Hello forum Members,
I am re-posting this in the hope that someone may have stumbled onto some clues as to the origins or fate of this soldier ?
I am the founder of Medals Reunited New Zealand and have had passed to me the subject soldiers QSA (Clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal). I am the would like to trace his origins and family in order to reunite Devlin's descendants with his medasl. As an E Lancs Regt man, I have (perhaps wrongly) assumed to date that he was born in that County although elswhere is not out of the question.
Devlin was subsequently assigned to the MR (Mounted Rifles ?) Border Regiment (have I got that right)? - this detail is on the medal roll.
The medal was found in a demolished house in Northland, New Zealand - there is no clear indication in Ancestry and link to NZ, or Electoral Rolls etc that would suggest he was ever in NZ - one small hint is that an Alexander and Catherine DEVLIN + 5 children imigrated to nZ in 1865 on the 'Louisa" - possible family (parents?). The medal of course could have been stolen, passed to a relative who lived there (there were 2 x Arthur Devlins from this area born in NZ), or other means. Given the age of the farm property house it was found in, residence since 1880s onward post Boer War by transient gum diggers or labourers was entirely possible.
I would particularly like some assistance with:
a. Where he was born
b. Names of his parents
c. Date of Death
d. Place of Death
e. If married, children etc
f. Did he rtn to UK with the Lancs Regt after the War (1902>), or ............??
g. Did he emigrate to NZ.
My grateful thanks for any assistance.
Ian Martyn
