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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: BumbleB on Saturday 27 October 18 16:55 BST (UK)
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Sorry, gentlemen, but perhaps another stupid question from a female :-[
How did troops travel to various areas/battles? In particular I am thinking of the 2nd Anglo-Boer War. I have a young boy/man who served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment - he obtained the Queen's SA Medal, King's SA Medal and clasps for Cape Colony, OFS and Transvaal. So how would he have travelled to these locations - forget about actually arriving in SA from England ;D ;D
And the same for India, he re-enlisted and was married in Karachi and his son was born in Meerut.
My sincere apologies if I'm asking VERY stupid questions. :-*
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From piecing together information about my Grandfather who was in the Royal Engineers, I know he sailed to South Africa for the 2nd Boer War on the Bavarian, a new transatlantic liner commandeered by the MOD as a troopship to transport men to South Africa. After landing at Durban they were transported up country to the battle areas by train.
I imagine it was a similar arrangement for you relative,
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Thanks Jebber, at least a start.
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I have newspaper interviews with 3 of my Grandfathers brothers who faught in the Boer War (and WW1) - the interviews took place between the wars and are very detailed
Yes they did travel by train but the largest form of travel was by horse - the horses were ridden pulled equipment and sometimes were on the train with the soldiers - it must have been awful -some times the horse had to be killed for food -some died of exhaustion - some died of fevers - hundreds of thousands of them- I believe horses came from several countries . The men formed close bonds with their horses - must have been devastating when they died /were killed - I find it very difficult to even think about this the reports are so moving - I'm sure you wil find information somewhere on the net
Suz
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Hi - thanks for that. Yes, I did know that horses played a major part in this conflict. Having visited SA, and travelled to some of the historic Anglo-Boer War sites, I also know that a trail of resting places can be ascertained - usually, obviously near to water, BUT also you will find evidence of cosmos flowers along those routes. Fodder was garnered from South America, via the sea voyage, and the seeds of the cosmos were in that fodder.
The things you learn when you travel with South Africans in SA :o
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There is a book that may be of interest.
The Royal Berkshire Regiment 1743-1914 by Martin McIntyre £12-99.
It is available by post from the Regimental Museum.
thewardrobe.org.uk
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Thank you Jebber, I will offer that to the family member (not my family) on whose behalf I have been "nosy".
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There were a number of vessels chartered by the War Office that acted almost exclusively as troopships travelling on a schedule in some caes as for example troops going and coming to and from India. Examples here:
https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Trooping_season
MaxD
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Hi Max: Yes, I can see the transport via sea - but how did they travel on land, once they arrived?
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If not on horses (as Suzard says) then on foot unless there were railways there. Almost every type of unit had nearly as many horses as men.
MaxD
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Many thanks everyone.
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There was the railway in India from 1853.
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They marched a lot!
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I had forgotten about the railways in SA - initially built for the mineral trades (according to Martin Marix Evans in his book "The Boer War South Africa 1899-1902").
http://www.boer-war.com/Details2nd/Railways.html
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Getting a bit obsessed by our bandsman!
Some snippets:
Long newspaper account of the departure to SA of 2nd Battalion in the Windsor and Eton Express 19 Feb 1898 to be found in the nespapers on FindMyPast.
Brief overview of their service in SA here:
https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/646-royal-berkshire-regiment
And an answer to the travel question pictured here:
http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/research/history-of-regiments/the-berkshire-regiment-1881-1885-the-royal-berkshire-regiment-1885-1959
MaxD
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You might just be right, Max :-[
I'm just nosy :-X And having visited SA and driven across the plains at 120 kph with the mountains not getting any nearer, it just fascinates me as to how they travelled in the past. I have a Missionary, back in 1820s/30s who did a lot of travelling - don't know how he had time to preach etc. But thank you very much for your efforts.
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It's me getting obsessed! I'm hoping the family member has checked out all the sources like the Boer War despatches and the Great War diaries for example all of which would add life to the bare facts in the service record. I'll leave you in peace!
MaxD
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From the 1840's rail transport was common over long distances in UK. Otherwise, marching. In the early 1800's, marching, perhaps some transport by narrow boats on canals if available. I remember reading Quarter Sessions records in Gloucestershire County records, the Army had to get legal clearance for troop movements. Even where it involved a corporal and 8 men. I read one such record authorising such a group from Gloucestershire to the Isle of Wight!
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From the 1840's rail transport was common over long distances in UK. Otherwise, marching. In the early 1800's, marching, perhaps some transport by narrow boats on canals if available. I remember reading Quarter Sessions records in Gloucestershire County records, the Army had to get legal clearance for troop movements. Even where it involved a corporal and 8 men. I read one such record authorising such a group from Gloucestershire to the Isle of Wight!
BumbleB’s question related to South Arica and India, not the UK. ;D
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Same applies to South Africa and India when railways available, bonus really. Winston Churchill was captured on a train in Boer War.
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Many thanks, everyone. I think I can now close this particular subject (hurray, says Max ;D ).
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:D :D :D