TOPIC:

....Are you positive that they were residents of Dunmow? Or was there a second draft of the 44th Company? I found the following item, which doesn't mention the Stokes': - "Preparations are being made at Dunmow to publicly the honour the eight men belonging to the town who have served as Volunteers in the South African War. The following are the Dunmow men who went out: Pt. James Easy, of the C.I.V., Pts. Pearmain, Mead, Webb, and Brazier, of the Service Company which was attached to the Essex Regiment in the field; and Troopers Willis, Hales and Warren, of the Imperial Yeomanry......"
Chelmsford Chronicle, 7th December 1900

They lived in Takeley, a small village near Dunmow. Generations of Stokes lived and probably still do live there. That’s very strange. Maybe only serving 190 days ish each they weren’t worthy of a mention?

I know they were shipped out to SA on the 4th March 1900 as part of the 2nd contingent. Maybe that article only refers to the first wave of troops?

It’s strange, the last 3 names on the list, listed as I Y don’t appear on the 44th (Suffolk) company 12th Battalion list Of soldiers according the the Anglo Boer war website. Obviously a different regiment I guess.
John

....I couldn't find any mention of the surname Stokes in the few reports I found in a couple of Essex newspapers, principally the Chelmsford Chronicle, but came across two men connected with Takeley who served - Private Faircloth, Reservist, 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, and Corporal/Sergeant-Major W. H. Potter, Royal Horse Guards.
....If there was a Bishop's Stortford paper published between 1900-1902, that could be worth searching through.

Thank you for your Advice and the time you have spent looking into this, it’s very much appreciated.
Could I ask a question that may sound silly. If they started and finished their service before 1901 would they get the 1901 medal and do you have any idea where I would find an enlistment date. I have their service/medal records from Kew but it only have the date of when that record was written.
Best regards, John