Police Officers sent to Boer War?

[Janealogy]

Hi to everyone
I've been trying to hunt down one of my ancestors Evan Wide born 1848 Glamorgan S.Wales. Police Officer in Glamorgan according to census details. I lost his trail in 1891/ 1901 census. While searching the S.A archives for another family member who used to live in SA, low and behold EVAN WIDE'S name was listed under NAB misc documents dated 1902 Evan Wide widow. (family bible also has death date for Evan Wide as 1902) Due to the holidays I have not send for this document.

Does anyone know if Police Officers from the UK were sent to the Boer War,  I have been told that yes this did happen, as yet have found no documents or literature to read up on. If this was the case as Police Officers what regiment if they were even under a regiment would they have come under?? Was the role to guard POW's.
Sorry for all the questions, but reading this thread there are a lot of knowledgable people that may be able to steer me in the right direction.
Many Thanks
Jane

[Janealogy]

After years of searching, Thank you to the NLW, Wales newspapers on line - Evan Wide, was having an affair and ran off to South Africa, the mistress divorced and they wed in Southampton before boarding the ship. Due to the disgrace of this affair he was asked to resign from the police force. He became I believe a stretcher bearer during the Boer war. Hope he was happy with his new life as he seemed to have lost everything.

[ShaunJ]

Looking at the newspaper reports and other sources, I see a slightly different story:

1882
April 2nd -  Sergeant Evan Wide leaves the docks police force
April 13th - Evan Wide and Mrs Mary Ann Kidney (nee Baker) go off together and stay at the Kings Arms in Dartmouth as Mr & Mrs Reynolds
April 14th - Wide and Mrs Kidney seen on board the Drummond Castle at Dartmouth, bound for Natal.

1883 - June - The Kidneys are divorced

1884-5 (?) Evan Wide and Mary Ann return to the UK

1885-6 - Evan Wide is landlord of the Centre Hotel, Orchard Lane, Southampton (per newspaper reports)

1886 1st quarter - Evan Wide and Mary Ann Baker are married in Southampton

1900 - Evan Wide is in Johannesburg per his son's marriage announcement

1889-1902 (?) - Evan Wide serves as an orderly with the Imperial Hospital Corps

1902 Evan Wide dies in Natal. His wife has predeceased him

[ShaunJ]

He died 21 August 1902 at Addington Hospital, Durban. He'd been living with his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Alfred Tope.

See the Estate File

[Janealogy]

Thank you Shaun, I just did a quick break down of what happened to him. I have copies of his will, his daughter Elizabeth stated no other living persons,didn't know the name of his mother, yet she lived with her when his first wife died, his Son Evan was also living in Cardiff. There is a lot more to his story, and his trip back to Cardiff. Are you related?

[ShaunJ]

No, not related.

[Janealogy]

Thank you again for your reply. I have reached out to the South Africa Tope family, no response . They are back in the UK. thank you again Jane