2nd Northamptons Regt Boer War info request

[kojak]

Hi Folks,

Does anyone have any access to regimental records for the 58th Northamptons Regt that served Queen and Country in the 2nd Boer War?

One of my ancestors served as lance corporal in the regt, and I wonder whether anyone has access to the regt archives?

Thanks in advance

Kojak

[km1971]

If the archives in the regimental museum do not have records about individuals - and most do not - you are left with: Findmypast  for his records if he was discharged before the end of 1913; Ancestry if he served into 1914, and Ancestry again for his Boer War medal entitlement.

Where did the information you already have come from?

Ken

[kojak]

Hi Ken,

There is quite a lengthy mystery to unravel about my wife's ancestor who served in the 58th Northampton's Regt.

I tracked down the WW1 attestation papers for the soldier from ancestry and printed off the details which revealed he was in South Africa from 1899-1901 with the 58th and was given the modder river and belmont clasps. 

My wife and I are keen to learn much more about the regt.  I have been in contact with any rootschatter who has access to additional info and very much look forward to seeing more.

The mystery relates to his name:  He was born Thomas William Smith b. 1876 Bridgwater (his parents didn't remarry) and he didn't marry himself until after the Boer War conflict.  Yet, he served in the Boer War as Lance Corporal William Stanton. Back in UK and on the 1901 census, he used his Thomas William Smith name.  His WW1 attestation papers reveal he used the two names.  Very, very mysterious.  We have also tracked back his paternal ancestry back to before 1790 and no Stanton family line / surname have been found...Although there must be some link as he named his 2nd son and 4th child with Stanton as a middle name.

The mystery continues and may not be resolved by the kind provision of regimental archive info, but any little piece of information about the regt whilst in South Africa will help us piece together quite a story about our mysterious ancestor.

Kind Regards
Kojak

[gortonboy]

hi,,there is a record on findmypast
william stanton b 1876 beauminster,bristol,somerset.
joined 2nd northamtonshire regiment Oct 1898
his occupation at the time was given as a pressman.
he seved in South Africa from 22/10/99  to 1/6/00
next of kin given as  father George.. 23 charles street,kettering
younger brother Ernest.. Bridgwater,Somerset.
on discharge in 1901 his intended place of residence was 15,southville place.bedminster,Bristol..

is this your man ? 

[km1971]

The Northamptonshire Regiment was formed in 1881 from the merger of the 48th and 58th Regiments. So in 1900 58th is an outdated way of referring to the 2nd Battalion of the regiment. They left Aldershot around 20th October 1899 at the start of the Boer War; landed at Cape Town and were part of Lord Methuen’s column to relieve Kimberley and Mafeking. The 1st Battalion was in India.

Regarding the search for ‘regimental archives’, if they did exist they will only contain what you have in his records.

Can you post the bit about him using two names during WW1. Or did he re-enlist as Smith, and told them he had previously served as Stanton?

Ken

[kojak]

Hi Gortonboy,

Very interesting ! The details you have posted fit quite well with our ancestor.  Thomas William Smith / William Stanton was born 1876 in Bridgwater - not beauminster (which is in Dorset not Bristol) - findmypast may well have incorrect info in this regard.  We have William Stanton serving for 3 years.  His occupation was indeed a pressman working for his aunt who ran a dressmaking business and employed her relatives.

His father was called Thomas John, and his grandfather who actually raised him went by the name Thomas George Smith.  His younger brother was indeed Ernest who lived at Bridgwater.

It is odd that findmypast have information that is 100% accurate and other points which are wrong... it all adds to the mystery !

Thanks for looking.

Regards
Kojak

[kojak]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the info/input. I dont have an electronic copy of the army form which states he used two names, but it is viewable on ancestry ww1 army records.

By looking for thomas smith b. 1876 bridgwater we found his record on the very last page !  There are about 35 pages associated to him and one of the army forms (a medical related form) all is revealed...

Ancestry link:

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1219&path=S.Sm.Smi.520646&sid=&gskw=&cr=1


In image box type in 520646 (that is the actual  page where the mystery is stated)

Regards
Kojak

[Stebie9173]

The Boer War medal rolls do indeed confirm 5605 Lance-Corporal W Stanton with the Belmont and Modder River clasps which fits with his service being curtailed due to illness. I cannot find any listing of him being eligible for the 1901 clasp or to the Kings South Africa medal. This of course fits with the information already known.


Are you looking for information specific to him or relating to the 58th's service in South Africa as a whole?



Steve.


P.S. Very descriptive summation of his ailments on there! 

[kojak]

Hi Steve,

We are keen to track down info on the Regt, but also endeavour to unravel the mystery surrounding his change of name.  We also noted (with some shock also) his ailments in SA !!

 

Kojak and Redspookhunter