TOPIC:

Hi all

Both my wife and I have ancesters who served in the Boer War. In both cases they went to South Africa in late 1899 and their regiments returned to the UK late 1902.

Both men's wives gave birth during 1902 and my question is, would soldiers (not officers) had leave and returned to England or would they have spent the entire three years in South Africa ?

Hello,

Other ransk did not get leave when on active operations. They may though have been returned to the UK for a variety of reasons: ill health, near to completing their term of service, deployed to another unit, etc.

To be sure of when they returned you need to find their service papers, try FindmyPast first then Ancestry.

I have written a guide to researching soldiers of the ABW you may find useful:

Regards
Meurig

Hi Meurig

Thanks for reply, we have the service papers for one of the men involved. He was definately in Natal in April 1900 but there is no record of his return to the UK other than the regiment's return in 1902 (2nd Dorsetshire)

Still, it's not really that important; just raises questions of paternity and it is so long ago.

Hello,

That is odd, the papers should show an end date for each posting as it effected pay so was a very important fact to record.

Would you mind giving me the name and service number? Did you get the papers off Ancestry or FmP?

Regards
Meurig

Hi again

Downloaded from Findmypast. Name is Thomas Betraun No. 657.
Served 1883 to 1895 (12 years). Recorded in Natal, South Africa 04.04.00.
Died January 1917 (CEF) in Kent. He was my Gr.Gr. Uncle.

Regards
David

Hello David.....

Here are his enlistment papers for the C.E.F. 33rd Overseas Battalion.....

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/ce...ij78gpfg3q87fesb3s87

Mike