RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: BumbleB on Thursday 28 August 08 13:37 BST (UK)
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Hi: I'm new to Rootschat, so just hope I'm in the right area!!
I've come across a couple of possible family members who were involved in the Boer War.
Trooper 38321 Frederick John Harry Archbell, Damant's Horse (aka Rimington Guides) died 26 March 1902.
Private 24968 Harry Archbell, Cape Colony Cycle Corps served 10 January 1901 to 16 April 1902
Does anyone have any idea if there are any records, other than at Kew.
I think they both originated in the UK, although there are Archbells resident in South Africa but I'm told that these two are probably not from the South African connection.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
BumbleB
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You will have to visit Kew or employ a researcher. There is hardly anything available online, and you must have seen the Roll of Honour entry for John Archbell to know the date of his death.
The 'papers' - usually only two sides - are in WO127, with an index in WO126, and the medal rolls are on microfilm in WO100.
Regarding the CCCC you must have some information as you have the dates he served. Where did you find this?
Ken
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Hi Ken: I found both entries on http://hometown.aol.co.uk/tamsinasplin/ and then either RGDH.html or cccc.html
Just wondered if Kew was the only place to view these records. I live in Tamworth, so not quite so easy to get down to Kew, and thought I'd see if there was an alternative. If not, then I'll just add them to my list!
Sue
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What an amazing photo!
Do you know if they stayed on in South Africa? If so, the South African Public Records Office has good records available online.
http://www.national.archives.gov.za/naairs.htm
meles
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Hi Meles: well obviously Frederick John Harry did - next thing is to find out where he died!! Not sure about Harry and your website wasn't able to help me. I've got a friend in South Africa, so will see if she has any ideas, otherwise it's down to Kew!!
Cheers
Sue
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I've got family there (whose ancestors also came out at that time), and visit most years. Let me know if I can help more.
meles
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Thanks Meles: I'll bear that in mind. Always good to have more than one string to one's bow!!
Cheers
Sue
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Frederick John Harry .... next thing is to find out where he died!! ...
He died in Harrismith- http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Databases/BoerDetailed/index.html. I thought you had this.
I have to do a look up on the Damants Horse medal roll - I have a medal to one of their troopers. So I will look up Frederick. They earned an incredible amount of money. My man left with something like £250 for nine months service. Didn't do him much good though as he died a few months after his discharge. Most seem to have been locals, but the wages attracted a lot of men from UK, Canada, Australia etc who paid their own passage to SA and enlisted.
Ken
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Thank you so much Ken, no I didn't have this information. I just had the basics.
Poor sod, so he didn't even die in battle!! No glory in dying of enteric fever!! Ah well. Perhaps it's just as well. I'm just reading the history of the Voortrekkers, not sure I could do it. Another Archbell was a Wesleyan Missionery in South Africa, and he is quoted as "out-trekking the Voortrekkers", and this was 80 odd years before the Boer War.
Thanks
Sue
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Hi Ken: how did you get this information - if I put in the name Archbell on the website, it comes up with zero.!!
Sue
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He's there ... I found him too ! :)
Surname ARCHBELL, F J H
Rank Private
Serial No 38321
Regiment Force Damants Horse
Date of Event 26 March 1902
Place of Event Harrismith
Event Died of enteric
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Liverpool Annie and Ken: And I drove through Harrismith in March this year!! I've got a common interest in James Archbell the missionary, with a friend in South Africa. I went out there and we drove from Howick to Thaba Nchu, passing through Harrismith!! Sh.t!! Come on, give, how did you find the place of death? But, does anyone know where he came from? I think he is from London - I've certainly got a Frederick John Harry missing from the 1901 census!!
But thanks anyway!
Sue
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OK Sue !! click on
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Databases/BoerDetailed/index.html
then punch in ARCH in surname ........ and Bob's your uncle !! :D :D :D
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Oops! Thank you
Sue
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I typed in archbell in the surname and got the details Annie gave you.
Ken
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Hi: just to put this one to bed, at least as far as Frederick John Harry is concerned. I went into Birmingham library and found his will, or at least the administration, which was granted to his sister, so he was exactly who I thought he was. Only got to find Harry now!
BumbleB :)
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Hi
I may have some information on where some of your family are buried.
Please contact if i can help.
See atttached photo
Regards
Jenny
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Hi Jenny and a big welcome to RootsChat :)
I'm always grateful for any information I can get on the Archbell family. I know that this thread is now very old, and I do have more information on the family. I did eventually see Frederick John Harry's memorial in Harrismith, as I have visited South Africa at least a couple of times since 2008.
Anything you can offer will be gratefully received. I look forward to hearing from you again.
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And, for anyone who is interested, this is the memorial for Frederick John Harry Archbell in Harrismith Cemetery.