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Author Topic: 13th Hussars  (Read 665 times)

Offline julius72

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13th Hussars
« on: Saturday 01 November 14 14:45 GMT (UK) »
My great uncle served with the 13th Hussars in South Africa. He was 'discharged on attaining rank of Sgt. Major of Police' in 20.9.1901. His name was John O'Rourke 3521. I have two questions.

                   What exactly is meant by Sgt Major of Police? Are we talking about the civil police or the police in the army. If the latter, why would he be discharged?

                    He lived in Bristol yet he signed-on in Dundalk. Why would he have travelled to Dundalk to sign-on?

Offline Jebber

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Re: 13th Hussars
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 01 November 14 15:25 GMT (UK) »
According to his records, he was transferred to the Reserves and joined the South African constabulary.

He enlisted in Bristol and joined the Regiment in Dundalk because that is where they were stationed at the time.
CHOULES All ,  COKER Harwich Essex & Rochester Kent 
COLE Gt. Oakley, & Lt. Oakley, Essex.
DUNCAN Kent
EVERITT Colchester,  Dovercourt & Harwich Essex
GULLIVER/GULLOFER Fifehead Magdalen Dorset
HORSCROFT Kent.
KING Sturminster Newton, Dorset. MONK Odiham Ham.
SCOTT Wrabness, Essex
WILKINS Stour Provost, Dorset.
WICKHAM All in North Essex.
WICKHAM Medway Towns, Kent from 1880
WICKHAM, Ipswich, Suffolk.

Offline Regorian

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Re: 13th Hussars
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 01 November 14 15:38 GMT (UK) »
Oh yes, quite possible. There were military used as police and for para military conflict with the Boers. Robert Baden-Powell was originally 13th Hussars but a General in the Boer war.
Griffiths Llandogo, Mitcheltroy, Mon. and Whitchurch Here (Also Edwards),  18th C., Griffiths FoD 19th Century.

Offline km1971

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Re: 13th Hussars
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 01 November 14 19:29 GMT (UK) »
Here is his entry for the Kings South Africa medal - http://tinyurl.com/l7djy3q - it looks as if he served with E Division of the SAC.

His 13th Hussars entry gives details of two state clasps for his QSA in addition to the two clasps for the Relief of Ladysmith which are on his 13th Hussars service record. - http://tinyurl.com/puoe6g7

According to the SAC roll his rank was Second Sergeant which is a bit below Sgt Major. He was after all only a Private in the hussars. Never the less he would have earned many times his one shilling and one penny a day with the Regular army.

Deferred pay was 1.5d a day kept back so men would receive a large gratuity when they left the army.

Ken

Offline julius72

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Re: 13th Hussars
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 01 November 14 19:45 GMT (UK) »
Thanks a lot everyone for all the useful information. If it is true that John O'Rourke was in the S.Africa
police it would explain why he does not appear in the census figures of 1911, or at least I can't track him down.
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