TOPIC:

Hello.

My Grandfather served in the Anglo-Boer War and for many years I have known a vague outline of his miltary career but have now decided to try to research the details. He enlisted with the Royal Artillery under the name of George West (not exactly his birth name, as it happens) in 1898 and I know from his medals that his number was 30523 and that he served as a driver with the 84th Batt. RFA. I also know that he must have served at the battle of Bakenlaagte--I can remember that, right up until he died in 1961, the name of his house was "Bakenlaagte". I was only a child at the time and the name didn't mean anything to me but I now realise that it was a deadly encounter between the two sides in the war. I presume he wasn't personally in the thick of the battle because he must have survived unscathed and continued to serve in the Royal Artillery until 1923.

Anyway I am hoping that I will be able to find some information that will help me with my researches in this forum.

Best wishes

Stephen

Hello Stephen,
Welcome to the forum.

I have had a look at the casualty list regarding this action and of the 26 casualties listed (RFA 84th) your Grandfather is not mentioned. So, as you say he escaped injury. I could only find his medal roll for his entitlement to the 2 date clasps. Do you have any more information on any other clasps he may have been awarded? George is mentioned regarding QSA entitlement. This could help with your research into his time in South Africa.

Royal Field Artillery - 83rd Battery along with the 84th and 85th arrived on 11th February 1900, and was at once hurried to the front. Although too late to take part in the actual pursuit to Paardeberg, were in time to assist otherwise, and entered Bloemfontein with the army. The Brigade Division was the artillery of the Xlth Division, and was with Pole-Carew south-east of Bloemfontein in the operations for the relief of Wepener. They accompanied the centre in the northern advance. Were present at Diamond Hill, 11th and 12th June, and thereafter took part in the advance along the Delagoa Railway to Koomati Poort. The 83rd Battery long remained in the Eastern Transvaal. In 1901 two guns accompanied Smith-Dorrien from the Delagoa line to Piet Retief, etc, January to April. One gun was with Colonel Allenby, and two guns with Major General Babington (despatch of 8th July).

Royal Field Artillery - 84th Battery
Later in 1901 four guns were with a column under Colonel Douglas which did much good work in the Eastern Transvaal. Two guns were with Colonel Benson when he met with his disaster at Baakenlaagte on 30th October 1901. The ridge on which the guns were placed was captured by the Boers, "and when our ambulance moved out after dark to collect the wounded the guns were removed by the enemy". Colonel Benson and Colonel Guinness were both killed at the guns. The section lost 7 killed and 20 wounded. According to all accounts, the gallantry of the gunners and of the mounted infantry who strove to hold the ridge could not have been exceeded.

best regards
Dave

Hello, Dave, and thanks for the reply and the useful information about the RFA and my grandfather's Battery. Regarding the medal clasps, the Queen's South Africa Medal has clasps for Belfast, Diamond Hill, Johannesburg, Dreifontein and Cape Colony. The King's South Africa medal just has the two date clasps for 1901 and 1902. I presume that if I look up those clasps I ought to be able to find more information on his service in South Africa.
Regards
Stephen

Hi Stephen
Yes, a good place to start would be to read up on the battle clasps of Diamond Hill, Belfast, Johannesburg & Driefontein. Not sure how much info you have on your Grandfather? but if you can get hold of his service papers that would provide more details of service and time in the RFA and along with his medal rolls and of course his medals, you would have a good record of his time in the 84th RFA.
Best regards
Dave

Hello Dave,
No I haven't tracked down his service record yet. FindMyPast have got images from a book which gives the date of attestation and dismissal from the Artillery, but somewhere there must be other papers such as his full attestation papers and records of postings, promotions, etc. Thanks again.
Regards,
Stephen

WO363 and WO364 were never released to the public because of there condition, so if there is no folio available they are very unlikely to actually be extant, it does, upon rare occasion, prove fruitful to search both sets and look at every man with that particular name because of errors made by Kew prior to the folio being released after it was photographed.

StephenWest wrote: Hello Dave,
No I haven't tracked down his service record yet. FindMyPast have got images from a book which gives the date of attestation and dismissal from the Artillery, but somewhere there must be other papers such as his full attestation papers and records of postings, promotions, etc. Thanks again.
Regards,
Stephen