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That's terrific new information, Frank, many thanks. Sounds like it could be the same John Stokes - it certainly gives me some meat to go with the two veg I've had up to now!

Peter

Very clearly, there was only one 2569 John Stokes in the 3rd Hussars!

Very true! As your J Stokes has the same number as mine it's obviously the same one. His service record doesn't gel with other bits of family memory, but I guess that's only to be expected. Now need to adjust some of that thinking.

Just to be clear, from what you've written I take it the Remounts Department was a department in its own right with no immediate regimental affiliations, hence the disparity between his time in South Africa and his regiment's time there from late 1901?

peter

Yes, when Stokes was recalled, like so many cavalrymen, he was posted to the remounts, rather than his regiment, merely a division of labour, his medal was named to his original regiment, perfectly normal, many civilians had their medals named to the remounts, Roberts managed to get through an awful lot of horse's simply because whilst he could, in effect, double his mounted infantry, he was quite unable to double their horse's food supply.