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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Old Bristolian on Saturday 30 January 10 17:03 GMT (UK)

Title: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Saturday 30 January 10 17:03 GMT (UK)
My great uncle, Francis William Flexney was killed at the Battle of the Aisne in September 1914. He was serving in the 1st Bt, South Wales Borderers. He had previously served in the Regiment, but in 1914 was a reservist. I had assumed his previous time with SWB would have been served in the same battalion, but I think I have now found him in the 1911 Census with the second Battalion in Pretoria, South Africa. Would a reservist just be put into a battalion which needed making up to war strength, rather than in the one he had previously served in? - the 2nd were in China in 1914 I think.

Also can anyone let me know the whereabouts of the 2nd Battalion in the period 1901-14. Family stories relate that he served in India at some time in his first tour of duty

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: neil1821 on Saturday 30 January 10 17:49 GMT (UK)
Quote
Also can anyone let me know the whereabouts of the 2nd Battalion in the period 1901-14.

Certainly.
1900-04 South Africa
1904 Jun-Dec Aldershot, England
1904 (Dec) - 1906 (Oct) Tidworth, England
1906 (Oct) - 1908 (Sept) Aldershot again
1908 (Sept) - 1910 (Jan) Chatham
1910 (Jan) - 1912 (Oct) South AFrica
1912 (Oct) - 1914 (Sept) Tientsin, China
rest of 1914 Tsingtao/Hong Kong
back to UK Jan 1915
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: km1971 on Saturday 30 January 10 18:34 GMT (UK)
Hi Steve

Men enlisted in the regiment and not the battalion, so after initial training in the depot he would be sent to one or other of the two SWB regular battalions. He was always liable to be transferred to the other one, or back to the depot, as required. As a Reservist he was obviously posted to the one stationed at home, rather than to the one in China. The Reserves were recalled to fight against Germany after all.

His medal index card is on Ancestry. He is Private 8548 Frank W Flexney. He landed in France 13 August 1914. There is a note saying that the officer in charge of records was requesting permission to dispose of his medals, dated 30 June 1922. They would have tried to deliver them to the last address they had for his family. They would then have been sent to Woolwich and re-cycled 10 years later.

His service record does not appear to have survived WW2 bombing. All you can really do is to research when 8548 was issued, either at the SWB museum or on the Great War Forum. Once you have his enlistment date, even approximately, you should be able to work out the type of service he had enlisted under.

http://www.1914-1918.net/swb.htm

You can follow the war diary link. The entry for the 26th September starts – The most ghastly day of my life and yet to one of the proudest because my Regiment did its job and held on against heavy odds.

He was one of four officers (named) and 86 men (unnamed) killed that day.

The 1st Battalion were in India until December 1910. So he may have been in the 1st Battalion and transferred to the 2nd, probably out east. Or the story of him being in India refers to the 2nd Bn passing through on the way to China.

Ken
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: km1971 on Saturday 30 January 10 18:42 GMT (UK)
There is a short entry for him in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1924, available on Ancestry giving just basic information.

Ken
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Sunday 31 January 10 12:04 GMT (UK)
Thanks Neil & Ken

The information you have provided answers all my questions - it looks like he either transferred battalions at some time or the "India service" family story is possibly a mistake. I have to admit my grandmother's sense of geography wasn't all it should have been - she told me she would have liked to visit her brothers' graves in France (both her brothers were killed in the war) but didn't realise she would have to cross the sea!

I have seen most of the documents you give - an interesting point about the medals, as I thought I had seen them as a child, so perhaps the family did claim them at some time. Frank is commemorated on the memorial at St Ferte sous Jouarre as one of the killed/missing of the Aisne with no known grave. I have, however, visited the site of the battle of 26th September 1914 and there is a small cemetery with several SWB graves with no identifacation, so I feel he must be buried there.

