TOPIC:

"Private 5544 Charles Marshall would undoubtedly have been allocated to the Wiltshire Regiment in March 1900, due to two companies having been lost at Rensburg Siding (Now named Hugoslaagte) in February of that year."

How does that work then. Marshall signs on at Dundee and is told that he has no option but to join the Wiltshire regiment. How might a 'Jock' have felt about that?

Mike

Orders are orders Mikky

It was not unusual for soldiers born in different parts of the UK to serve in regiments that were not connected to their home counties.
He attested in 1900, there was a big push to send soldiers out to fill the decimated ranks of regiments who had suffered severe casualties in 1899. There were many reasons for joining particular regiments.
Opportunity to serve overseas, escape from an unhappy marriage, fleeing from the law. Enlisting for a regiment far away from their hometown would have made it harder to track them down.
Also, the persuasive attitude of the recruitment officer could also play a major part in a soldiers decision on which regiment he chose.

Either way, your man remained loyal to his regiment and served in South Africa and payed the ultimate price in WW1. Unfortunately many attestation papers and records were destroyed when the soldier lost his life. Have you researched his wife Isabella? there maybe some clues reference pensions or a possible Wiltshire connection.

I had a quick look at some of my medal recipient attestation papers.

I found a Samuel Mee, born in Nottingham, served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. James Ashenford , born in Malmesbury Wiltshire, served in the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh regiment and a Private John McKenzie, born in Aberdeen and served with the 2nd Dragoon Guards. All active during the Anglo Boer War

Dave.

Thanks again Dave. Seems they had separated by 1914 and he's moved to Aberfeldy working on roads. A turner to trade. Can't find any family connection to Wiltshire. It may just be that he served with them for one of the reasons mentioned by you and others.

Appreciate everyone's time and thoughts thank you.

Mike

Please see my post about Attached Personnel

www.angloboerwar.com/forum/11-research/3...t-attached-personnel

This, really is very common, especially as Dave has said, at this particular time. The attached personnel mentioned in my post were mainly Militia troops who were expecting to join their own Regiment's.

Your chap would have either chosen or been persuaded to join the Wiltshire's. Some men joined any Regiment just to take part in the war to do their bit.

I have been researching Private 5544 Charles Marshall Wiltshire Regiment on and off for about 12 years. I have never quite managed to get a handle on his service. I have recently been learning a bit more about the Boer War thanks to this excellent Forum. In particular the postings of member Ians1900 has been extremely helpful and after dropping him a line, he very kindly took me under his wing and has looked into Charles Marshall's service for me. He has helped me enormously and cleared up a number of errors and I now can research him further with greater confidence. I very much look forward to his book "War on the Veldt - The Anglo-Boer War Experiences of The Wiltshire Regiment" when it becomes available.

I now know that Charles Marshall attested at Dundee on the 5th of March 1900 and traveled to to the Wiltshire Regiment Depot of Le Marchant Barracks at Devizes, Wiltshire and after completing the medical and enlistment process he enlisted on Friday the 9th of March 1900 and was assigned to A Company. It's almost certain he ended up in the Wiltshire Regiment because they were in much need of reinforcements after losing two companies at Rensberg Siding. After basic training he went to Ireland and sailed for South Africa from Cork on the 19th of March 1900 aboard the Aurania, arriving at Capetown on the 10th of April 1900. He joined the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment at Bloemfontein on the 17th of April part of a draft of 100 regulars. He was present at the action at Slabbert’s Nek, Orange Free State and I will study his book for further information. He left South Africa some time between the 1st of January 1902 and the 1st of June 1902, possibly through illness. He re-enlisted in his old Regiment in August 1914 serving with the 1st Battalion and was killed in action near Neuve Chapelle on the 27th of October 1914.

Many thanks indeed again to Ians1900 for his excellent and thorough research and generosity. Can't wait for this book.

Mike

Mike,

Thank you for your very kind words.You're very welcome indeed. I'm glad to have helped.

Ian