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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: MeganJR on Saturday 17 May 08 10:03 BST (UK)
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Hello
is anyone able to suggest how I can get information on service with the Inniskilling Dragoons in the Boer War. We know David Dunn served and was wounded abt 1901-1902. I've tried various goggle searches and find it difficult to find out how to find any military history service records for anything other than WWI.
thanks
Megan
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Hi Megan
According to a medal roll I have, the only Dunn/Dunnes in the 6th Dragoons all had the initial W, and none of the three appear to have been wounded.
There was a D M Dunne in the 2nd Dragoon Guards who was severely wounded in 1902 and later transferred to the Army Reserve.
Can you say where the information comes from?
When searching you need to use “6th Dragoons”, ie in quotes. And you will also get hits for the 6th Dragoons Guards, who were a different regiment. Both the 6th DG and the 6th D (two squadrons) were first involved at Colesberg in December 1899. The 6th Dragoons were often split into small units so following their exploits will be difficult.
Ken
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The information I have is a family pencilled note saying:
Private David Dunn (Carbine, sword, lance No: 216). Enlisted July 1896.
Reg. No: 3627. 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. South African veteran.
Invalided end of 1901 or beggining 1902 (wounded in action, left thigh)
I am trying to confirm the above information or anything else which ties his birth record to the person he became in Australia.
He later migrated to Australia and went by the name of James Wilson (dropping his first and last names, just using his middle names)
thanks
Megan
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Megan - The QSA medal roll shows him as 3627 Pte. W. Dunn, 6th Dragoons, entitled to a Queen's South Africa Medal with clasp Cape Colony. He isn't shown on the casualty roll but he may have been injured (as opposed to wounded) without being entered as a casualty or invalided due to sickness. The single clasp Cape Colony, especially with the absence of South Africa 1901 or 1902 clasps on the QSA roll, suggests his service in SA was cut short for one of the above reasons.
I don't have the King's South Africa Medal roll but if he had at least 18 months war service in South Africa extending into 1902 he would have qualified for a KSA with clasps South Africa 1901 and 1902.
His Boer War period service records may well survive in series WO 97 at the National Archives although these may have been combined with his WW1 papers which have a smaller survival percentage.
Regards, David
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Hi Megan,
Do you still require information on a Private Dunn of the 6th. Inniskilling Dragoons in the Boer War? I have book loaned from British Museum 'With the Inniskilling Dragoons during the Boer War', that describes how a Private Dunn (no first name) was captured by the Boers in May 1900. He does not appear in list of wounded in the Appendix.
John
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Thanks John, that's great info, always happy to get new info like this, even though I have been hibernating from my genealogy due to too many brick walls, new info always refreshes my interest
Megan
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The Dunne captured in May 1900 was 3584 W Dunne captured at Jordan's Siding on 19th of May. Another W Dunne of the 6th Dragoons was captured and released in October 1900. He was 3426.
Since your original post Ancestry have put all pre-WW1 medals online, and Findmypast have published all surviving records for regular forces.
Ken
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Hi,,,,5344 David Dunn b c1887 Belfast joined the Militia,, Royal Garrison Artillery{ Cork} in Manchester in 1895,,,he then transferred to the 6th Dragoons in 1896 with the number 3627 {as mentioned by, Ladysmith},serving till 1902. He did serve in South Africa ,but not for long...he was discharged medically unfit.The record gives a brief description of him,,,and lists his next of kin.,,,father Gilbert,,mother Elizabeth,,,sisters Margaret and Lizzie,,,elder brother Gilbert,,who was a sailor in the merchant service,,,The Militia record 3 pages and the army record 8 pages are available on the findmypast website,, Regards GB ;)
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this would be the family in 1891
1891 census 1, Scropton Street, Manchester
National Archive Reference:
RG12 Piece: 3245 Folio: 136 Page: 63
and 1901
1901 census 4, Church Lane, North Manchester
National Archive Reference:
RG13 Piece: 3775 Folio: 139 Page: 1
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Fabulous stuff, thanks so much GB
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your welcome... ;)
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Hi Megan, I'm a Gr Grandaughter of David James Dunn (James Wilson) are you a relative ?...thanks Gail
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Megan and Gail,
This might seem an odd question, but have either of you taken a DNA test?
I ask because I have a long standing Brickwall with my Paternal Grandfather, who says (on Censuses) that he was William James Wilson, born Manchester 1860.
I’ve never been able to find him anywhere before he married my Grandmother Margaret Rees in Swansea in June 1893.
I do however have DUNN DNA matches on Ancestry and other Sites.
Romilly.
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Hi Romilly and Gail
I am researching David James Wilson Dunn family line for a friend, I am not related. Good luck with your search
Megan
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No worries Megan,
It’s a bit of a longshot anyway!
Thanks for letting me know though.
Romilly.
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Hi Megan, David didn’t have Wilson in his name at birth, he took that from his fathers name..Gail
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Hi Romilly, my Dunn family were Irish, if that helps you at all, Gail
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Hi Romilly, my Dunn family were Irish, if that helps you at all, Gail
Thanks Gail, - yes, I have Irish Dunn DNA matches, but I have no idea how I match to them...
I’m pinning my hopes on the 1921 Census throwing some light on my elusive Grandfather!
Romilly.
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Hi can i ask what your elusive grandfathers name was ?? Gail
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Hi Gail,
My paternal grandfather was William James Wilson, apparently born Manchester in 1860.
I’ve never been able to find him anywhere before he married my grandmother Margaret Rees in Swansea in June 1893.
DNA tests have shown that I have Welsh and Irish DNA. The Irish DNA seems to be from Galway and Antrim.
I’ve been trying to find him ever since I first started looking in the late 1970’s.
Because my Father was 30 years older than my Mother and died when I was 5, there’s no one alive to ask.
Romilly.
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Hi, do you have any war documents or paperwork with his parents names on it ? maybe he’s from ireland or somewhere other than manchester ? it’s hard because so many people in england etc have the same names have you checked census records? are you in england ?
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Hi Gail,
Born in 1860 he would’ve been too old for WW1.
As he married my grandmother in 1893 in Swansea, he’s unlikely to have been in the Boer War.
He says on his Marriage Certificate that his Father was ‘William Wilson (Deceased) Occupation:Mason’. I’ve never been able to find a William Wilson, Occupation: Mason with son William James Wilson on any of the earlier Censuses. As you say, very common names and seemingly impossible to pin down.
Romilly.
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My GF was in the 6th IDG during the Zulu wars. I got masses of info (17 pages) from the QDG Regimental Museum in York. They don't have individual's records, unless they are mentioned in the diaries as those records are in the national Archives. They just ask for a small donation
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Thank you for that information, i will look into that