted Infantry. Tim Chadwick London tim@chadwick1957.freeserve.co.uk > > > > > > ==== BOER-WAR Mailing List ==== > Boer War Reading > http://freespace.virgin.net/anglers.rest/BoerWarReading.htm > > ============================== > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > >

Hi Jamie Given you have a positive note that he was in the Dorsets in 1891, my suggestion is that you start your research at The Keep Military Museum at Dorchester. It covers the county regiments of Devon and Dorset i.e. (1st and 4th Bns Devonshire and Dorset, Devonshire Regiment, Dorset Regiment, Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry, Royal Devon Yeomanry, The Dorset Yeomanry, 94th Field Regiment RA plus the Militia and Volunteers of the counties of Devon and Dorset). If you track him to his battalion, the gazette will probably give you the movements and the reason for being in Plymouth. It may also explicitly name him with regard to being put on reserve, for example. If you can discover his number, it will be relatively easy to get his service record from Kew. Your Q6 is probably easier to explain if you know where in HAM he came from. If it was West Hampshire, then probably the Dorset Regiment was recruiting in his nearest town. John LOVE, near Old Sarum -----Original Message----- From: Nic & Jamie [mailto:jambo@redandwhitearmy.wanadoo.co.uk] Sent: 01 October 2005 21:43 To: BOER-WAR-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Regiments Involved In the 2nd Boer War Hi List, I think my forebear was in the 2nd Boer War but I don't know enough about which regiments were involved. I know that the PRO at Kew might have the answers but before I take this step, I wonder if anyone can give me a little bit background on his specific regiment and others that were definitely involved so I can make the most of any future visit. Here is what I know; 1891 Census has him as a Private based at the Citadel, St Andrews, Plymouth. It is stone fort built by Charles II in 1600. It says he is from the Dorset Regiment along with many others. <snip>