TOPIC:

Quite frankly, I see an awful lot of this sort of thing and I think it is important not to take family stories to heart unless they can be proved beyond all reasonable doubt.
I would ask a number of questions, is there a tangible or physical piece of evidence that suggests or proves the man in question actually did serve in South Africa during the war and if so what is it?
Is the subject in the photograph your grandfather, looking at it, I would go as far as suggesting, it was not taken in South Africa and perhaps not during the war either.

Regarding the name, their are not really very many possible men, notwithstanding, there does appear to have been a certain C Ashton who did serve in South Africa with the Imperial Hospital Corps, his name, Charles Roger Ashton!

Perhaps, merely a coincidence, or perhaps not, proof however is needed, so to do that, you will need to know your family tree and your grandfathers next of kin at the turn of the twentieth century.
You would then need to look carefully at WO126/52-54 at Kew, in the hope that his paper has survived, match any next of kin and address shown and you have your answer, beyond all possible doubt.

One aspect of life in the Cherrybums that always made me smile, was simply, that right up and till 1969, in their mess, every evening, without fail, a place at the table was prepared for James Brudenell, needless to say, the washing up, whilst done, cannot have been remotely difficult or time consuming, notwithstanding, an absolutely charming thing to do.

LinneyI wrote: Robert
I did check my Imperial Yeomanry CD to see if there was a match for a C.R.Ashton. No match. Your GF could have served in the Yeomanry prior to the ABW (the Yeomanry was then a reserve type unit for home service only). The many Companies/Squadrons of the Imperial Yeomanry were formed for the ABW and some continued after the ABW as an entity for home service until (I think) the formation of the Territorial army. The 11th Hussars were certainly not Yeomanry or Imperial Yeomanry. 11H was a regular formation with a good record of service.
So far there are only suppositions and possibilities. We really need more information before anything positive can be said. If there is an extended roll for the members of the 11H who served with other units during 1899-1902, hopefully your GF will be on it.
Regards
IL

Well, I have a mystery to solve. Why would he put on his attestation paper he did serve with the 11th Hussars if he indeed did not? I still have relatives in Wales so I will follow up with them.
Thank you all for your responses.

(see new attachment)

Frank Kelley wrote: Quite frankly, I see an awful lot of this sort of thing and I think it is important not to take family stories to heart unless they can be proved beyond all reasonable doubt.
I would ask a number of questions, is there a tangible or physical piece of evidence that suggests or proves the man in question actually did serve in South Africa during the war and if so what is it?
Is the subject in the photograph your grandfather, looking at it, I would go as far as suggesting, it was not taken in South Africa and perhaps not during the war either.

Regarding the name, their are not really very many possible men, notwithstanding, there does appear to have been a certain C Ashton who did serve in South Africa with the Imperial Hospital Corps, his name, Charles Roger Ashton!

Perhaps, merely a coincidence, or perhaps not, proof however is needed, so to do that, you will need to know your family tree and your grandfathers next of kin at the turn of the twentieth century.
You would then need to look carefully at WO126/52-54 at Kew, in the hope that his paper has survived, match any next of kin and address shown and you have your answer, beyond all possible doubt.

Sorry, I don't understand: What is WO126/52-52 at Kew?

Robert

Okay then, a CEF attestation paper is certainly good reason to believe that he had served in the 11th Hussars at some point, I cannot expand the attachment, does it give further detail, where and when was your grandfather born, the issue is, that there is no one of that name who did serve with them, actually during the war itself in South Africa, he could certainly have served before or after the war.
A certain Charles Roger Ashton did serve during the war as mentioned, but, he may not have been your grandfather, to prove it, either way, you would have to look at this mans paper, if still extant, at the National Archives in Great Britain.

Frank Kelley wrote: Okay then, a CEF attestation paper is certainly good reason to believe that he had served in the 11th Hussars at some point, I cannot expand the attachment, does it give further detail, where and when was your grandfather born, the issue is, that there is no one of that name who did serve with them, actually during the war itself in South Africa, he could certainly have served before or after the war.
A certain Charles Roger Ashton did serve during the war as mentioned, but, he may not have been your grandfather, to prove it, either way, you would have to look at this mans paper, if still extant, at the National Archives in Great Britain.

thank you for your response

My grandfather was born in Cardiff, Wales and I have written a relative in Cardiff to see if he can throw some light on my grandfather's British Army service. Just an aside he was badly wounded in October, 1916 near the end of the Battle of the Somme and subsequently, discharged as "unfit for war service". He returned to Canada.

Cheers
Robert