The 1911 Census gives him as Henry Flexney - correct age & the place of birth.although garbled (R--land, Bristol, Glam) looks possible. I don't know of any other Flexney that this could be

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Monday 09 August 10 20:55 BST (UK)
Hi Steve,
I've been trying to trace further details of a friend's relative who was also in the First Battalion, South Wales Borderers. His name is George Henry Goldsmith. The Ancestry.com records imply he joined up in Stratford, and his address (as shown on the Bethnal Green memorial's Roll of Honour) was 92 Gosset Street, Bethnal Green.

His service record was destroyed, so I do not know when he joined. I have seen that a George Joseph Walter Atkinson joined on 21 January 1907 (S/N 9508), and from Clapton a Montague Solomon joined on 20 September (S/N 9717). Given that my relative's number is 9668, I'm working on the assumption that he joined around August 1907.
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Monday 09 August 10 21:03 BST (UK)
Below is a list of the other ranks buried at La Ferte Sous Jouarte who were in the South Wales Borderers

This information has been taken from the CWGC website



Name                            Rank       S/N     Date Of Death    Age
ABRAHAMS, RICHARD, R     Private    7201   18/09/14   36
ADAMS, CHARLES, C     Private    7272   26/09/14   Unknown
ALLEN, THOMAS WILLIAM, T W     Lance Corporal    7885   21/09/14   Unknown
AYLWIN, FREDERICK JAMES, F J     Private    8111   26/09/14   28
BAGGIN, RICHARD, R     Private    8252   26/09/14   Unknown
BELCHER, ARTHUR, A     Private    7815   26/09/14   33
BINNING, HERBERT, H     Private    10303   26/09/14   Unknown
BISHOP, LEONARD NEWMAN, L N     Private    9416   26/09/14   28
BRADLEY, HENRY CHARLES, H C     Private    8734   27/09/14   26
BUFTON, WILLIAM ARTHUR, W A     Serjeant    8739   26/09/14   26
BURKE, THOMAS, T     Private    7424   19/09/14   32
BUTT, OWEN, O     Private    9234   26/09/14   Unknown
CLARK, THOMAS JOHN, T J     Lance Corporal    8114   26/09/14   28
CLIFFORD, WILLIAM THOMAS, W T     Lance Serjeant    7975   18/09/14   28
COCKLIN, JAMES, J     Private    8811   18/09/14   27
COLE, HARRY, H     Lance Corporal    8669   16/09/14   Unknown
COLTMAN, ARCHIBALD, A     Private    8429   16/09/14   28
COOK, EDWARD JOHN, E J     Private    8161   26/09/14   32
COULSON, GEORGE, G     Corporal    8821   15/09/14   28
CUNNINGHAM, WILLIAM, W     Private    8700   26/09/14   27
DANIELS, ROBERT, R     Private    7229   26/09/14   Unknown
DAVIES, CLIFFORD JEFFREY, C J     Private    10854   26/09/14   Unknown
DICKINSON, HERBERT, H     Private    6396   26/09/14   Unknown
DUMPER, FRANK HENRY, F H     Private    7887   04/10/14   Unknown
DUNN, THOMAS, T     Private    10869   26/09/14   Unknown
