TOPIC:

Hello
My ancestor Johnston Connor joined the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in Jan 1893 for a term of 6 years- I acquired this info from his attestation papers however I cannot locate service papers. The 5th battalion was a militia/reserve battalion


I have photos which seem to indicate that he saw action in s Africa

On Checking Ancestry Library Edition it would appear that a J Johnston 5th Battalion RIR was awarded a Cape Colony award and Orange Free state award, however to be eligible for Cape Colony award a soldier fought in action following October 11th, 1899. Also the Orange Free State medal seems to have been awarded for service after Feb 1900

My question is this. Would it have been normal/possible for his service to have been extended even though he initially joined up for 6 years?

He is listed in the 1901 Scottish census - profession, labourer


kindest regards

Hello again
I have now hopefully added the photo

and would be grateful for any assistance re possible location

again kindest regards

Ellesmagee
It certainly was posssible to be hauled back! I am currently prepping a post re a man who enlisted for 7yrs (active service in Egypt) and 5yrs in the reserves and was hauled back even after the end of his reserve service for another stint in SA. Times were tough with an Empire to run!
Regards
IL.

Hello Ellesmagee....

First of all he would have enlisted for 12 years..... Either 5 or 7 years with the colours and 7 or 5 years in the reserves...... If in the reserves he could have been recalled to active service......

The photo is from WW1 and not the Boer War as the helmets the men are wearing were not issued until 1913....

Mike

Can I just say that this is an excellant forum. I didnt expect to receive informative replies so rapidly and the fact that the helmet style indicates WW1 is totally unexpected.Ill need to research further. I shall post a further photo which I thought to be from the Boer war but which may now well be WW1
Sincere thanks for your help and expertise