Thomas & William PLACE (London area) Boer War

[dplace]

Any help would be appreciated.  I have not been successful in finding my two uncles who served in the Boer war.  The first is William Place who lived in the Kensington area of London and the second is Thom Place also from Kensington area.  They emigrated to Canada about 1910 but unfortunately I have very little other information to go on. My phone call to Kew didn't help so now I am lost.  Anyone able to check the names for me would be great.  Thanks
David

[casalguidi]

Hi David

There is a William Robert PLACE b1878 Kennington London in the attestation papers for the Canadian CEF for WW1 ............... could that be one of them ............. the records says has served 7 years in the Imperial

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02010602_e.html

Casalguidi

[dplace]

This is my grandfather's brother.  I know about him but I can't seem to find his British records for the 7 years in the Imperial Army.  I know William Robert Place served in the Boer War, but I can't find any papers on him in England and the ones you quoted for Canada don't tell me anything more than that he served 7 years.  Do you  know of any English sources that might give me his British war records on line?

Dave Place

[km1971]

I have checked for them in Kevin Asplin’s roll of the Imperial Yeomanry - http://hometown.aol.co.uk/kevinasplin/home.html - but the only Place listed is Lt Edward Herbert Place of the 15th Company. This site, plus an incomplete casualty list -  http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Databases/BoerDetailed/index.html - are the only online sources I know of for the Boer War.

“7 years Imperial” probably refers to 7 years as a regular in the British army. Men would enlist for 12 years, and after 7 years had the choice of going into the Army Reserve to serve out the remaining 5 years. As such, if his service papers survive, they will be in series WO97 in Kew. They are in alphabetical order so you do not need to know his regiment, but they are original documents so you have to visit Kew or employ a researcher.

His DoB fits in with him enlisting in the army in the late 1890s, serving through the Boer War, then transferring to the reserve a few years later.

Ken

[dplace]

Thanks for the lead.  My second cousin who I found last year, lives just south of London and will go and check out the Kew lists.  I phoned there once but that was a lost cause.  Going there is the only way I think.
 
Dave Place
Canada