DYKES, THOMAS, T     Private    7827   14/10/14   Unknown
ELLIOTT, EDWIN WILLIAM, E W     Private    13097   26/09/14   37
ELMORE, ALFRED, A     Private    10905   26/09/14   Unknown
FIELDING, THOMAS, T     Private    8391   26/09/14   29
FISH, ROBERT JOSEPH, R J     Private    10995   26/09/14   Unknown
FLEXNEY, FRANK WILLIAM, F W     Private    8548   26/09/14   30
FORKNALL, JAMES, J     Private    9114   26/09/14   33
FRANKLIN, WILFRED NOEL, W N     Private    8115   26/09/14   28
GANE, FREDERICK, F    Private   10731   15/10/14   19
GARDNER, JOHN, J    Private   7080   26/09/14   Unknown
GEOGHAN, WILLIAM, W    Private   9003   26/09/14   Unknown
GERRARD, WALTER, W    Private   8091   26/09/14   28
GOLDSMITH, GEORGE, G    Lance Corporal   9668   18/09/14   Unknown
GOLDSTONE, CHARLES EDWARD, C E    Private   10661   14/09/14   Unknown
GRACE, THOMAS, T    Private   11080   17/09/14   Unknown
HANDS, JOHN, J    Private   6269   26/09/14   Unknown
HARDING, CHARLES ARTHUR GEORGE, C A G    Private   7936   16/09/14   30
HARDY, ALFRED, A    Private   7918   19/09/14   28
HARRIS, ERNEST, E    Private   8380   16/09/14   28
HARRIS, WILLIAM, W    Private   11722   24/09/14   Unknown
HOOPER, EDGAR CHARLES, E C    Private   6513   26/09/14   Unknown
HOWCROFT, HENRY, H    Private   8740   27/09/14   Unknown
HUFTON, ROBERT BARRAND, R B    Private   7836   15/09/14   32
INSKIP, ROBERT, R    Private   8061   26/09/14   Unknown
JENKINS, LEONARD, L    Lance Corporal   7814   03/10/14   30
JENNINGS, HENRY, H    Private   11773   01/10/14   Unknown
JONES, GWILYM GEORGE, G G    Lance Corporal   10939   14/09/14   Unknown
JORDAN, GEORGE OSCAR, G O    Private   8234   26/09/14   Unknown
KILEY, THOMAS, T    Private   11081   26/09/14   22
KYLE, ALEXANDER WILLIAM, A W    Private   10046   18/09/14   Unknown
LAWTON, WILLIAM JOHN, W J    Private   8378   26/09/14   34
LEE, SIDNEY, S    Private   10767   19/09/14   21
LEWIS, DAVID JOHN, D J    Private   7904   27/09/14   30
LEWIS, EDWARD JOHN, E J    Lance Corporal   8553   13/10/14   Unknown
LEWIS, PERCY, P    Private   9652   17/09/14   21
LYNCH, HUGH, H    Private   8292   26/09/14   Unknown
MANCEY, ALBERT GEORGE, A G    Private   9353   26/09/14   25
MAYERSBETH, ROBERT, R    Lance Corporal   9857   26/08/14   Unknown
MILLS, GEORGE HENRY THOMAS, G H T    Private   8788   18/09/14   27
MILLS, WILLIAM, W    Private   10984   20/09/14   20
MINON, DANIEL, D    Private   8188   26/09/14   Unknown
MORRIS, FREDERICK, F    Private   4622   26/09/14   Unknown
MORTIN, ERNEST, E    Private   6833   19/09/14   Unknown
MOSS, CHARLES HENRY, C H    Lance Corporal   9255   25/09/14   Unknown
NICHOLLS, FREDERICK, F    Private   8718   18/09/14   Unknown


Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Monday 09 August 10 21:04 BST (UK)

