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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: julius72 on Saturday 01 November 14 14:45 GMT (UK)
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My great uncle served with the 13th Hussars in South Africa. He was 'discharged on attaining rank of Sgt. Major of Police' in 20.9.1901. His name was John O'Rourke 3521. I have two questions.
What exactly is meant by Sgt Major of Police? Are we talking about the civil police or the police in the army. If the latter, why would he be discharged?
He lived in Bristol yet he signed-on in Dundalk. Why would he have travelled to Dundalk to sign-on?
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According to his records, he was transferred to the Reserves and joined the South African constabulary.
He enlisted in Bristol and joined the Regiment in Dundalk because that is where they were stationed at the time.
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Oh yes, quite possible. There were military used as police and for para military conflict with the Boers. Robert Baden-Powell was originally 13th Hussars but a General in the Boer war.
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Here is his entry for the Kings South Africa medal - http://tinyurl.com/l7djy3q - it looks as if he served with E Division of the SAC.
His 13th Hussars entry gives details of two state clasps for his QSA in addition to the two clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith which are on his 13th Hussars service record. - http://tinyurl.com/puoe6g7
According to the SAC roll his rank was Second Sergeant which is a bit below Sgt Major. He was after all only a Private in the hussars. Never the less he would have earned many times his one shilling and one penny a day with the Regular army.
Deferred pay was 1.5d a day kept back so men would receive a large gratuity when they left the army.
Ken
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Thanks a lot everyone for all the useful information. If it is true that John O'Rourke was in the S.Africa
police it would explain why he does not appear in the census figures of 1911, or at least I can't track him down.