TOPIC:

The National Army Museum holds the letters written by Cpl Rowland Charles Hurley whilst serving with 3rd Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps during the Boer War. According to the donor, he was killed at the First Battle of the Aisne in 1914. He sailed on the Servia which the shipping records indicated carried the 2nd Bn. An "F" Hurley does appear in the database on this site for the 3rd Bn. I do not see an "R" or "R.C." Hurley however.

www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/...land-charles-hurley/

Served in SA with the same regimental number of 9585 - see bottom of 3rd Btn KRRC medal roll page below - QSA Medal with 5 clasps - Cape Colony, Transvaal, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith & Laing's Nek.

Stephen,

If I Google "Cpl Rowland Charles Hurley" I receive several positive responses including this one:



If I click on it I go to the NAM Website when it lists some artefacts in their collection but not Cpl Hurley's letters. When I use the search facility to the best of my ability I keep getting zero responses. Can you help?

I am interested in his letters because 5 of my Smethwickians served in the the 3rd KRRC, two of whom earned an identical array of clasps to their QSA & KSA medals as Cpl Hurley. I am sure the letters will be of interest to others as the 3rd KRRC were involved in the happenings around Spioen Kop in January 1900.

The reference to the Servia you found in the shipping records is in error - whether the error was in the original article or happened in transcription I cannot say as I cannot access the London Times directly.

According to their extant service records the South African service of my two Smethwickians started on 4 November 1899 which means they embarked on the Servia that day. She sailed the next day and arrived at St Vincent (Cape Verde Islands) on 11 Nov 1899 and departed the next day, presumably having re-coaled. She arrived at Cape Town on 24 Nov 1899 and left for Durban the following day arriving at Durban on 28 Nov 1899 where the 3rd KRRC disembarked.

The Unit Information on this site has a lot to say about the 3rd KRRC including a diary extracted from the KRCC Chronicle.

Regards, David.

David, Most of their collection is not digitized. Unfortunately, you would have to pay them a visit or have them copy the items for you. As for the 3rd Bn, I only see a reference to a Buchanan-Riddell item, although there are several other KRRC files listed without mention of specific battalions.

As for the Servia reference, Hurley told his sister from Kilkenny on 24.10.99 that he would be sailing on it on 3.11.99. He also addressed a letter to her from it on 25.11.99 after he landed in Cape Town on the "Thursday" which would be the 23rd. Thanks for the clarification regarding the error in the shipping records.