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djb wrote: Boyd,

Sorry, the National Archives in London. I have added his to the list to look up on my next visit bit I don't current have a firm visit date.

You could contact Kevn Asplin who visits the NA frequently and will be able to look it up for you, at a cost.

Best wishes
David

Hi Guys

I should have known it would not have been that easy LOL - having done a “search” I have now discovered some 15 in number “F Curran”’s on this amazing resource - I guess my first step is to check the nominal rolls fir each of them to see if their enlistment / service dates fit with the other documentation I have for this individual - I can rule a few out as his only given name was Francis and obviously any KIA - Well what else would you want to do on a wintery wet Sunday afternoon
The more I learn the more I want to know
Kind Regards
Boyd

Hi Guys its been a while and I trust all are doing well and that there is light at the end of the Covid-19 Tunnel
I have been doing more research on Francis Curran and with my limited knowledge have pieced together the following information (Attached in pdf) CWould some of you be kind enough to confirm or otherwise shatter my assumptions LOL -Let me down easy of I'm barking up the wrong tree LOL
Kind Regarfds
Boyd

Hi Boyd....

Found in Find My Past......

First name(s) F
Last name Curran
Service number -
Rank Trooper
Regiment Queenstown Rifle Volunteers
Year 1899-1902
Biography -
Country Great Britain
Literary references The National Archives WO127. Nominal rolls colonial units.
Record set Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902
Category Military Service & Conflict
Subcategory Boer Wars
Collections from Great Britain, UK None

Mike

Hello Boyd
It looks like your man certainly got around a bit.
Your spread sheet does seem to confirm his time in South Africa.
I have been studying the medal rolls for you. This is my interpretation, in my humble opinion.
Regiment Numbers
37639 Driscol 's Scouts
728 Driscol's Scouts
1601 - 41553 2nd Imperial Light Horse
730 Queenstown Rifle Volunteers
485 Frontier Mounted Rifles
Also 41553 appears on another roll margin note - I or JMF and FFMR
All the above appear to cross reference with margin notes against his medal rolls
Please note Ancestry has the name F Carran against Frontier Mounted Rifles, but on studying
a little more closely I believe it reads Curran .
So, having a tot up of clasps. If this is the same F Curran pertaining to all the roll entries then he was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with 6 clasps.
Orange Free State
Cape Colony
Transvaal
Wittebergen
Date clasps 1901 and 1902.
There was an entry for Wepener but this was crossed out.
P.S If this is the same F Curran (Francis) It wasn't unusual for men to chop and change regiment. Also, as you can imagine it was sometimes difficult to keep the paperwork up to date and this did lead to errors with entries, especially when transferring regimental numbers. Hope this hasn't muddied the waters too much?
PPS. Do you have his medal? Would be interesting to see what was engraved around the medal edge.
Best regards
Dave

Thank you Mike I appreciate the Info
Boyd

Hi Dave,

Thank you so much for this information exactly what I wanted to hear, it is fantastic and no waters muddied at all it strengthens my belief I am on the right trail of the right man.

May I ask what does this bit mean (Excuse my ignorance) "Also 41553 appears on another roll margin note - I or JMF and FFMR" I assume the 41553 is his service number for 2nd Imperial Light Horse? what is the I or JMF and FFRM - I haven't been able to "see" any evidence online for his service in the Frontier Mounted Rifles other than the annotation on his Driscoll's Scouts Medal Roll page 18.
On medals, is there any evidence that he received both the Queens and the King's Medal?

In response to your question about possession of his medal, it is thought that all of his memorabilia was passed down to his nephew also called Francis, unfortunately, all of Francis's medal/s from SA along with his British War Medal and Victory Medal from WW1 (He served in the 5 Canadian Mounted Rifles) including Death Penny were destroyed in the riots in Belfast in the early 1970s along with all other memorabilia attached image shows the aftermath of his nephews house also Francis Curran. At the time the family "were lucky to escape with only the clothes on their back" I hope to be able to get a reproduction medal/s along with the appropriate clasps hence my questions.

He was certainly a "real character" and I have, and am enjoying retracing his life's journey his story from a child in Belfast Royal Navy service Boer War and his ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Ancre Heights 1/2 October deserves to be told.

Thank you for your assistance.

Kind Regards

Boyd
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