coldstream query

[lochee]

Henry Caffery born 02/05/1875 served in the Coldstream Guards 1894-1904.
How can I find which battalion he was in and where he served.?
It's thought that he served in the Boer War, but have no further information. Any help would be appreciated
       
     Bob

[neil1821]

It's not clear from the QSA medal roll if he was 1st or 2nd Btn, but he certainly served in the Boer war.

249 Pte H. Caffery is confirmed.
6-clasp medal for Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast

[lochee]

Hi Neil
Thanks for that,it gives me a start,but still a lot to find.

Bob

[mmm45]

Bob
You should be able to get his service record from either Kew or Coldsteamers archives at Birdcage Walk in London
There may be a fee from the Coldstream Archives..the Kew records will be in Pre 1913 ones.

http://www.rhqcoldmgds.co.uk/shop/page/3?sessid=C1w67f1LRtcfNGPP6HOjRehzK7GAumtmce74zgfuG3CtJVtb5qsQTug404qFo4EL&shop_param=


Ady

[lochee]

Thanks for that Ady
Bob

[lochee]

In 1904 Henry Caffery emigrated to Canada. In 1915 he volunteered  and joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His attestation papers declare that he served 12yrs in the Coldstream Guards.
If he had served 12yrs he must have joined in 1892 (he was born in may 1875) at age 17.
Yet his army number 249 was issued between June 1895 & Feb 1896. Could he have served some time on boys service and been renumbered, or could it have been a 9yr engagement with the colours and 3yrs reserve, which would have been cancelled on emigration? I doubt he would have lied on his attestation papers. It doesn't seem to add up!
As I  am not kin I cannot access his military records.

[neil1821]

As I  am not kin I cannot access his military records.

Not so Bob.
Service records from that era are all in the public domain, your kinship or otherwise doesn't come into it.
http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/family.htm

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fcatalogue%2Fleaflets%2Fri2005%2Ehtm&lBack=-1#7

[lochee]

Hi Neil,
Tried the site you recommended, and phoned the number given, only to be told I must write to the archivist. Cost is £35 and I must be next of kin or have their authority when I apply. They said that the records are not in the public domain and repeated what they had already said. Did I just call at a bad time ? Shoulld I try again ?

Bob

[annswabey]

Of course you don't have to be next of kin for records this old!  I've obtained Guards Service records from Wellington Barracks,although not Coldstream Guards, without being next of kin.  Annoying too that they want to charge - the records should be in the public domain like all other regiments records.  I'd argue against that too (I have, successfully, in the past)