Name                            Rank       S/N     Date Of Death    Age
O'CONNOR, THOMAS, T    Private   8196   26/09/14   Unknown
O'NEIL, JOHN, J    Private   11331   28/09/14   Unknown
O'NEILL, JAMES, J    Private   9386   26/09/14   28
PACKHAM, CHARLES ALFRED, C A    Private   9124   26/09/14   Unknown
PARKER, GILBERT, G    Private   8242   26/09/14   27
PERKS, WILLIAM EDWARD, W E    Private   8189   26/09/14   Unknown
PITT, HILO, H    Serjeant   7800   26/09/14   Unknown
POWELL, THOMAS WILLIAM, T W    Private   8534   28/09/14   31
POWER, JOHN, J    Private   8353   26/09/14   31
PRICE, WILLIAM ARTHUR, W A    Private   7924   18/09/14   Unknown
PROBERT, PERCY, P    Private   11037   14/09/14   Unknown
PROUSE, JOHN, J    Lance Corporal   11093   19/09/14   Unknown
REACH, THOMAS EDWARD, T E    Private   8180   26/09/14   30
RHODES, JOHN ALICK, J A    Private   9371   18/09/14   25
RINGHAM, ROBERT, R    Private   9368   26/09/14   28
ROBBINS, JOSEPH, J    Private   6901   26/09/14   32
ROBERTS, ARTHUR, A    Private   10709   26/09/14   24
ROBINSON, MATTHEW, M    Private   6453   26/09/14   36
ROGERS, EDWARD, E    Private   7813   14/10/14   Unknown
ROGERS, FREDERICK, F    Private   8463   18/09/14   Unknown
ROLFE, GEORGE JAMES, G J    Private   9242   26/09/14   27
SCOTT, WALTER WILLIAM, W W    Private   9390   18/09/14   Unknown
SCURLOCK, ERNEST GEORGE, E G    Private   11779   26/09/14   29
SEAR, ALBERT WALTER, A W    Private   7361   26/09/14   29
SHEA, FRANK, F    Private   10331   26/09/14   24
SMITH, ERNEST WILLIAM, E W    Lance Corporal   6228   24/09/14   Unknown
SMITH, WILLIAM FREDERICK, W F    Private   8759   26/09/14   27
SPINK, THOMAS JAMES, T J    Private   8720   26/09/14   27
SYKES, ALFRED JOHN, A J    Serjeant   6212   26/09/14   Unknown
TAYLOR, ROBERT, R    Private   8662   18/09/14   Unknown
THOMAS, DAVID, D    Private   8261   26/09/14   42
THOMAS, WILLIAM, W    Private   8037   18/09/14   34
TUCKER, WILLIAM, W    Private   8432   04/10/14   31
WAINSCOTT, WALTER JOSEPH, W J    Private   8550   15/09/14   37
WALKER, EDWARD WILLIAM, E W    Lance Corporal   7443   26/09/14   27
WARD, FREDERICK THOMAS, F T    Private   8018   26/09/14   Unknown
WATERHOUSE, GEORGE FREDERICK, G F    Lance Corporal   10863   26/09/14   Unknown
WELSH, WILLIAM, W    Private   11726   24/09/14   32
WESTON, HERBERT, H    Lance Corporal   9019   26/09/14   Unknown
WHITMEY, CHARLES BENJAMIN, C B    Private   9373   26/09/14   26
WILLIAMS, GEORGE, G    Private   8023   26/09/14   29
WILLIAMS, JOHN HENRY, J H    Private   7861   19/09/14   31
WORKMAN, ROBERT, R    Private   8708   26/09/14   30
YEND, JAMES, J    Private   9485   26/09/14   Unknown
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Wednesday 11 August 10 15:28 BST (UK)
Thanks for the list - I think though that none of these individuals is buried at La Ferte - the monument is a memorial to all the British soldiers missing presumed killed from the batlles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne & the Aisne

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Thursday 12 August 10 12:48 BST (UK)
Yes Steve, it is a memorial rather than graves and tombstones.
The following men have "age unknown", but I have been able to find what appears to be their birth year, according to the 1911 Census, when the 1st Battalion was in the district of Medway (at Chatham), and the 2nd Battalion was in the "County" of "Overseas Military" (at Pretoria)

