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Author Topic: African wars  (Read 121 times)
Belfast beau
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
African wars
« on: Thursday 22 October 09 23:24 UTC (UK) »
HI All. This post was previously in the lookup requests and I was advised to try here. Is it possible to have a lookup of Military records at Kew, I'm trying to identify a possible g greatfather on my wife's side of the family. He disappeared sometime around 1897 when his youngest daughter was born, the only hint we have is a photograph of his wife with a small head and shoulders insert with a harp cap badge. The photograph is to early for WW1 so we are hoping the Boer war and that the records will offer next of kin, home address  Etc. His details are as follows Dickson W. 2232 South African field force 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Part 4 page 81 line 7  Dead-Disease Thaba-nchu 10th January 1901. Any help greatly appreciated. Belfast beau.
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Irwin. Limavady / Coleraine/Belfast.
Harvey. Liverpol / Dublin/ Belfast.
Hewitt. Co.Armagh / Co. Down.
Dickson.lanark Scotland / Ballymoney/ Belfast
Porter. Mackeral / Mackerel. Surrey
km1971
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Posts: 2732


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: African wars
« Reply #1 on: Friday 23 October 09 04:46 UTC (UK) »
You may be interested in this link - http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Antrim/BelfastBoer.html

The South African Field Force became the main army during the Boer War in late 1900. Thaba Nnchu is 60 km east of Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State.

Unfortunately they would have destroyed his service record 20 years after his death. However you can confirm this when Findmypast put surviving pre-WW1 records online – due 2011. They are also publishing Militia Attestation Papers by the same time. The Militia was a part-time force were men would enlist for seven weeks initial training followed by six annual training of 4 to 8 weeks. While serving they were paid the same as the Regulars, so it was popular with men with casual jobs, or those who wanted to see what army life was about without committing full-time with the Regulars. Also, in Ireland, the Militia was the only form of part-time soldering available.

How old was he when he died (approximately)? And was he serving when his child was born?  Also, you really need to post a scan of the photograph - especially a high resolution scan of the inset.

Ken
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Belfast beau
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Posts: 42


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: African wars
« Reply #2 on: Friday 23 October 09 14:25 UTC (UK) »
Hi Km 1971.
I'm not sure of the age, he may have been too old possibly mid forties born around 1850s. the photograph is itself is fine but the insert is of poor quality and the badge is just about recognizable when you know the Irish harp. As for the birth I can't help you there either, in those days without television the normal pastime was to have kids. This guy was the exception his son was born in 1877 the eldest daughter in 1892 and the youngest 1897, these gaps and the photo suggested that he had been away from home for long spells. Thats why this search for military records,I've been to the memorial at the City hall in Belfast and found his name and then went to the rifles Museum where I picked up the details of his demise.Thank you for your interest its much appreciated,If you have any other tips I'll be happy to follow them. Belfast beau.
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Irwin. Limavady / Coleraine/Belfast.
Harvey. Liverpol / Dublin/ Belfast.
Hewitt. Co.Armagh / Co. Down.
Dickson.lanark Scotland / Ballymoney/ Belfast
Porter. Mackeral / Mackerel. Surrey
km1971
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Posts: 2732


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: African wars
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 24 October 09 06:26 UTC (UK) »
Quote from: Belfast beau on Friday 23 October 09 14:25 UTC (UK)
...these gaps and the photo suggested that he had been away from home for long spells.

Not necessarily. In this period soldiers men would need permission to marry, and once granted the wives would travel with their husbands. Gaps in children's age can mean of number of things, for example: a re-marriage; a period of misscarriages; or a sign of a sexually transmitted disease in the family.

Ken
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Belfast beau
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Posts: 42


Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Re: African wars
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 25 October 09 00:13 UTC (UK) »
HI KM.
I thought I had already posted a reply this morning, I must have hit the wrong button.  All the surviving children were born in Belfast and accounted for, as in a family grave. This and the insert photo is why we have started to look abroad the W. Dickson at Thaba-nchu maybe the wrong person. I have located a C.O.I. church local to where he lived at the time of the eldest daughters birth, I have arranged to view the baptismal records on Monday morning and hopefully there might be something written in the birth record.Belfast beau.
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Irwin. Limavady / Coleraine/Belfast.
Harvey. Liverpol / Dublin/ Belfast.
Hewitt. Co.Armagh / Co. Down.
Dickson.lanark Scotland / Ballymoney/ Belfast
Porter. Mackeral / Mackerel. Surrey
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