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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: tarajobrien on Wednesday 16 March 05 03:06 GMT (UK)

Title: Help from a war expert
Post by: tarajobrien on Wednesday 16 March 05 03:06 GMT (UK)

Hi

My 2nd great grandfather in the 1871 census has a rank of Private Scots Fusilier Guards I have search high and low for him in the 1881 census but no luck. I was wondering if the Scots Fusilier Guards (renamed to the Scots Guards in 1877) may have been at the 1st Boer war at the time of the census. Are there any records that exist from that time for the Scots Fusilier Guards?

thanks
Tara

Title: Re: Help from a war expert
Post by: alanh on Wednesday 16 March 05 08:05 GMT (UK)

Tara

This is from a History of the Scots Guards/Scots Fuslier Guards

Canada and Egypt

The 2nd Battalion formed part of a force sent 1861 to Canada to reinforce the frontier during the American Civil War. Its three year visit was spent mainly in garrison duty in Montreal.

Queen Victoria restored to the Regiment its 1877 previous title of Scots Guards.

The 1st Battalion took part in the expedition 1882 to Egypt under Sir Garnet Wolseley to suppress the revolt of Arabi Pasha, gaining for the regiment the battle honours “Tel-el-Kebir” and “Egypt 1882.” In this campaign the Regiment wore scarlet in battle and carried Colours to the seat of the war for the last time.

The Regiment was represented in the expedition for the relief of General Gordon in Khartoum by two companies in the Guards Camel Regiment, which fought most gallantly at Abu Klea, Gubat and Metemneh. At the former battle in January, 1885, the main charge of the Dervishes broke one face of the British square, but the Guards on the further side “faced about, stood like rocks and allowed nothing to pass”.

In the same year the 2nd Battalion was sent with the expedition to Suakin, where it saw little fighting but gained a further battle honour before returning home, via Cyprus, in less than nine months.

You should be able to get more information from the National Archive Catalogue (PROCAT) http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/Default.asp.

Alan

Title: Re: Help from a war expert
Post by: tarajobrien on Wednesday 16 March 05 21:29 GMT (UK)

Hi Alan

thanks for that  ;)


Tara

Title: Re: Help from a war expert
Post by: mcfc1923 on Tuesday 29 March 05 17:34 BST (UK)

Tara, this site may be very useful, www.1914-1918.net
although it deals mainly with the great war, ther are many experts on the Scots Regiment regarding the boer war.


jim

Title: Re: Help from a war expert
Post by: tarajobrien on Tuesday 29 March 05 23:24 BST (UK)

;D Thanks Jim  ;D