Service No   Birth   Name
4622   1878   MORRIS, FREDERICK, F
6212   1882   SYKES, ALFRED JOHN, A J
6228   1878   SMITH, ERNEST WILLIAM, E W
6269   1889   HANDS, JOHN, J
6513   1881   HOOPER, EDGAR CHARLES, E C
6833   1879   MORTIN, ERNEST, E
7080   1888   GARDNER, JOHN, J
7813   1891   ROGERS, EDWARD, E
7827   1889   DYKES, THOMAS, T     
7885   1878   ALLEN, THOMAS WILLIAM, T W     
7924   1886   PRICE, WILLIAM ARTHUR, W A
8061   1886   INSKIP, ROBERT, R
8196   1892   O'CONNOR, THOMAS, T
8234   1884   JORDAN, GEORGE OSCAR, G O
8292   1872   LYNCH, HUGH, H
8463   1890   ROGERS, FREDERICK, F
8553   1886   LEWIS, EDWARD JOHN, E J
8669   1889   COLE, HARRY, H     
8718   1888   NICHOLLS, FREDERICK, F
8740   1885   HOWCROFT, HENRY, H
9019   1884   WESTON, HERBERT, H
9124   1883   PACKHAM, CHARLES ALFRED, C A
9255   1886   MOSS, CHARLES HENRY, C H
9390   1889   SCOTT, WALTER WILLIAM, W W
9485   1889   YEND, JAMES, J
9668   1886   GOLDSMITH, GEORGE, G
9857   1889   MAYERSBETH, ROBERT, R
10046   1872   KYLE, ALEXANDER WILLIAM, A W
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Friday 13 August 10 23:06 BST (UK)
Quote
Also can anyone let me know the whereabouts of the 2nd Battalion in the period 1901-14.


Would it also be possible to know the whereabouts of the 1st Battalion during the same period, please. I think I saw something about the 1st having been in Malta in 1914
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: km1971 on Saturday 14 August 10 09:19 BST (UK)
The 1st Battalion SWB embarked for India from Gibraltar on 22 November 1897. They arrived back in Chatham in December 1910. They moved to Bordon (Hamspshire) in September 1913 and were there for the start of WW1. They may have stopped off in Malta on the way back from India in 1910.

If you contact the SWB museum they may have a revised ‘Historical Records’ which should tell you chapter and verse how many men moved where, and when. Regiments were ordered to produce these at the start of Victoria’s reign and some regiments produced updates every 30-40 years up to WW1.

Ken
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Sunday 22 August 10 23:43 BST (UK)
Thanks Ken. Once I  have exhausted my list of leads, I shall write a letter to the museum.

The battalion diary for the period 15 Sept 1914 to 02 Oct (or thereabouts) has been put online, which is an interesting read.
http://www.1914-1918.net/swb.htm

There were two other ranks, and two officers, which were buried at Vendresse, in addition to the missing men lisyed above.
COKER, JOHN CADWALLADER, J C     Lieutenant        26/09/14   27   
JOHNSON, MERVYN TAYLOR, M T     Lieutenant        14/09/14   28   
MEREDITH, GEORGE HENRY, G H     Private    8558   18/09/14   27   "C " Coy. 1st Bn.
PETTIT, CHARLES GEORGE, C G     Private    9449   26/09/14   27   

Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Monday 23 August 10 00:23 BST (UK)
Hi Steve, thought you may find this interesting.

The 1st Division diaries are a compilation of all the battalion diaries. In addition to the diary for the month of September, there is an annex to the September diary; a report on the Battle of the Aisne. Below is a transcript of this. It is a very small part of the four years of diaries:

The ridge of a wooded hill, at the head of a valley (south of the village) is where 1st Battn South Wales Borderers were entrenched. The village of 02160 Vendresse-Beaulne is located south of Laon, and east of Soissons.

--------------------------------

Battle of the Aisne report:

On morning of 14 Sept, the 1st SWB marching from BOURG arrived at xroads 1/4 mile south of Vendresse & halted for about 1/2 hour there, before receiving orders to reinforce the left flank of Vendresse ridge. The battn had no had no sooner left xroads when it came under shell fire and eventually reached the fir wood at the S.W. corner of Vendresse ridge - from there it was ordered to attack the ridge about 3/4 mile due north of CHIVY, i.e. in a northerly direction & carry on the line of the Black Watch who were in front.

