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Author Topic: Boer War / WW1 Query  (Read 93 times)

Offline leemeetee

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Boer War / WW1 Query
« on: Tuesday 17 June 25 11:18 BST (UK) »
Hi,
See attached a clip from a South African WW1 Attestation form....I have three queries
1. How come this man only served in the Boer War for 12 months
2. I presume the 301 days in the Engineers was separate service??
3. What do the letters 'S W' signify?

Thanks

Offline Jebber

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Re: Boer War / WW1 Query
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 17 June 25 11:30 BST (UK) »
It would help if you gave his name and age, also his number if you know it.
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 leemeetee

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Re: Boer War / WW1 Query
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 17 June 25 11:36 BST (UK) »
His name was Edward Higgins.
His service number for the 3rd SAI during WW1 was 13774.
He age on his 1917 Attestation Form was 37....he was actually 39.
Originally born in Ireland, it looks as though he stayed in South Africa as he married there in 1907.

Offline Jebber

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Re: Boer War / WW1 Query
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 17 June 25 12:06 BST (UK) »
Do you know his number in the Boer War? I have. Nit had any luck in finding any records for him in that. Hopefully someone one will come along who can help you, I have to haven’t time to do any more at the moment.
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 leemeetee

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Re: Boer War / WW1 Query
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 17 June 25 12:42 BST (UK) »
Thanks Jebber - I'm afraid the only details from the Boer War that I have are the three scant references shown on the original pic.
I had no idea he had served prior to WW1 and had presumed he had gone to SA in search of a better life outside of Ireland.
He was a sailor and know that he signed off from a ship in Waterford in March 1902 and was therefore very surprised he served for 12 months in the Anglo Boer War which ended in May 1902.
It is definitely the same guy as his place of birth in a small town land in our town. He was also born into the only Higgins family there too....it would not be a common surname in our part of Ireland.

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Boer War / WW1 Query
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 17 June 25 15:02 BST (UK) »
Perhaps the "S W" indicates that he served in the South West Africa campaign

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_Africa_campaign
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