TOPIC:

Hi. Hoping someone might be able to help.

I'm trying to work out why Robert (My Gran's paternal Uncle) isn't mentioned on any Boer War Memorial (the one in Bury and the one at the Spion Kop) and also whether there is any other information recorded about his military service, any medals etc etc.

I know he was born 5th May 1876 at Ballymullen Barracks, County Kerry to James (Pensioner H.M. 101st Regimental Foot) and Ellen Forde (nee Kelly). The family moved to Salford, Lancs after Robert's birth but before his sister Mary's birth on 5th Jun 1877. The family were living at 59 Granville Street, Salford in both the 1891 and 1901 Census.

I have the extract below from a link in another post on here (which I've also posted on) ''2nd Btn. Missing - released at Spion Kop. 24 Jan 1900.
Source: Natal Field Force Casualty Roll, page 79 line 13'' - www.angloboerwar.com/index.php/name-sear...id&gid=2_vg_0&p=6404

I also then have the Fold3 entry shown in the attachment.

But that is all I can find.

Hello

You are missing the information from the Register of The Anglo-Boer War ( www.boerwarregister.com ) which holds information about POWs. This snippet answers your question as to why he isn't on a war memorial - he survived the war.

The medal rolls - also on The Register, show his number as 4927 and initial 'L'. With your information I can update his name to 'Robert', such discrepancies over initials are common.

Hope this helps

Oh wow, thank-you.
That certainly changes the family story passed down by my Gran to my mum and her sister.
You wouldn't happen to know where I can find out what happened to him after release on 6th June 1900 would you?

Ah, I've just bought the report and can see he moved to Army Reserve in 1902. Many thanks again.

After release those POWs who were fit enough returned to their regiment. As he earned the King's South Africa medal he stayed in the war with the Lancashire Fusiliers taking part in all their escapades.

Private 4927 of the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers appears to have been named Patrick Ford:



It looks a bit like Forde but the possible "e" is just a flourish of the pen. The second page has it plainly as "Ford". On the last page his mother is given as his NoK and she is named as Winifred and living in Oldham.