Royal Horse Artillery?

[hiraeth]

Hello

I'm researching James Hunter Yeoman c1876 Methlick Aberdeen.  According to a WW1 pension record he was called up in 1914 but was discharged as medically unfit a couple of months later.   On the Attestation Form he states he had prior service with "R.H.A." or "R.H.H." with the words "discharged term of engagement" written below.   His granddaughter thinks he was in the "Royal Horseguards"

At the top of the form the Corps states 3rd Bn. Somerset L.I.  Would this have been the same as when he was in the service before or the one he was called up to in 1914?   Is there anywhere I can check on line for more research into his previous service? 

Heather   

[mattgibbs]

Hello there 
RHA is indeed Royal Horse Artillery.
RHH as far as I know is not a military designation of any kind.
There is no such thing as Royal Horseguards, unless you are refering to the Life Guards, or the name of the parade square where several big military parades are held, which is called that.

3rd Battalion Somerset Light infantry was most likely the unit he was called up into.

Discharged Term of engagement means that he was paid off after reaching the number of years he agreed to sign up for.

[hiraeth]

Hi Matt

Thank you for confirming my thoughts!    So any idea where or which archive to look for enlistment archives for the Royal Horse Artillery?  James married in Poplar Middlesex in 1907.  I haven't found in him in 1891 or 1891 yet so perhaps he was away in the Boer War in 1901??

Heather

[km1971]

Hi Heather

The 3rd Somerset Light Infantry were Militia/Special Reserves, ie part-timers. Part of the agreement for enlisting was that men had to be available for 'embodiment' in the case of national emergency, ie WW1. After a few months they obviously found he was not fit enough for full-time service, and hence his discharge. It would be worthwhile searching for a WW1 medal index card, either on Ancestry or the National Archives website, as he should have been awarded a Silver War Badge when they were introduced in 1916 - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp

Later on in the war they lowered the physical requirements, and he may have joined either something like the Labour Corps - http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm - or a home defence battalion. However if he did not go overseas he would not have been awarded medals, and his papers for this service may have been lost. If you have any addresses for him during WW1you should check the electoral rolls. They often give details of serving soldiers.

In his case 'discharged term of engagement' – often called ‘time expired’ – will mean he had completed at least 12 years service in the RHA. Any service under the age of 18 did not count, so you should look for him being discharged in 1906 or later, depending upon the age he enlisted, and also if he extended his service in the RHA reserve. Regulars could serve all 12 years in uniform, or split between time in uniform and time in the Reserves. One problem is that Reservists tend not to give that information on census and BMD certificates etc.

Findmypast are due to publish records for men discharged 1900 to 1913 ‘this month’, so it would be worth checking these when they arrive.

Ken

[hiraeth]

Hi Ken

Thank you for this really helpful info and the links   I'll definitely keep an eye out for the FindMyPast discharge records.

Heather 

[km1971]

Hi Heather

32813 Driver J H Yeoman of Q battery, RHA was awarded a Queens South Africa medal with one clasp on 6 January 1902. The clasp was for Cape Colony, and in the remarks it says he was ‘invalided 21. 4.1900’. He does not appear in the casualty lists so it is almost certain that he was invalided due to a medical condition – usually due to gastro diseases from using polluted water. We lost more men due to bad hygiene than Boer bullets and shells.

Ken

[hiraeth]

Hi Heather

32813 Driver J H Yeoman of Q battery, RHA was awarded a Queens South Africa medal with one clasp on 6 January 1902. The clasp was for Cape Colony, and in the remarks it says he was ‘invalided 21. 4.1900’. He does not appear in the casualty lists so it is almost certain that he was invalided due to a medical condition – usually due to gastro diseases from using polluted water. We lost more men due to bad hygiene than Boer bullets and shells.

Ken

Wow!  That's great information    A maybe stupid question but as a "Driver" what would he have been driving?

Heather

[km1971]

A horse - that either pulled the gun and limber or a wagon with spare ammunition.

Q Battery were involved in two actions during his time in South Africa, but he could not have been involved in either. The first was the battle of Modder River; the second was a defeat at Sanna/Sannah Post. There was a Modder River clasp awarded which he did not receive. The second took place in the Orange Free State, and again he did not receive the OFS clasp. In the early part of the Boer War you can tell a lot from the clasps a man was not awarded.

Ken

[ainslie]

Drivers in RHA:  think of the King's Troop RHA, who nowadays appear in full dress on the Queen's Birthday Parade and other events.  They would not have dressed like that in South Africa, though but in khaki.
A