TOPIC:

Hi

I'm new to this forum and interested in any information about my 2 x great grandfather Frederick (Fred) Druce (born Stuckey) from Seavington St Michael in Somerset.

The first military record I have for him is 21 Sept 1887 when he was in the 3rd Batallion Somerset Light Infantry aged 16. According to other research, he died of his wounds in the Boer War on 29th May 1900 at Smithfield. He was listed as a private in the 2nd Battalion Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry), Army number: 2091

I looked up his name on this site and I believe he's listed under C Druce.

If anyone has any other information that would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Hello Druce,

Here is a photograph of his grave marker from the cemetery in Smithfield which is in the Orange Free State

.

Regards
Adrian

Hello Druce,

Note the different Initial, it appears to be a C as you make mention of and there is a two day difference in the date of death which is common.

Regards

Thank you so much. Yes, that does explain where the incorrect initial came from!

From Find My Past........

First name(s) F
Event unit 2 Battalion Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry)
Last name Druce
Event source ABWMP
Service number 2091
Event notes [Watt] Assumes place of death [WO100] 01-05-1900
Rank Private
Country Great Britain
Regiment 2 Battalion Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry)
Notes [The National Archives WO100. The QSA and KSA campaign medal rolls.] QSA Clasps: CC,OFS,TH,RoL
Rolls WO100/175 page 23
Record set Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902
Year 1899-1902
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Biography -
Subcategory Boer Wars
Memorials Cathedral. North wall north Transept. Tablets. Regiment, Wells, Somerset, England
Event detail Died on 29/05/1900 at Smithfield

Mike

Hi Druce

Welcome to the forum.

I have enclosed your G G Grandfather's medal roll for you.
His initial is recorded as T, however the handwriting on the roll could be an F ? Either way it was quite common  for initials to be transcribed in error. You will see in the remarks column there is a note which records , deceased 1st of May 1900, another possible error, or he could have been severely wounded or ill on the 1st of May and died later as per post pertaining to 27th May 1900,Smithfield .

Medal roll WO 100/ 175 is dated October 6th 1901, Heidelberg.
Clasps awarded to Frederick were Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Tugela Heights and Relief of Ladysmith.


A brief account of the Somerset's regarding your GG Grandfather's time line during April / May 1900.

After the relief of Ladysmith the Somersets left Coke's brigade and joined that of Major General Hart, which consisted of the Somersets, 1st Border Regiment, 1st Connaught Rangers, and 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, the first-named having taken the place of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, who were left in Natal. Hart's brigade was brought round to Cape Colony, and along with Barton's Fusilier Brigade was put under Sir Archibald Hunter as general of division. Hart's Brigade was ordered to Aliwal North to co-operate with Brabant in the relief of Wepener. The relief was accomplished on 24th April, and the brigade then followed Barton's to the western border. Having defeated the enemy at Rooidam on 5th May with the Fusilier Brigade, Sir Archibald Hunter proceeded to march through the Western Transvaal. One wing of the Somersets was left to garrison Vryburg, the other was taken east of Pretoria, and along with the 2nd Dublins formed the garrison of Heidelberg under Hart.