Boer War

[StephenEdwardReid]

Hi, i'm trying to find out some more info about my Great Grandfather, George Pitt, who signed up for the 3rd Battalion East Surrey Regiment in 1899. There's no record of him I can find as having taken any part in the second Boer War. Could he have just stayed in reserve? As it was a reserve militia, could he have left early - he started settling down and having kids within a couple of years of joining. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Moderator comment: full image removed, small portions only are allowed for deciphering purposes

[Jebber]

If you look through his record you will see he had the South Africa Medal 1901 & 1902 with clasp for Cape Colony.

[StephenEdwardReid]

Oh really? That's fab. I couldn't find any record of him when I looked. Apologies for pushing - but do yo uknow where I can find out more?

[Jebber]

There doesn't seem to be much about him, the information about his medal was on the fourth page.

You could try  the Medal Roll on Ancestry, it may tell you when he left SA, the date is occasionally shown, if you are very lucky

[Jebber]

I can't see anything more on the Medal Roll.

[ShaunJ]

I've been trying to read the faded writing in red ink on the 3rd page of the army record.

"Served in the battalion in South Africa from 5.6.01 to 22.7. 02" ?

[MaxD]

He was in the 3rd Battalion East Surreys, the militia (the part time soldiers) from 26 Jun 1899 and on 12 May 1900 was "embodied" (brought into full time service) for service in S Africa and "disembodied" on return to UK on 26 July 1902 where he continued his militia service until 26 Jun 1905 when the 6 years service he had signed up for was over.

He served with the 3rd Battalion in S Africa. useful info here:

https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/552-east-surrey-regiment?showall=1  (the milita men served with 2nd Battalion)
Enter his surname and he is listed.

His medal roll entry is on Ancestry - as Jebber notes.

MaxD

[ShaunJ]

Max missed out the bit that said he was disembodied on 15 October 1900 and embodied again on 5 May 1901.

[MaxD]

The dates ShaunJ perceives with eagle eyes add up, the 3rd Battalion left Aldershot on 5 Jun 1901 for Southampton and sailed a few days later (various newspaper reports), their return was reported on 2 Jun 1902.
MaxD

ShaunJ's eyes triumph again.  I seem to recall that there was an over-enthusiastic embodiment of militias in 1900 but Lord Roberts didn't want them in S Africa at the time so they stood down, only to be embodied the next year. On the bus, off the bus.