Census during Boer War

[Tom from OZ]

Hi
My GT Grand Father fought in the Boer War until 1900 could anybody suggest if a census was taken, where would I find the records.

Thanks

[suzard]

If your G Grandfather fought until 1900  then he should be on the 1901 census -

A lot of young men are missing from the 1901 census as they were away fighting

Suz

[Tom from OZ]

Hi Suzard

Many thanks for your response, I have rechecked his war record and it shows he enlisted in April 1894 and amongst other medals was awarded the Cape Colony Bar which states he served in the Cape Colony at some time between 11 Oct 1899 and 31 May 1902, this is probably why I cannot locate him in 1901 census.

Tom

[km1971]

Hi Tom

You only had to serve one day in the Cape Colony to receive that clasp. If you have his record it should say when he was serving at Home, or in South Africa, or elsewhere.

Ken

[Tom from OZ]

Hi Ken

Thanks for your thoughts, as I stated in the previous msg his war record states that he was awarded the Cape Colony Bar and as you say he was certainly there for some time during the period mentioned.  But the information I have from The Royal Sussex Regiment really only relates to the Boer War and states the Regiment left South Africa on 17 Oct 1902 for India, I am unaware whether in fact he left with them.

Tom

[ladysmith]

Hi Tom - If his Boer War service entitled him to a Queen's South Africa Medal only with a Cape Colony clasp only this indicates he left SA before the end of 1900. If he had been there in 1901 he would have also been entitled to a South Africa 1901 clasp. If he had been there in 1901 and 1902 he would have been entitled to either a South Africa 1902 clasp as well or a King's South Africa Medal with both date clasps.

David

[Tom from OZ]

Hi David,

Thank you for the information, you are obviously more knowlegeable about this event, I was not aware how relevant his war bars and clasps would be to my initial query.

Here is what I have regarding his awards from the Royal Sussex Regiment.

The Cape Colony bar was awarded to all troops who served in the state at any time between Oct 11 1899 and 31 May 1902.

The clasp for Johannesburg was awarded to all troops who on 31 May 1900 were north of an east west line through Klip River station and east of an east west line through Krugersdorp Station.

Clasp for Diamond Hill was given to all troops who on 11 and 12 June 1900 were east of a north south line through Silverton Siding and north of an east west line through Vlakfontein.

The clasp for Wettenberg was awarded to all troops who were within a specified area between Harrismith and Bethlehem between 1 and 29 July 1900.  Harry was awarded all these decorations

Based on your information it would appear this may have been his last engagement and may have left for England in July 1900 and arriving after the census was taken.  The archivist states that any surviving personal papers for him will be in Class WO97 at TNA, Kew, perhaps they may end up on line one day, from Australia it is a long way to come.

Tom

[km1971]

Hi Tom

Findmypast are putting surviving pre-WW1 records online 'by 2011'. You need to check this link periodically - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/212.htm . They scanned 1900 to 1913 last, so they will probably publish that section last.

But what are these 'war records' you mention? You may already have his records from WO97. You also know that he only served in SA until 1900.

Ken

[ladysmith]

Hi Tom - The Sussex were one of the few regiments to be heavily engaged at Diamond Hill. Most of the recipients of this clasp were merely in the designated geographical area. (Silverton Siding was actually nearer to Lord Roberts's HQ in Pretoria than it was to Diamond Hill!). Diamond Hill is east of Pretoria and was the second last major set piece battle before the conflict changed to a guerilla war. The British forces were pushing the Boers as far from Pretoria (recently captured) as possible.

Johannesburg was awarded to those units involved in the advance of that city although relatively few saw any heavy fighting.

Wittebergen was awarded for operations in a particular part of the Orange Free State.

This may have been his full entitlement but unless you know for sure otherwise, it's possible he stayed in SA until 1902 thereby earning the King's South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. This would explain why he's not on the 1901 census.

David