Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80

[jedburgh]

To Garen I thank you very much for your help I have looked on various sites now  thanks to you help and guidelines Iam sure I will make good progress  .I appreciated your time and diligence
thank you (jedburgh)

[SeaThreePeeO]

Hi, I'm looking for any information on Frederick Charles Boehmer who served with the East Surrey Regiment during the Second Anglo Afghan War.

Any help would be gratefully received.

[Garen]

Hello

I don't see that name on the Afghan war medal roll for the East Surrey (70th) Regiment. Do you have any more info at all? ie. what's your source for his service in the campaign, any dates or documentation?

Many thanks, all best - Garen

[Garen]

Okay - I see from a previous message you posted that Frederick Charles Boehmer was a Captain, this makes things a little easier and I was able to see from the 1885 Army List that he was commissioned in 1883.

Before that he was a Colour Sergeant in the 51st Foot (South Yorkshire) and did indeed serve in the Afghan war with that regiment - as Colour Sergeant 2494, and was awarded the Afghan war medal with clasp for Ali Masjid (ref. medal roll).

He became a Lieutenant in the Bedfordshire Regiment in Oct 1883 and in Jan 1887 he was seconded for service as Adjutant of the Madras Railway Volunteers; he was seconded for service as Adjutant in the East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps in Mar 1889 (ref. London Gazette).

The 1890 Army List shows that he became Captain in Mar 1889 and that he was at that time serving with the East Surreys. It also notes he served in the Jowaki campaign (India medal with Jowaki clasp) and the Afghan war (Afghan medal with Ali Musjid clasp), both with the 51st.

He was placed on temporary half-pay due to ill health in May 1896, and placed on retired pay Nov 1896 (ref. London Gazette).

The London Gazette of 7 Jan 1910 seems to indicate that he died 22 Oct 1909.

Hope that is of interest.

Best wishes -
Garen

P.S. Looking further ... it seems he was Agatha Christie's uncle?

[SeaThreePeeO]

Thank you Garen, that is fantastic and really helps fill in a few gaps!

I am aware of the Agatha Christie connection.  I stumbled upon Frederick's decaying gravestone in my local cemetery.  It peaked my interest and I googled his name.  Obviously his famous niece is well documented, but there seems to be very little information available about Frederick and his life.

Thank you once again for the information you have found.  Looks like Frederick led a very interesting life.

[Garen]

You're most welcome.

It seems as though he had a tragic death - his body was found in a train carriage at Maidenhead Station along with, seemingly, a suicide note. His son, Frederick Fitzgerald West Boehmer, became a Commander in the Royal Navy (he was subject to a court martial in 1946 for unauthorised possession of Navy furniture and found not guilty).

Best - Garen

[SeaThreePeeO]

Goodness!  How awful.  Do you have a link to where you found this information?  I feel a trip to Maidenhead Library coming on.  I know his father died in a tragic accident in 1863, unfortunately having just invested his savings and leaving his wife penniless.  She had no choice but to split the children up.

[Garen]

A search this morning over at The British Newspaper Archive - the Manchester Courier of 29 Oct 1909 has a short piece and the Derby Daily Telegraph of 25 Oct 1909 mentions a gunshot wound. Very sad.

[SeaThreePeeO]

Thank you so much for your wonderful help.  I feel as if I have come to know poor Frederick.

It's so sad that his life began with a tragedy and ended in the same way.  Who knows what demons he battled in life.  Next visit I shall take him some flowers.