TOPIC:

Hi,
I am researching a chap who left from the New Zealand and joined KH in 1900 - George James Neish. He was apparently killed in action 17/12/1900. I believe he is mentioned in the book "The Military History of Perthshire", which is partially online at the Soldiers of the Queen website. Does anyone have an original copy of this book? I'd like to get a copy of the photo of Neish which appears in it, as the online one is fairly poor quality. This assume the original is any better of course!

Cheers
Phil
Auckland
New Zealand

Hello Phil,
That book will be available on line via Barnes and Noble or Abe Books etc, and it has been reprinted I think since it was published originally.
I was interested to read in your post that this man had been Killed in Action, is he mentioned in the book as such?
Some twenty years ago now, when I was little more than a boy, I became very interested in the SAMIF and started to examine the various documents and rolls etc, at the then public record office.
Kitchener's Horse has long been a favourite of mine, their medal roll in WO100/256 was prepared by their Adjutant, Captain Middleton, who left no stone unturned.
When a man was killed, he said so, when a man was discharged, he said so and if a man died, he recorded that too.
In the case of your man, both the nominal roll in WO127 and the medal roll in WO100 suggest this man died, rather than was killed in action.
Regards Frank

Hi Frank,
Thanks for the tip on where I might find this book. All I know is that a photo of Neish may appear in it, but I'm not sure.

I should correct my post, as you're right - Neish wasn't KiA 17/12/1900, but he died of wounds on that day, according to the South African Field Force casualty roll. I'd suggest Capt. Middleton didn't necessarily distinguish between 'died of wounds' and 'died of disease'? I imagine Neish was wounded on 13/12/1900 at Nooitgedacht (Stirling refers), but I don't have any proof of that.

Cheers
Phil

Good Morning Phil....

I hate to say it but there was a copy of this and a large number of other books on the Boer War on ebay just a short time ago.....

Mike

Hi Frank
I am also researching for information on Kitchener's Horse. Many thanks for the lead on where to find the book and your references to the Kew National Archives. Been there and found it very intimidating. Of all the places I visited it was the only one where you were almost made to feel a criminal.

I am posting a separate blog for my research
James

Good morning James,
You will find the attestation papers and nominal rolls in WO126/83-86 and WO127/13, respectively, for Kitchener's Horse.
Good Hunting!
Frank