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Hi,

I'm not good at public speaking so please bear with me. As I've gotten older, I've become more and more interested in history. During the last few years I've watched more and more documentary's on the two World Wars. I'm fascinated by the old film footage and of course the B/W photos too. I really makes a person think when you see them. I do wish there was more documentaries dedicated to the Boer War though. It's almost a forgotten war when it comes to television. I've been doing some family research on and off now for years. My grandfather on my father's side of the family came to Canada ( where I live now) from England around 1906. Actually I'm about 30 minutes drive from where he resided last. There is an old family story that tells of two older brothers of my grandfather ( father's side) that served in the Boer War. My grandfather was the youngest of his family. His two older brothers, John and also William George Plank are the two that were said to have served in the Boer war. Well today I was very lucky enough to find William George Plank was indeed in the Boer War. I'm fairly certain he is the one from my family. I'm not sure why I haven't come across this site before but I'm so glad to have found it now. I'm very proud to say that Private William George Plank served in the Cape Colony Cyclist Corps. I've already e-mailed my older sister who is also very interested in our family's war service. Other than that, I'm not sure there is much more to tell you except thank you for letting me post this.

Gordon

Welcome Gordon

I am positive that you will be able to feed your appetite for anything Boer War related on this Forum. I assume you have checked the nominal rolls for your relatives details? If not you will probably find him there along with a short summary of what the CCCC got up to (they were primarily Cape Colony based)

Regards

Rory

Thank you Rory.

Yes I have seen the "nominal rolls" that you refer to. When I first found his name that was exciting enough. But then after finding out even more information I was ecstatic. My dad ( and other family members) would have been keenly interested in my findings.

Gordon

Gordon

I have just had a look at the medal rolls - I don't know if you are aware but William George was also known as "G. W" Plank - inferring that his names were interchangeable.

He also served with the Kimberley Town Guard and was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1901 off the KTG roll.
He doesn't appear to have been in the KTG during the Siege or, at least, didn't qualify for the Defence of Kimberley clasp.

Regards

Rory

Thank you so much for letting me know about the medals Rory. I'm still in a bit of pleasant shock knowing all of this. I've always been proud of my family's contribution in the 2 World Wars and this information just makes me want to stick my chest out a bit further because of William George Plank. According to my records, that is the order of the two names. It may interest you to know that my grandfather (William's youngest brother Sidney James) named one of his son's William George and he in turn named his son William George. So the name was carried on.
Thank you very much for giving me the super news.

Take care,
Gordon

Gordon,
Plank was very clearly present in Kimberley during the siege and served as a member of the Kimberley Town Guard, he was awarded the clasp Defence of Kimberley for that particular service and a South Africa 1901 clasp for his subsequent service in the Cape Colony Cyclist Corps.
The obvious thing to do next would be to look at WO126/19-22 at Kew, his CCCC attestation paper might have survived.
Regards Frank Kelley