TOPIC:

Thank you for allowing me to join this forum.

My name is Geoff Russell and my grandfather, Francis Mundon Russell, was a member of the Cape Town Highlanders. We have been researching our family history for many years and have had a great breakthrough in the past weeks with regard to family links.

I am interested in understanding my grandfather's time in South Africa, as well as that of his family. His siblings George and Allen also served and I am trying to find more information about them. I have some photographs that I will post that may trigger some advice from members who have knowledge about the uniform and locality that has us puzzled.

Geoff-24
Welcome to the Forum. I took a look at the CT H'landers medal roll on the PRO site and hopefully found a match with your information; (WO100/241 as 648 Pte. Russell, F.M. with a no clasp QSA medal). A marginal note shows other service in Kitchener's Horse as number 3024. A glance at that units medal roll under WO100/256 page 65 shows 3024 Tpr. Russell, F.M. as being entitled to clasps Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg and Dreifontein. The nominal roll images show that he served with KH with forenames Francis Mundon from 26/1/00 to 30/3/00; being discharged medically unfit.
I am of the opinion that your GF (assuming this is he, of course) joined KH early in the campaign and later served with the CTH. So he did see a fair bit of action at a critical time during the ABW.
I really am of no assistance at all with family links nor of uniforms - I can safely leave those to others as well as any posting images of the medal rolls.
If you are convinced that we have a reasonable link here, the doings of KH can be seen in the Unit Information section of this site. Similarly the CTH.
Good luck with your quest.
Regards
IL.

Thank you so much - yes you have correctly identified my grandfather. I will post a photo of his medals that we have. After the family moved to Australia, he served with the 1st Australian Light Horse and was badly wounded at Gallipoli in May, 1915. He lived to reach the ripe old age of 81 years.

Hello Geoff

Welcome to the forum.
Medal rolls for your records as identifed by I L






With regard to Frank and his brothers, if you can provide some details on the dates of birth and where they were born it may help with the research. Any additional information will be helpful for the forum to try and assist in your answers.

Best regards

Dave....

Geoff

A quick question for you.
Was Francis musical? reason for asking is that I found a reference to Francis being a Bugler whilst serving in Kitcheners Horse.
Additional observation is that there was a G Russell who also served in the Cape Town Highlanders. A possible connection to his brother, but certainly more research to do.

Dave.....

PS . Records suggest that Frank also served in the Cape Police. He attested in 1902. He shipped out to Oz in 1908 on the ship Peroclies his profession was that of a Constable.

Hi Dave,

Yes, family stories say that Francis (Frank) was a bugler and we believe he is holding a bugle in the unit photo of the Cape Town Highlanders. Other stories include his service with the Cape Police and we have noted his short stint with Kitcheners Horse.

Also we believe that his brother George (b 1880) did serve with the Cape Town Highlanders. We are unsure about what service was done by their younger brother, Allen Gerald Russell (b 1885) and I hope that by identifying his uniform that we may be able to determine where he served in South Africa.

With thanks,

Geoff