How do I find information from Boer War

[Valda]

The National Archives research guides are here

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1

all the information is under the various research guides for the British Army (it will also mention records at the Army Museum but I found them almost impossible to search as they were index less when I tried)

British army campaign records will also mention the medal rolls for the Boer War - all at TNA and if you get there you might as well try to find his service records and not just search the medal rolls.

As far as I understand it you are not interested in his First World War record because you already hold that for his service in the Australian army, you are merely interested in his potential British Boer war service in either the regular army or the volunteers.

Regards

Valda

[tropicalj]

Hi there
thanks for that info  i am assuming he would have been a volunteer because the census records show he was a railyway worker
i know i wont get to england in the foreseeable future
2015 is the planned trip to Gallipoli  lost a guncle there and then on do england
but wil look on line and see what i can see
regards jenn

[liverpool annie]

There is a medal card for HE Townsend ! could that be him ?? - it's 3 pounds 50 to download !! thought you may be interested !! When I got my Granddad's card - it had his Boer War service number and regiment too !!

Medal card of Townsend, H E
Australian Engineers
160
Sapper
Date
1914-1920

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0hm/

It is often forgotten that the index card is only a summary of the actual medal rolls, which are very large volumes of typed entries arranged by regiment. The original entries sometimes carry more information: for infantrymen, they almost always record his battalion(s); unfortunately this is often where the search ends for a soldier of the Royal artillery, Royal Engineers, Labour Corps, Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps, as the soldier's unit is rarely mentioned. When looking at the index card, you should always check the original rolls too. They are not on-line, and require a visit to the National Archives.

This site will help you read it !!

http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/grandad6.htm

Annie  

[tropicalj]

Hi there LA

thanks for that

i will have a look at the ww1 nominal roll
and see how many henry townsend s are listed as sappers  i have not got anything on henry with a middle name

the sites in oz for the nominall rolls are fantastic
ihavent come across the same for the english but it might be that the task would be eourmous

regards to you jenn

[tropicalj]

well i cant recommened this site at all

i paid the 3.50 and all is has a copy of a bit paper card
that says m i d gazettes 13.7.16
page 6955

no medals details no nothing
very dissapointing

but worth the effort but it wasnt him after that

but thanks again
jenn

[liverpool annie]

Jenn !

If you give me all the details of your Henry - I have a friend going to Kew next week - let's see what can be found for you !!

Annie 

[tropicalj]

Hello there LA

thanks for that kind offer

well send you his full details

regards to you jenn

[liverpool annie]

Jenn !

Did you sort out the details ? - my friend is going to Kew tomorrow - so you have to be quick and send them !!

Annie 

[tropicalj]

Hello there Annie

i have been trying to fathom this out a bit and i do not believe he was in the boer war the date of the childrens births and the time frame from the census etc
i emailed my first cousin once removed who i have just found said he thought he was also in the boer war but nothing of substance to this claim  so i dont think it will be worth the time and effort for your friend who no doubt has plenty of things to look up
regards from sunny north queenland
jenn