Boer war

[brianreed]

Trying to find out more about my Grandad, no.30278 Sqdn sgt major J.W.Reed of the 34th middlesex squadron who was killed christmas day 1901 at the battle of Groenkop this is what happened on that morning ,, De Wet carefully scouted the Groenkop position for three days. He noted that the British posted their sentries atop the sheer west side of the kop, instead of at the bottom where they could give timely warning of an attack. The Boer leader determined to scale the west side using the trace of a gully.

At 2:00 am on Christmas morning, de Wet's commando clambered up the steep slope in single file with their boots removed so as to minimise any noise. The surprise was nearly total. Challenged by a single sentry when they were over halfway to the top with a few scattered shots, the Boers, who were ordered into battle by de Wet shouting "Stormt Burgers" swarmed up and over the crest. They began firing downhill into the British tents, inflicting a "massacre."[2] Savage fighting lasted about 40 minutes before the British gave up,
What iam trying to find out is what date he would have left for south Africa and what other battle"S he might have been in, the photos are of his resting place  near Kestell in the Orange Free State

[neil1821]

Welcome Brian.
A couple of things:
- The Groenkop action is also known as Tweefontein, and that's how it's given on the casualty lists.
- His unit is actually the 34th (Middlesex) Company, 11th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry.
The photo seems to suggest the 10th (shown as "X") IY which is incorrect.
- His number is 30276

His name will be found here:
http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/impyeomanryl.html

And more info here:
http://www.angloboerwar.com/forces/army_IY.htm#First_Contingent

If you drop Kevin Asplin an email he should be able to tell you your grandfather's clasp entitlement to his QSA/KSA.

[km1971]

30276 SSM James Reed, 34th Company, 11th Battalion, IY received the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1901. This was the standard entitlement for a man in the second contingent - although those who survived Tweefontein would also have received 'South Africa 1902'. They were sent out in mid-1901. His number also confirms he was second contingent. The low number of Private Hellyar of the 35th Company/Squadron shows he was from the first continent who went out in mid-1900. Men enlisted for a year, so Hellyar was one of the first contingent men who re-enlisted.

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Imperial_Yeomanry

Neil has already pointed out the mistake with his battalion. It is more usual to refer to them as a Company rather than a Squadron, but both terms were used.

In the remarks in the medal roll it says: “Killed, Tweefontein, 25/12/01. Wife at 11 Barnard Road, Custon House, London. Also with 31st Coy, 9th Bn IY”. So you really need to research when they left the UK. Sailings of the IY should be on online newspaper sites such as the Times. As he died while serving his papers would almost certainly have been destroyed, so you will have a problem discovering when he transferred to the 34th Company.

The fact he was the most senior out of about 115 ‘other ranks’ suggests he had previous military experience. You should check the service papers on Findmypast for men discharged up to 1900.

Ken

[brianreed]

Thanks a lot guys" i sort of come to a dead end, so getting this information, make"S me want to carry on with the search.
I wish i had found  this site sooner with this sort of information in a few hours i would have saved myself alot of time
                                      Brian

[ladysmith]

As he died while serving his papers would almost certainly have been destroyed, so you will have a problem discovering when he transferred to the 34th Company.

While the papers of regular soldiers who died on service were officially destroyed those of the Imperial Yeomanry weren't. Almost all the IY papers survive in WO 128 at the National Archives and typically consist of 4 pages.

In Kevin Asplin's published medal roll a good guide is that if the full name is given this means that Kevin actually had that man's papers in his hands while compiling the roll.  WO 128 didn't contain the papers of men whom he lists with forename initial(s) as these details were taken from the original medal rolls which only show initials. Having said that some of the papers to men listed with initials only have since turned up in other series at the NA.

Papers for regular soldiers who died on service were officially destroyed because they were principally maintained for pension purposes and of course men who died on service didn't live to draw their pensions. Those of the IY (and Militia) weren't destroyed as these men were short service volunteers who didn't qualify for a pension anyway.

The good news for Brian is that James Reed's papers definitely survive in series WO 128 at the NA.

David

[km1971]

Hi David

Thanks for the correction.

Ken

[brianreed]

On the records his name as been coming up as James Reed when his name is Joseph ? Any idea why this would be