TOPIC:

Hi all,
Im a bit confused in my research. Were pensions awarded to all Boer War veterans, or to just those wounded in the war? If they were awarded to all, Im guessing that the pay was less than those pensions of those who served in WW1 and WW2? Currently I am getting this information from the Hansard Papers. Can anyone clear this up?

kind regards
George

In The Standard, 3rd January 1900, I found that the Terms of Service for the Imperial Yeomanry, according to the Secretary of State's instructions, included -
"If discharged in consequence of wounds, injuries, or disability received or contracted while on service, he will be entitled to pension in accordance with the Royal Warrant for Pat, etc., of the Regular Army." On completion he'd get a gratuity of £5, plus any other gratuity paid to troops at the end of the war, so seemingly, there was no other pension for the IY.

However, I also found this....
"The Central News says the following information was issued from the War Office at 9 o'clock last night regarding the formation of an Imperial mounted force for service in South Africa: - "The Imperial Yeomanry were enlisted under the following conditions: - Each man to receive pay and allowances at cavalry rates - i.e., 1s 2d per day - from the date of enlistment; married men to receive separation allowances; on completing their term of service the men to receive £5 gratuity, in addition to any gratuity given to the troops at the end of the war; pensions and gratuities to be paid according to Regular Army rates."
The Western Gazette, Friday 28th December 1900

So that doesn't really help you!

Did wounded reservists automatically get a pension? I know of one reservist who was "blinded for life by a wound received at the battle of Paardeberg" and didn't get a pension immediately. The last report I know of said that he was hoping to receive 3 shillings a day pension for life.

Hello Berenice,

sorry for the delayed response. I believe reservists did not get a very good deal out of any sort of army pensions, and were of course not favoured by employers after the war as they could not guarantee they wouldn't be called up for service again. I think the City of London Volunteers did better as they were called for a short stint in South Africa and were generally better off, many of them as you know being employed as brokers and businessmen. I will keep digging!