The furthest point reached at this stage was CHIVY village and the wood to the west of it, the Black Watch in the mean time moving off to our right front  - The battn being unable to advance further owing to enemy fire & casualties, held the line of the BEAULNE-CHIVY road that is facing NNW. Towards evening the Battn was ordered to advance to the CHEMIN DES DAMES road directing on tee CHE of CHEMIN route, the Welsh Regt on our left moving up the valley, and the Guards Brigade on our right.

The 1st S.W.B. were therefore re-organised in and near the fir wood above mentioned and commenced the advance about 5.30p.m. & came under heavy artillery fire - the 2 leading Coys reached the ridge 140 yards from the point given without opposition & remained there for the night facing north with the Welsh quite close on their left - several of the enemy surrendered to them during the night - the other 2 Coys & HQ reached a point more to the right about 500 yards south of the CHEMIN-DES-DAMES with their right on the CHIVY-CERNY track, and were attacked very soon after arrival - As it was dark before reaching this point these Coys entrenched themselves at this point, one Coy on each side of the track, the left Coy facing north and the other north northeast. This position was held for the next six days  with the other 2 Coys on their left, thrown back.
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Sunday 29 August 10 14:26 BST (UK)
The 1st Battalion SWB embarked for India from Gibraltar on 22 November 1897. They arrived back in Chatham in December 1910. They moved to Bordon (Hampshire) in September 1913 and were there for the start of WW1.

Below is a breakout of the service of the 1st Battalion whilst in India
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78081
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Monday 30 August 10 16:58 BST (UK)
Thanks for all the info & excerpt from the War Diary. Frank Flexney was in fact killed on the 26th September during a surprise attack at dawn on a quarry position the Borderers had occupied, at the top of a ridge overlooking Vendresse. I've read the Official Regimental History & it gives quite a vivid picture of the engagement - the Germans were beaten off with heavy losses - the men were taken completely by surprise as the enemy attacked uphill under the cover of morning mist - several Borderers even fought with their eating utensils - they were presumably having breakfast!

I have visited the site (& the nearby military graveyard). Its difficult to recognize the action now as the valley is mostly open field & the ridge wooded - completely the opposite of the situation in 1914. I spoke to the local farmer & he said he had quite a few visitors to the site - but mostly German. I was lucky in collecting some poppies from the field where my great uncle died, which have to serve in the place of any photograph of him

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Monday 06 September 10 18:56 BST (UK)
Hi Steve,

Here is a map with the dispositions of the South Wales Borderers on 17 Sept 1914.

I've also been able to find a map of the dispositions as at 22 Sept 1914, with the Borderers positioned north of Chivy and Vendresse.

Regards
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Wednesday 08 September 10 22:59 BST (UK)
His service record does not appear to have survived WW2 bombing. All you can really do is to research when 8548 was issued, either at the SWB museum or on the Great War Forum. Once you have his enlistment date, even approximately, you should be able to work out the type of service he had enlisted under.

HI Steve,
I've been in the same situation as you, and although there have been less trials and more errors, this is what I'd recommend doing:

1. Do searches on the National Archives Medal Roll search engine. Use "South Wales Borderers" as Corps, and "854*" as a keyword. Write down in numeric order the numbers and the names.
2. Work down the list with the following:
   a. Do searches on the Service Records
   b. Do searches on the Pension Records
   c. If nothing was found, check the medal cards to see if "SWB List" appears.
       If you see the likes of "SWB List J/1876/1", jot this down
3. Keep doing this for as many groups of 10 numbers until you are satisfied with the results.

What is the significance with SWB List? The Silver War Badge list will record the enlistment date, and this will allow you to narrow the date range in which your ancestor joined up.

The SWB lists are at Kew; the corresponding reference for the entry above is WO 329/3097

I have been very lucky in finding the service record (in the pension database in Ancestry) of a man who enlisted on the same date (I believe) and in the same location as George Goldsmith. In fact, I suspect the two of them joined up together.

