Soldier went to the Boer War then on to India

[Salamander]

Hello,

I was hoping for some suggestions on where to track down this ancestor.

Edward Cotter (born abt 1884 in Youghal, Cork) served in the Royal Munster Fusiliers and apparently was in the Boer War, then went to India with his Battalion or Regiment after the war.  He was in India for approx 11 years before emigrating to Australia.

Going by his age (he would have been about 17 years old in 1901), I think he would have been in the 2nd Battalion.  From research I have found that the 2nd Battalion of the RMF volunteered & served in the Boer War from February 1900 to March 1902.  I'm assuming that he moved to India not long after this date.

Can anyone advise me if it is possible to find a list of soldiers who enlisted in the RMF around this time?  Also, any links to researchers or information on people/military arriving in India around 1902?

Any suggestions/comments would be gratefully accepted.

Kind Regards

Sal 

[millymcb]

Hi Salamander,

Do you have access to Ancestry - in particular the WW1 Pension Records?    You may already have seen this but there is a very interesting entry for an Edward Cotter no 6890 of the RMF (1st Bn)   
http://www.rootschat.com/links/05ci/

This soldier went to India in 1902 and returned for discharge in 1914.  He was born "Blackrock" CORK,  (at least that is what it looks like). Not sure how far that is from Youghal. Served 12 years 45 days

No sign of Boer War service for him. He was 32 years 1 month old in feb 1914.   He said he was (or appeared to be)  20 years old when he attested 20th december 1901. Brown har, brown eyes - Roman Catholic.  It does have his previous occupation but I am having trouble reading it. It could say "Barman".


There were probably a few Edward Cotters so this chap is not necessarily yours - but if you happen to know the names of his siblings ..and they were John, Lizzie and Aniie that would help.

The India dates seem to match and the length of service to the info you already have. However, if you have evidence he definitely WAS in Boer War then this can't be him.

NB The following pages refere to other Edward Cotters of Corke..They usually say when it is a new person but these don't so don't get confused by the chap in the Royal Irish Rifles who is being discharged for lying about his age (he's only about 16)


Milly

 

[HugoBeauchamp]

Hi

This site ..............

http://www.casus-belli.co.uk

has details of many of those who served in the South Africa (Boer) War. You will need to register (free) in order to be able to do a basic search

There are quite a few Cotters shown but none that served with the RMF.

Good luck

HB

[Salamander]

Hello HugoBeauchamp and Milly,

Thank you so much for your replies!  I have been trying to track down this fellow down from so many angles that I'm now completely turned around!    

The information that he was in the Boer War and the RMF is all family lore, and I am trying to establish this as fact or fiction. 

Hugo, thanks for the link to that Casus Beli website, I have registered and you are correct, no obvious links to my Edward Richard Cotter.  I understand (lore again) that he served with a cousin and a brother, although unfortunately I don't know their names apart from one being named Parnell (whether that is a forename or middle name is also unknown).  There are quite a few Cotters on the list, but I’m still at an impasse.  Thanks anyway!

Milly, my please forgive my confusion.  Where are you getting the extra information about Edward Cotter from Blackrock?  I don’t think he is my man, but are you getting the information about his appearance, siblings and service in India from a particular source?  My Edward apparently had at least 2 brothers and sisters, and from what I understood, sold his commission in India and emigrated straight to Australia.  Were military men required to return to England to be formally discharged?

Kind Regards,

Sal 

[millymcb]

Hi Salamander,

All that information was contained in the service records for that particular Edward Cotter.  As I say, it may well not be the same man you are looking for but there similarities and I thought it worth considering as a possibility.  I don't know if he would have had to come back to England to be discharged - perhaps someone else can help with that information.  He may have come to England first and then gone to Australia and family lore could still say he went straight to Australia. The records say he was discharged in 1914 at Gosport, (Hampshire, England).

This chap appears to have one brother and two sisters at the time he signed up - but that does not mean he did not have more brothers later on... perhaps a younger brother who he did not put down as next of kin.  If you could find out what his brothers and sisters were called that would help to confirm or eliminate this chap.

I was told that my great grandfather was in the Boer War but it turned out not to be true (In fact he was in the army in India from 1887-1902 and people had just presumed).  Family tales can be incredibly unhelpful sometimes

Milly

[Salamander]

Hi Milly,

I'm having such a hard time establishing anything about my man prior to 1916 that I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if he hadn't gone to the Boer War, nor even been in India! 

I had a look on a map and Blackrock isn't too far from Youghal, which is were I thought my Edward was born.  Its not inconceivable (that this is the same man) I suppose, but then I thought he had emigrated to Australia in 1913 but haven't been able to establish that as fact either!  The only thing I DO know for sure is that he married in 1916 in Brisbane, Australia.  Anything prior to this date is up in the ether!

Yep, family tales are definitely unhelpful and have me going around in circles.  If only it was easier to find birth details in Ireland.  If I could establish his family details I think it might be easier.....

Thanks again!

Sal 

[millymcb]

Well - good luck with it.... I expect something will turn up when you are least expecting it.


I just had another look at the service records on Ancestry to see if there were any more clues (but there were not) and realised that there are some more pages before where his records are supposed to start which appear to be his medical records and show more detail of where he was in India...  Not much use if he is not yours but if you ever do claim him then take a look..

The records look like they may start on this page..
http://content.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1114&path=C.Co.Cot.1778

Milly
 

[Leofric]

Sal,

If your man served in the Boer War then he would have been awarded either the Queen's South Africa Medal or the King's South Africa Medal or both. These medal rolls can be viewed at the National Archives at Kew.

Also at Kew providing they have survived, would be his army service papers in WO97. These would show all his postings to countries he served in.

The Armed Forces forum on this site may be worth a look at to see if a look-up for the medal rolls is possible.

Good luck

[Salamander]

Thanks Milly!  I'll take a look at this mans' records, you never know.  Actually, last night I had a monumental breakthrough on my Edwards' wife's family, so here's hoping the same will happen with him! 

Leofric, do you know if those medals were awarded for a particular thing like bravery etc, or did all those who served get one?  Thanks for the tip, I'll take a look at that section of the forum.

Kind Regards

Sal