TOPIC:

Hello all,

I came across this forum as I'm trying to trace if my great-great grandfather fought in the south Africa Boer war. The reason I'm pretty certain he fought in this conflict is I've been researching my family tree and discovered that he served in the 'Great war' WW1. When he entered the war in the Manchester regiment he was a already holding the rank of colour sergeant, now please bear with me because this is how I think he could have served in the Boer war.

Whilst researching further into his past I found a document dated 'January 1909' which lists my great-great grandfather John Onions or sometimes written O'nions presumably to move away from the connotations of a vegetable he was promoted to the rank of colour sergeant. My thinking is that if he was a colour sergeant in the Manchester regiment and reached the rank of colour sergeant by 1909 it is more than likely that he was experienced and spent a number of years in the army to rise to this rank by 1909. His army number was: 2408.

Born in Wigan, Lancashire in 1863/64 he was a military man through and through and I would love to be able to trace if he had any involvement in the Boer war and possibly if there are medals belonging to him somewhere out there?

I'm very privileged to own his world war 1 medals which I found this way by researching his past and finding them in the hands of a dealer from which I purchased them from him only last year.

If anyone is able to point me in the right direct where I can begin my search I would be most interested and grateful.

Regards
Dan

Hello Dan and welcome to the forum.

I was pleased to read that you have your ggfs Great War medals and it sounds like you were fortunate to acquire them.

I have looked looked at the medal rolls for the Boer War and while there are 2 men of the name J Onions (one in the Staffordshire Regiment, number 5793, and one in the KRRC, 9402), neither of these seem to be your ggf. There is no one on the Ancestry index of the name O'nions either.

I extended the search for any campaign medals but there was no match for his number, 2408.

Lastly, I had a look for Great War pension records but couldn't find any for him.

Sorry not to be more help. I wish you well in your research.
David

Good morning Dan,
Are you quite sure about the dates and his number, is that the number on his medals that you refer to?
Regards Frank

Hi djb and Frank,

Thank you for your replies.

I have noticed that my great-great grandfather did have two regimental numbers during the great war conflict which is now leading me to think that he could have been in a different regiment prior to the first world war or as his rank grew, so did his number change? Did people often change regiments?

I have the following medals for him from WW1 with the following details:

1 x War Medal 1914-1918 Awarded to: 3054 W.O.CL 2 J.ONIONS MANCH.R.
1 x Victory Medal - 3054 W.O.CL 2 J.ONIONS MANCH.R.
1 x Long Volunteer service medal - with Edward VII Head - Awarded to: 2408 C.Sjt J Onions I/V.B MANCH REGI
1 x Imperial service medal - Only Name listed John Onions

I should have perhaps put this information in my post yesterday, I can see that from his medal history, he was awarded the 'Long service in volunteer force' medal prior to 1910 as it features Edward VII. If he was a long standing volunteer before then surely he must have had some involvement in Boer war conflict.

Which leads me to the information found by djb, could he be one listed in the staffordshire regiment? His parents had a connection to that part of the world judging by census records. Do you have any further information on him?

Thanks for all your help in my quest. I may find that he never fought in this conflict but i'd rather search and find nothing than sit and wonder!

Regards

Dan

Hello Dan,
Acording to his medal index card he was also 570978 in the Labour Corps, but, I don't understand why you feel that he must have served in the Anglo Boer War.
Regards Frank

Dan,

I am not seeing anything to suggest he took part in the Boer War. Is he listed on the 1901 census?

Regards
David