The British South Africa Company Medal Roll - Free lookups offered

[cobba1982]

I just thought, would it be possible to check if there was a
John Dorries or John Dorris who was awarded that medal in 1896?

Thank you so much, best regards
Rob

[cobba1982]

The reason I dont think he could be a cape boy is because
Baden Powell noted that "Cape Boys were natives and half-castes from the Cape Colony, mostly English-speaking, and dressed and armed like Euro­peans". He was a Scottish Seaman who joined the Colonial forces I believe.
So i am not sure if thats him when I think about it

Rob

[neil1821]

No Dorris or Dorries on the roll, and no Neesons. A Neilson and 7 or 8 Nelsons though.
If you follow that link I gave you, there was no specific unit called the Rhodesian Field Force.
I guess it could have reasonably been used as an umbrella term for the force as a whole though.
That's how the term was used in the Boer War a few years later, ie encompassing all units serving in Rhodesia.

Are you sure he didn't serve in the Boer War instead?

[cobba1982]

I know that he served in the Boer War as well
His full service history was:

Matabeleland 1896
China 1900 and the
Boer War 1901-1902

I know that he was in 1 Battalion Kitcheners Fighting Scouts from 1901 as he is on the nominal roll as John William Neeson, and he then enlisted in the Transport Corp in 1902 once the 1KFS was disbanded. I have his ribbon bar with the BSA company medal ribbon and he wrote down that he did serve at Matabeleland in 1896.

I have just read that the Rhodesia Field Force was a corp of 5000 soldiers under the command of Lt General Sir Frederick Carrington established by the BSA Company formed in 1900.

So you are right the RFF post-dates Matabele. So he must have been in a different unit at Matabele.

[cobba1982]

Are any of the other Nelson's, J Nelson. Thanks so much, Rob

[AussieGaz]

Just for what it is worth details of thousands of people who fought in the Second Anglo-Boer War have been compiled into a single online collection for the first time, making it easier for family historians to learn more about their ancestor’s experiences in the conflict.
The records, now available at www.findmypast.co.uk list the names of more than 260,000 soldiers, nurses and civilians who served with the British Imperial Forces between 1899 and 1902. Included in the collection are a series of medal rolls, a casualty list detailing almost 60,000 individuals. A gazetteer of the conflict and others.

[Redroger]

Worth knowing Caz, my problem is that a relative born in India, fought in the 2nd Boer War, then enlisted in The AIF from Sydney Australia in 1914, listing his occupation as an accountant. I need to know 1) When did he arrive in South Africa? 2) After the war did he return to India, or go directly to Australia? 3) When and where did he qualify as an accountant?
He was finally killed at Gallipoli in August 1915.

[warrantofficer2]

Hi, My Grandfather (Mothers father) was born in Middlesex UK around 1870 and went to Africa in the 1880s and was with the British South Africa Company. He married a Dutch Boer (my Grandmother) and came to Australia in 1917.  He was involved in the Matabele Rebellion which I beleive was in 1893 or 1896? and he was also in Rhodesia, Bulawayo and we think Mashonoland?
My Grandfathers name is:- Phillip Lewellan Jenkins and he was awarded the BSAC Medal and we believe, the Boer War Medal set and may have been at the Defence of Kimberley.  All we have now is some photos and a Matabele ribbon bar as the medals were sold during the Depression years here in Australia. Not much to go on but could you look up the BSAC rolls to find any info on him!

Thank You

Carl Smith

[neil1821]

Carl,
The only one on the medal roll who fits the bill is Trooper P.L.Jenkins of E-troop, Bulawayo Field Force. He received the medal for Rhodesia 1896
http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol014ng.html