TOPIC:

Good Afternoon All,

I am researching my Aunties Great Grandfather Daniel Stewart McKenzie who served with Fincastle's Horse during the Boer War and later with the RFA during WW1 where he sadly died.

I have a notice in the paper from when he died which states " He volunteered for the South African War, with Fincastle's Horse with whom he saw a great deal of Service and held the medal with 4 bars"

On looking at the medal rolls WO100/130 I have found a D.S McKenzie but with only 2 bars, 1902 and Cape Colony. Could this be a mistake on the papers part or is there a supplementary roll where further bars are awarded?

I have had a look at the usual websites but a couple are confusing a Donald Stewart McKenzie with Daniel Stewart McKenzie. Fortunately attestation papers for both individuals are available online and Donald is down as Scottish Horse and Daniel as having served with Fincastle's Horse so i'm pretty certain the 39939 D.S McKenzie of the 177th 31st is my guy.

Is anyone aware of any sources where I can read about and perhaps see pictures of Fincastle's Horse and in particular the 177th? I've had a google but not much has come up.

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gaz

Hello Gaz...….

I am sure that you have seen this from FMP...….

First name(s) Donald Stewart
Last name McKenzie
Service number 39939
Rank Private
Regiment 177 (Fincastle's Horse) Company 31 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry
Other regiments/units Unit: 177 (Fincastle's Horse) Company 31 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, Rank: Private, Number: 39939
Rolls WO100/130
Literary references The National Archives WO128. Imperial Yeomanry, Soldiers' Documents, South African War.
Biography
-
Notes QSA Clasps: CC,SA02


Mike


31st Battalion (Fincastle's Horse), raised 1901

139th (Fincastle's Horse) Company
140th (Fincastle's Horse) Company
141st (Fincastle's Horse) Company
142nd (Fincastle's Horse) Company
177th (Fincastle's Horse) Company

Hi Mike,

yes I've seen that, but I think its wrong (as per the attestation papers I've seen for both of them) and should be Daniel and not Donald.

Gaz

Also found this...….

By the signing of the peace treaty on the 31st of May 1902 the third contingent had begun to arrive, the 27th to 32nd Battalions arriving at the Cape just days prior to this event and as such ‘squeezing’ a medal which was denied to the men of the 33rd to 39th Battalions who arrived shortly afterwards. The third contingent was a better trained force which had been in barracks for months before sailing to South Africa. They stayed in the country long into 1903 to help in the stabilization process.

also

Here are all the D. McKenzie's listed...… They could have spelt his name wrong, the best thing to do ia check the national archives for his papers...…

McKenzie, D. 36730, Private 114th Coy. I.Y., Lovats
McKenzie, Daniel 22537, Trooper 3rd Coy., 1st Bn. I.Y.
McKenzie, Daniel 37164, Trooper Scottish Horse
McKenzie, David Turnbull 31672*, Trooper 2nd Scottish Horse
McKenzie, Donald 128*, Trooper 1st Scottish Horse
Mckenzie, Donald 40088, Trooper* 37th Bn. I.Y.
McKenzie, Donald 41958, Trooper* 37th Bn. I.Y.
McKenzie, Donald Stewart 39939, Private 177th Coy., 31st Bn. I.Y.

Mike

Mike,

thanks again for the info.

I'm still convinced that the D.S McKenzie in the 177th is Daniel and not Donald. I have not been able to find any reference to a Donald in Fincastle's Horse other than websites where people have referenced the medal rolls and they don't give any indication of his first name on the roll itself so am curious as to where they would get the first name from.

If it was not for the newspaper article I would have agreed with you, but as I can't find any other source of info for a Donald and we know Daniel served in FH from the newspaper and his WW1 attestation papers.

Of course the only thing which does not match is the mention of 4 bars from the newspaper report, which throws up everything I've just said about being convinced its Daniel and not Donald!

Thanks again for the help and insight

Gaz

Hello Gaz

The first name "Donald" on the FmP data shown by Mike (which is my data) comes from the IY Service Records (WO128) which are also on FmP.

This person signed his name "Donald".

Can't explain why in WW1 he signs on as "Daniel" or even "Donald" in 1902. Curious.

Regards
Meurig