Boer War or Not ?

[ALAMO2008]

Helping the Family research their Relative Thomas Fleetwood Brook who they know he was in the 2nd King's Liverpool Regt from 1902 and in India and Married there 1912

But they have found on Campaign Medals a 2nd Lt T F Brook of 5th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regt awarded S A Medal
 
But the 1901 Census shows him aged 19 at Home with his Parents and Siblings at Leamington Spa

Is the Boer War entry a possibility that is Him or Not ?

Any Opinions Please

[alan o]

Yes it could be him because the 5th Bn was in SA in 1902.

[Andy J2022]

If he was born 22 November 1881 in Leeds and was living in Leamington in 1899, then yes it is the same man. Thomas Fleetwood Brook was in the Warwickshire Militia, and went to South Africa from 16 December 1901 to 25 September 1902 (presumably as part of the Royal Warwicksire Regiment but neither this nor his rank are stated) where he earned the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and S Africa  1902. He also received the 1902 Coronation Medal. He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment in 1902. His record of service can be downloaded from the National Archives using this link https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13293153.

His entry is on page 20 in the first volume.

[ALAMO2008]

Brilliant Find Andy
Just what I was hoping for to solve it.
He must have Enlisted just after the 1901 Census as a 2nd Lt finally ended as Lt Col in 1919
Came back from India 1930 to Retire

[Andy J2022]

He was still at school of 1901.

[Andy J2022]

From an index card on FindMyPast:
Commissioned 3.9.02
promoted Lt Col 16.12.27
Retired 24.1.31
Indian Army List 1939
Received OBE at some point.
All of the above should be in the London Gazette if anyone needs corroboration.

I see that in the 1939 Register he is living near Torquay as retired Indian Army Officer with wife Joan and two of his unmarried sisters. Died 7 February 1965 at his his home Mandu Cottage, Maidencombe Village, Torquay, Devon. Left his estate to widow Joan. Probate 7 May 1965

[ALAMO2008]

I see a 5th Btn Royal Warwickshire entry shows T F Brook as a 2nd Lt
doesn't that mean he was already Commissioned before Sept 1902 in the King's Liverpool Regt?

[Andy J2022]

While he was with the 5th (Militia) Battalion the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in South Africa he held a militia commission. When he joined the 2nd Battalion King's Liverpool, he had a regular commission (only the 1st and 2nd Battalions were Regular). All his subsequent seniority stemmed from that 3 September 1902 commission.

A militia commission was seen by the Regular Army as very much second class, awarded as it was on the recommendation of a commanding officer without any formal examination or a selection board.

[ALAMO2008]

Wow Andy
Great Explanation
That solves it for my Puzzle and doubt