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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: J Bux on Thursday 06 December 12 21:54 GMT (UK)
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I am researching a relative who reportedly joined the South African Field Forces, but I can only find references to the Natal Carbineers on Forces War records. Are these two terms interchangeable?
At the end of Boar War he reportedly joined the Scouts. Can anyone enlighten me on these?
He stayed in SA and at the start of WW1 re-enlisted. He died after being bitten on the lip by an insect and was interred with military honours in Bloomfield Cemetery. I cannot find this cemetery on google, can anyone tell me where it is?
thanks
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Hi I take it you are referring to the gentleman below.
Try this link it has results for a W Buxton http://www.findmypast.co.uk/military-records-search-start.action and this link http://www.huthwaite-online.webspace.virginmedia.com/gallery/memorial/ww1/buxton_w.php
I may be wrong but I suspect the Carbineers were one of the South African groups which made up the South African Field Forces.
Will try find where the cemetery is. I found this on the net. Bloomfield - Farm near KwaXamane, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Maybe he is buried on his farm?
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Thanks for that, I had found the three documents relating to W Buxton but it was the difference in the report saying South African Field Forces and the records showing the Natal Carbineers which was confusing me.
The article you found was the one that sent me in this direction. My starting point was Walter’s son who was supposed to be the cousin of one of my relatives. They were both in 9th btn Sherwood Foresters and were killed in the same battle in October 1917. I’m not sure that the link to my family is true but I would like to know a bit more about them to rule out a connection and at least put the record straight.
I can find his son Albert (born in Aldershot) and a possible sister (born in London) living with their grandparents in Chesterfield in the 1911 census. However I have not found Walter’s wife yet. Nor have I yet found births in Aldershot.
Thank you again for your help
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Find My Past has his Army Service Corps records 1890-1902.
He married Clara Lawson Sharp(e) in December 1891 in Woolwich.
There's also some correspondence concerning a Walter Buxton in the National Museum of Military History in South Africa
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm30ddf0?20121207133301A58CE086&DN=00000002
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Thank you for your help
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The previous link to the South African archives tells you it has timed out. To see the files pertaining to him go to http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300gi?201212072339476070A706%26DB%3DRSAE then type in walter top line, second line Buxton and enter. Now click on results summary. 7 records appear. If you would like to know how to order copies of the files let me know.
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This link to the Buxton family page
http://thebuxtonfamily.com/ghtout/gp222.html
http://thebuxtonfamily.com/ghtout/npr20.html#rnn1426
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Thank you all for your help but this seems to be a dead end. The chap referred to in the carbineers is about 10 years younger and was born in a different place.
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Wife Clara (born Woolwich circa 1870) is listed in Blackwell Road, Huthwaite in the 1901 census, with 3 children: Annie M aged 9, born Woolwich. Albert E aged 5 born Aldershot, and Walter C aged 11 months born Plumstead.
Only one of these children (Annie) is listed in Walter's Army Service Corps file.
In the 1911 census Walter junior, born Plumstead, is aged 11 and recorded as the son of Mary Hannah Buxton from Chesterfield. I wonder if this is the "Annie" referred to in CWGC. (There's a possible marriage in Chesterfield in 1901 - Walter Buxton and Mary Ann Tolley on same page)
And what happened to Clara?.
And why can't we find a birth registration for Albert Edward in Farnham/Aldershot?
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Thanks
I have found about 5 families of Buxtons living in the Parish of Hucknall Under Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, one of which is John Denman Buxton who was Walter’s younger brother.
The elder two children are living with their paternal Grandparents in Furnace Hill, Chesterfield in 1911, as is John D.
Clara as you say seems to have vanished but there is also a birth recorded in Belper, Derbys. to Clara Lawson Buxton of a son, William Buxton in May 1906.
Two marriages for Clara L Buxton are recorded both in 1910; one in Mansfield Notts., the other in Camberwell, London. Could she have divorced and remarried?
