TOPIC:

I've just obtained a group to a member of the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who served in South Africa at the age of 15 - His service records for two post-Militia stints luckily survive. He had four periods of service in total, two in the Militia and two in the Regulars, during which he clocked up three tours in South Africa, 1900-1902, 1903-1905 and 1907-1910.

For whatever reason (possibly he got caught out being so young) his first stint of active service in the 3rd Battalion was only from 25th January to 24th February 1900. The 3rd Battalion set off from Fermoy to South Africa the very next day and arrived at Cape Town on the SS Orotava on 16th March.

His next stint of service was 18th June 1900 to 11th April 1902. Unfortunately the details of his Militia service, other than dates and awards, are not recorded.

Would anyone know when and how he would most likely have travelled to South Africa?

Queen's with Cape Colony and Orange Free State, King's with both.

Thanks in advance.

CtahhR,

What was the name of your man please?

Horace John Roper of Norwich, 11th August 1884 (although he stated it was 11th August 1882).

Militia service papers are available in WO96 at Kew and almost all, on line, you would not be likely to be "caught out" joining was very deliberate and a great many simply used it as a stepping stone to, as a way of subsequently joining the Army, in particular, if they fell short on the basic requirements, age being a key factor.
Actual dates of a particular mans embodiment for Foreign Service with his battalion are normally shown upon the service statement in WO96 and he would have travelled to South Africa with his battalion and certainly not before it had been embodied by the War Office, it is particularly interesting that they had served in Ireland before embarkation to the Cape.

CtahhR wrote: I've just obtained a group to a member of the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, who served in South Africa at the age of 15 - His service records for two post-Militia stints luckily survive. He had four periods of service in total, two in the Militia and two in the Regulars, during which he clocked up three tours in South Africa, 1900-1902, 1903-1905 and 1907-1910.

For whatever reason (possibly he got caught out being so young) his first stint of active service in the 3rd Battalion was only from 25th January to 24th February 1900. The 3rd Battalion set off from Fermoy to South Africa the very next day and arrived at Cape Town on the SS Orotava on 16th March.

His next stint of service was 18th June 1900 to 11th April 1902. Unfortunately the details of his Militia service, other than dates and awards, are not recorded.

Would anyone know when and how he would most likely have travelled to South Africa?

Queen's with Cape Colony and Orange Free State, King's with both.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for that key bit of info.
WO 96/212 is where he'll be listed.
Unfortunately the records are not available directly from the Archives and only his post-Militia service is listed on the site they direct to.
It would have been nice to see just when he landed in South Africa, after dropping (or being taken) out just before the Battalion set off on 25th February 1900.

Being born on 11th August 1884, by the time he was 18 he'd already earned a pair of Medals with a pair of Clasps each. A few days after his 18th (although he maintained the lie that he was two years older) he signed up for the Regulars with a preference for Hussars. He got what he wanted and got his time served discharge after a year in the BEF, Mons, Aisne, Marne, Trenchfoot. He took a few months off, signed up again. Back to Ireland, this time in the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment, where he received some friendly fire, 15th January 1917. Demobbed 24th April 1919 and living to the fair age of 92.

Here is his South Africa pair, for service in South Africa 1900-01-02, (Aged 15-17). The QSA roll is dated 15th July 1901 at Nowals Pont, so if he received it on that date, he'd have been just 16. The KSA roll is dated 17th January 1903, when he was 18.