Finding info on man in Cape Mounted Police in Kimberley/ fighting in Boer War

[Jackettquest]

Hi! I am trying to find out more about my Great Uncle's time in South Africa. His name is Edward John (Johnnie) Jackett (born 1878 in Falmouth, Cornwall). I believe he went from Falmouth in April 1901 to South Africa to join the Cape Mounted Police, based in Kimberley. It is said he went to fight in the Boer War, and there are mentions of him being injured at some point, and hospitalised, but there are also mentions of his playing football for De Beers Club, and winning the championship cycle race ‘De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd Amateur Athletic Sports, Christmas 1901'. I can't quite see how the two can tally. And it seems he was back in Falmouth by 1903, having 'been bought out of the mounted police' by his mother. I would be very interested to find out more about the terms under which young men joined the service, and fought, or not. Any steers as to how to find more information would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks for any help.

[Cas (stallc)]

Welcome to Rootschat

Edward John   Jackett
Service number   1402
Rank   Trooper
Regiment   II District Cape Police
Rolls   WO100/240 page 261
Notes   The Queen's South Africa (QSA) Medal Clasps: Cape Colony
Country   Great Britain
Record set   Anglo-Boer War records 1899-1902

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/queens-south-africa-medal

Others who have more knowledge than me maybe able to fill in more detail.

Cas

[Jackettquest]

Wow! Many thanks for such a quick response. What a great website, and clearly with very kind people. I'll keep my fingers crossed I can find out a bit more about how people joined, and left, and what they had to do as part of the job - but it's great to have it confirmed he was definitely there. Thanks again Cas.

[Cas (stallc)]

A link here, scroll to bottom for attestation papers, maybe his survived.

http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/south-african-units/310-cape-mounted-police

Seems he was quite well known in sport https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Jackett

Another reasearcher http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ENG-YORKSHIRE/2013-11/1385567863

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/81487074483049228/ Picture of Johnny Jackett

Cas

[Jackettquest]

That's such a great help Cas. Such a lot to look at. Yes. He's a family hero on the sporting front and that was why I started looking into exactly what he got up to. But the whole SA episode has been hard to fathom and you've really given me great hope. Many thanks again.

[Jackettquest]

I wonder if it's OK to ask you an etiquette question please? You were kind enough to send a link to another member's thread about E. J Jackett, in 2013. I think I have the answers, and wonder if I should add to the thread - or if there's a time limit and one should assume that the question is no longer of interest?

[km1971]

The person who started the thread should get an email if you do add to even an old thread. As time goes by more and more information is going online. So refreshing old threads often leads to fresh information being uncovered.

Ken

[Jackettquest]

Thank you! I'll add the answers to their questions then!