? soldier in the Boer War

[cass]

Hi, I am trying to find an ancestor James Fagan b 1867 Ireland who moved to Cumbria. Found his wife and children in the 1901 census but no James. His usual occupation was labourer, and i thought maybe he was visiting rels in Ireland during 1901 census!!?? but someone has suggested that he may be in the Boer war. Was it usual for someone to join up with a young family (5 children) They has been no evidence in previous research to suggest he was in the army. He died in Cumbria in 1935ish. Cass

[manmack]

cass,he may have gone to south africa,but not in the army,the government recruited a lot of irish labour to go and build the railways in SA,during and after the boer war,mack

[cass]

Hi Mack, would there be any records to say whether this happened or not? Was there a census in SA in 1901? Long shot I know. Cass

[manmack]

cass,there must be records somewhere,i think they were hired by the government,who offered them high wages,i think one of the conditions was they had to abstain from alcohol,i am sure it was in one of the recent family tree mags,mack