Medal Roll Card data:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10

WO 363 # British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1219

WO 364 # British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1114

Best of luck
GP
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Wednesday 08 September 10 23:12 BST (UK)
One last comment from me:

James Toman and Thomas Green (service numbers 10572 & 10576 respectively) appear in the 1911 Census; I believe if you are searching an ancestor with a service number lower than this, they should appear in the 1911 Census.
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Saturday 25 September 10 18:39 BST (UK)
Thanks GrenPen for all your help & suggestions - I will follow them up. Sorry for the delay in replying but I've been away for a few weeks. I have found Frank Flexney in the 1911 Census in Pretoria, but under the name Henry Flexney!

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Wednesday 10 November 10 19:50 GMT (UK)
Family stories relate that he served in India at some time in his first tour of duty

Steve
Hi Steve,
I have been concluding my research, and have been in contact with the RRW museum at Brecon. The staff were kind enough to indulge me with some dates of drafts sent to India (along with the numbers of soldiers sent - the individual names have not survived) during 1908 and 1909.

In addition, I was advised of the following drafts from the 1st to the 2nd Battalion; the Regiment was keen that its overseas battalion was kept at full strength:

6 September 1910 - A draft of 148 NCOs and men of 1st Battalion, on transfer to 2nd Battalion, proceeded to Karachi, then Bombay - to UK - transport 'Dongola'. [9867 Ernest Mitchell appears to be one of these draftees.]
 
22 October 1910 - A draft of 239 NCOs and Men of 1st Battalion, on transfer to 2nd Battalion - in South Africa via RIMS 'Northbrook' to Durban.
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Friday 12 November 10 10:11 GMT (UK)
Thanks GP

The drafts are really interesting - it could be that Frank Flexney was one of them & did serve in India after all

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Tuesday 11 January 11 22:58 GMT (UK)
Hi Steve,
This will, I believe, be my final posting.

Private John Godwin, number 8546, would have joined at the same time as your great uncle. John was invalided out of the Army, receiving a Silver War Badge.

The medal card for the Silver War Badge states that he joined on 3 September 1904.

Thanks
GP
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: GrenPen on Wednesday 26 October 11 22:37 BST (UK)
I have had the pleasure of dealing with Paul Nixon recently, a true gent.

He advised me of how it is possible to do wildcard searches with WO97 records. The result was considerably more records than 12 months of working with the poorly indexed WW1 Service records (many were missing) and WW1 Pension records (more of these survived than Service records). If you are researching a pre-war regular, I would advise using the WO 97 records as your first port of call.

http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2011/10/south-wales-borderers-1881-1914-1st-and.html

Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Thursday 27 October 11 10:24 BST (UK)
Hi GP

Thanks for the information - I'll certainly follow that up

Steve
Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: hanes teulu on Thursday 27 October 11 11:40 BST (UK)
Steve,
Re your reference to a"Henry Flexney" on the 1911 Census and the somewhat garbled address (R--dland, Bristol Glam).

FindMyPast has a military record for a Frank Flexney joining 4th Somerset L I, 30 May 1903, aged 17yrs 11 months and buying himself out after 76 days.
Details include next of kin, "Frank Flexney, father, 106 Cressell Rd", brother "Oliver" and mentions the Parish of "Redland".

Have found the family in 1911 - minus Frank.

regards

   

Title: Re: South Wales Borderers pre WW1
Post by: Old Bristolian on Thursday 27 October 11 11:58 BST (UK)
Thats really interesting - its certainly the right family - Frank had a brother Oliver (finally died at Passchendael 1917) and his father was another Frank; they lived at 106 Chessel Street, Bedminster, Bristol. There was always a family story about Frank buying himself out  - I assumed it was from the SWB c1912 - perhaps he did it again then. I'll follow this up, but  it shows he was determined to be a soldier, possibly changing his mind when faced with the reality!

Thank you so much

Steve