Boer War - Robert Campbell b. 1853 in Bonar Bridge, Sutherland

[Sldesormeaux]

Hello everyone

I would like to know if my great-grandfather, Robert Campbell b. 1853 in Bonar Bridge, was in the Boer War.  My grandfather, George Campbell b. 1889 in Greasby, England had a Boer War medal in his possession.  George said that he had been in the Boer War which was impossible since he was born in 1889 so I'm thinking that the medal belonged to his father, Robert.  My grandfather was a character and fabricated all kinds of stories!  He was also 27 years older than my grandmother!

The medal could also have belonged to John F. Campbell b. 1857 in Creich, Sutherland.  John was my great-grandfather's (Robert's) brother.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and regards,
Suzanne Desormeaux
Quebec, Canada

[km1971]

Hi Suzanna

Unfortunately over 90% of the Boer War medal roll only gives an initial rather than the first name. Over 150 R Campbells recieved a medal. You need to look on Findmypast and hope his service record survives, matchng him using his date and place of birth.

Ken

[djct59]

They weren't necessarily fighting on the British side, though.

There was a large exodus of Highland Scots to the new mining towns of the Transvaal in the 1880s, some of whom (including my great-great uncle R M Campbell, an architect born in Durness, Sutherland) renounced their British status and became burghers of the SAR. If your ancestor had migrated there years before then he could a Boer Kommando, although he might of course have gone over there as a British soldier.

[Sldesormeaux]

Hello,

Robert Campbell didn't emigrate to Transvaal though he did move to Birkenhead, Cheshire, England and married Elizabeth Thompson from Birkenhead.  I'm not sure when he moved there or when he married Elizabeth since I couldn't find any information on these two events.  They had 4 children in Greasby and Birkenhead.  The first was born in 1889.

Suzanne

[gortonboy]

marriage

Robert Campbell
Elizabeth Thompson
Wirral/Cheshire   in 1888    A/M/J Quarter
volume 8A   page 654A

[Sldesormeaux]

Thank you, gortonboy!

[gortonboy]

Frankby, St John was the church.......source ---    Cheshire  BMD.

[gortonboy]

Heres your roberts  baptism

[gortonboy]

robert junior