Imperial Yeomanry

[Muddyman]

wooow! thanks:-)
is that Kevin's site still available?

Muddyman

[Barbara348]

Hi Folks,

I also have a Gt Uncle who served in the Boer War 1901 -1902 but I have no idea or info at all about his time in South Africa.

He joined the Imperial Yeomanry (Shropshire) in January 1901, and went out to South Africa on 2 March 1901 with 13th Coy,5 Bn, 2nd Contingent Imperial Yeomanry.

His details were : 21596 Pte CH Howell.

If anyone has any information about 13th Coy, 5 Bn during their time in South Africa, I would be grateful, I would like to know more about my Gt Uncle's life during the Boer War.

Also, if anyone has access to the Medals Roll, could they look him up for me please?

Thanks

Barbara.

[ladysmith]

Hi Barbara - The IY QSA medal roll shows:

21596 Pte. Charles Henry Howell 13th (Shropshire) Co. Imperial Yeomanry entitled to QSA with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902.

His attestation and service papers survive in series WO128 at the National Archives. These aren't available online.

Like most of the IY, his clasps indicate general service during the guerilla phase of the war after the great set piece battles had finished. This would have involved a lot of hard riding, patrolling, convoy escort duties and local skirmishes, many of which were quite sharp actions.

Regards,

David

[ladysmith]

He is listed on the IY medal roll on Kevin Asplin's site:

Waters, D.J.    24910, Private    39th Coy., 10th Bn. I.Y.

Ken

The IY QSA roll shows 24910 Pte. D.J. Waters, 39th (Berkshire) Co. Imperial Yeomanry, entitled to a QSA with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902. He was discharged medically unfit 14/8/1902.

Unusually for the IY his service papers are not in series WO 128 at the NA. This is probably because he was invalided and they have been filed elsewhere although they're not in the PIN 71 series (men invalided to pension) either.

Regards,

David

[Barbara348]

Hi Ladysmith,

Thanks very much for the information on my Gt Uncle Charlie.

Because I am unable to visit The National Archives myself I did employ the services of a researcher a couple of years ago and was able to get copies of my Uncle's Attestation  & Service Papers.

At least that gave me dates & a personal description of him but not too much otherwise.

I wish it were possible to read more about his particular Unit during the Boer War.

Were any War Diaries kept at that time? I don't know too much about it really.

I appreciate your help.

Barbara.

[ladysmith]

Hi Barbara,

The IY companies were fairly small although there were published and unpublished accounts of some of them in the Boer War. Your best best for the Shropshire IY would be to check with the main library in Shrewsbury to see if they have anything.

David

[Barbara348]

Cheers David, I'll try that one.

Barbara.

[km1971]

It is also worth checking WO97 for IY papers. These are being put online by Findmypast if you cannot get to Kew.

Ken

[Muddyman]

Many thanks, Ken & David, the information has been most helpful.

Muddyman