Thomas Burns 1st West Yorkshire Regt Boer War & WW1 prisoner

[Joeboy]

Hello

I am fairly new to this so please bear with me. I'm trying to find anything on my Wife's Great Grandad Thomas Burns who we only recently found out served in the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment and fought in the Boer War prior to WW1.
The man at the 1st West Yorkshire Regiment museum in York said that the best candidate is Thomas Burns 5590.

Thomas was called up and was captured straight away, held prisoner and released after the War. That is all we know of his military & War service -nothing of his time in captivity. Someone on rootschat kindly found a “medal roll” for what we believe is Thomas.

Does any of this tell me anything extra? as it does not really help me apart from the medals themselves?

He has the “Victory” “British” and “14 Star” and “¼ clasp 28412, Clasp & Roses 1.v. 1606/ed/24.11.20” Qualifying date = 8.9.14

But there is nothing on that doc about his personal details.

Wondering if anyone can find anything on him such as would tie him to the Boer War, Prisoner Records or anything other than this medal roll info?

There was at least one other Thomas Burns in Keighley at that time - so confusing.

I and with the help of some others have done some digging and discovered that:

He was born 28 June 1878 in Keighley West Yorkshire. Son of Michael & Ann (Brogan or Grogan).
He had one Sister Bridget who never married.
Of his Parents Michael died 1907, and Ann died Sept 1918 - so they may be named on any documents relating to our Thomas military career.

Married Catherine Kelly 25 June 1910 in Keighley.
Had 1 Daughter Agnes born in Keighley 24 May 1911.

Lived at Aireworth Street Keighley 1913 with wife & 1 child, but possibly lived at West Lane prior to that address.


Many Thanks and God bless.
Joe Laughlin.

[t mo]

hi joe
sorry no Thomas Burns shows up in ww1 pow records , or did you mean he was a pow in the boer war ?.
ancestry has what is left of the service records for ww1 [ upwards of 60% were destroyed in a bombing raid in ww2 ]
regards
trevor

[Joeboy]

tmo Hi
My mistake I should have made it clearer that family say that Thomas was already a soldier before the 1st WW, he fought in the Boer War and also fought in the 1st WW. He was captured right at the start of the 1st WW and then released at the end. I was wondering if there is any records anywhere that he would show up on either for his time of joining up and going to S. Africaor his prisoner time, as we know nothing about his service or time as a prisoner except the medal roll info and what family say.

[t mo]

hi
ancestry has all records for ww1 so you need to check there for a medal index card [ mic ] and also look to see if a service record exists as up to 60%were destroyed in a bombing raid in ww2 .
only as you say he joined up prior to ww1 and I take it had continuous service through till the end of ww1 the above is where you,ll find anything on him if by any chance he continued in service passed 1920 then his service record would still be with the m o d .
so firstly check to see what ancestry has .
I,ve looked in the anglo boer war site but can,t see him in there records , but this is a site that is ongoing in adding records of service , and like I said before he doesn,t show up in ww1 pow records on FindMyPast .
regards
trevor

[Joeboy]

Hi Trevor
Many thanks for taking the time & effort. I will chase up what I can from your advice, but it looks a bit of a long shot.
Regards
Joe