I think I had to look in military births to find Albert Edward
I have not had a chance to look at Walter's Army Service Corps records
Thanks again
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Yes it looks like Clara married John (Jack) Heath in 1910 in Mansfield and much later in life (in 1949) married Arthur Wardley, again in Mansfield
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I think the Annie Buxton referred to by Albert Edward was his grandmother who lived in Furnace Hill.
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It has just occurred to me that Clara would have been about eighty in 1949! What a wonderful ancestor to have; if I can prove a link to my family!
Was the report in the paper completely wrong? getting the wrong Walter? (http://www.huthwaite-online.webspace.virginmedia.com/gallery/memorial/ww1/buxton_w.php)
Was it a different Walter who was mentioned in dispatches and awarded CAF Long Service Medal 1924?
The problem with this family history is that every answer seems to add another question.
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Hi there
I don't know if you have seen this:
http://thebuxtonfamily.com/photoalbums/Families/warwick/pages/william_jpg.htm
Here is a link that gives the history of the Natal Carbineers
http://www.angloboerwar.com/name-search?option=com_content&view=article&id=435
The Buxton name is well known in Durban
:)
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That's the wrong Walter Buxton. We are concerned with Walter Buxton born Hasland, Chesterfield circa 1872, Army Service Corps 1890-1902, died 1917 in service with South African Field Forces
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Hi all
Thanks for the links.
I've had a look at the nominal roll images in the Carbineers website and they only show one W BUXTON. Trooper 410. He was killed in action on 18th Dec 1899.
The Walter in the other link is BUXTON Walter, Trooper 1481. is about 10 years younger.
I'm not sure if Walter was in the Natal Carbineers but it is the only reference I've found to that name.
Grateful for any help
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I have just found this
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 2 NOVEMBER, 1917v 1132T
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the undermentioned Non-Commissioned Officers and Men'
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19774 Pte. A. E. Buxton, N. & Derby. R..(Beaconsfield, S. Africa).
This is Walter's son; who I thought had resided in Chesterfield or Huthwaite England when he enlisted. He was killed and won the Military Medal while serving with The Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) 9th Battalion in the Battle of Broodseinde (Ypres), on 4th October 1917.
Does this help anyone point me in any direction?
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(Beaconsfield, S. Africa).
That makes sense. We know that Walter was in Kimberley the day before he was taken ill; Beaconsfield is an area of Kimberley. So we are probably looking for a cemetery in Beaconsfield, not Bloomfield.
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I have found Walter Buxton's Death Certificate, can anyone decipher the cemetery name?
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Hi,
The cemetery mentioned is DuToitspan in Kimberley.
Dave
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Hi all
Thanks for the links.
I've had a look at the nominal roll images in the Carbineers website and they only show one W BUXTON. Trooper 410. He was killed in action on 18th Dec 1899.
The Walter in the other link is BUXTON Walter, Trooper 1481. is about 10 years younger.
I'm not sure if Walter was in the Natal Carbineers but it is the only reference I've found to that
name.
On www.eggsa.org there is a grave for a Walter Buxton who died on 18 December 1899. It was erected by the Natal Carbineers.
Grateful for any help
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There is a grave on www.eggsa.org for a Walter Buxton who died 18 December 1899 at the Ladysmith cemetery. It was erected by the Natal Carbineers.
The death certificate you attached showed that he died of Erysipelas which is a streptococcus bacterial infection. I wonder if this could have been from the insect bite.
However, according to www.southafricawargraves.org he is not listed at Dutoitspan cemetery as one of the 'war graves".
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Hi
The cause of Walter's death is consistent with an insect bite, but he was (according to the newspaper report) on leave from the army and helping with recruiting, why then was his occupation on the death certificate given as a diamond miner rather than a soldier? If he had left the services, then he died as a civilian and would not be buried with military honours.
It would be very disappointing for me to find that the story might be poor reporting, mixing the exploits of three different Walter Buxtons, but I cannot find anything to place him in the South African armed forces.
Best wishes for Christmas and a happy new year to everyone who has helped me with this subject..
Regards
John