UK - Deceased Soldiers Effects - Where next?

[ChristineM]

Hi,

I've come across an entry on the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929 for a James Dempsey who died 1901 at Commissie Drift, South Africa.

Interested to find a bit more information on him to see if he belongs to one of my Dempseys but unsure where to go next or indeed, if there are any other records that might hold further information.

He was with the 1 Highland Light Infantry, Private, Reg No. 4380.

Ta,
Christine.

[KenSim]

You could try the Commonwealth War Graves website or the British Newspaper Archives website .Local newspapers often give the parents sometimes even the grandparents of a deceased soldier.

[Dundee]

The soldier's effects record gives you quite a lot of information about him.  He was born in Cavan, Ireland, brothers Pat, John and Thomas, sisters Susan, Catherine and Mary.

Debra 

[tonepad]

A small note on this website:

https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/560-highland-light-infantry

Dempsey   J   
4380   Private   
Wounded. Witpoort, 14 August 1900
1st Battalion.
Source: South African Field Force Casualty Roll


Tony

[ChristineM]

Thanks Tony. That did reveal a bit more.
Christine.

[tonepad]

There are three records on "All UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949 results for James Dempsey"

1. Name:   J Dempsey
Service Date:   1897-1898
Service Place:   India
Campaign or Service:   India
Regiment or Unit Name:   2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Regimental Number:   4380

2. Name:   J Dempsey
Service Date:   1899-1902
Service Place:   South Africa
Campaign or Service:   South Africa - Second Boer War
Regiment or Unit Name:   1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Regimental Number:   4380

3. Name:   J Dempsey
Service Date:   1899-1902
Service Place:   South Africa
Campaign or Service:   South Africa - Second Boer War
Regiment or Unit Name:   1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Regimental Number:   4380


Tony

[ChristineM]

Thanks Tony.

So he was in India as well and obviously enlisted before 1897.

I'm hoping to find something that might have more information on where in Cavan he is from or address/names of parents - anything that will help me narrow down if he is from one of my Dempsey families.

I'm not familiar with searching for military documentation (other than WW1 and WW2 attestation papers) but I'm guessing there should be enlistment papers or such like somewhere.  I did see on FindMyPast a possible entry and so need to get to the library to look at it.

Don't know if there are other places or types of records I could also search for him but we shall see what turns up.

Thanks again, every bit helps.

Christine.

[ShaunJ]

Just adding to Tonepad's finds:

India 1897-8: he had the clasp for service on the Punjab Frontier.

South Africa 1899-1902: he had the clasps for Wittebergen and Cape Colony.

It appears that his army records have not survived. Nothing on FindMyPast as far as I can see.

[ChristineM]

Thanks for looking Shaun.
Christine.