TOPIC:

Like many others I'm trying to establish the service of a grand uncle of mine who seemed to have served in the Boer War according to the memoirs of my grand Aunt Annie Streeter a transcript of which follows.

"The very first thing In my life I remember is the dismissal of the soldiers after the first Boer War. My stepbrother who fought in the war was there and there was a big ceremony on Catherine Street in front of the [Croydon] town hall. After the ceremony my brother Charles carried me on his shoulders through the crowds. he was dressed in a bright red uniform with a wide blue stripe down the side of the pants and a three cornered blue cap and I was very proud of him"

Does this description mean anything to other forum members?

The name of my grand uncle was Charles Harry Streeter, son of Harry Albert Streeter of south Croydon. Charles was born in 1881 and from the records I have found a Charles Streeter, Trooper 38856, of the 130th Yeomanry 28th Battalion Imperial Guard.

As an aside his sister Annie (and my grand Aunt) went on to serve in the WRAF during the first World War before emigrating to America from where, in much later life, she wrote of her childhood memories from which the above is just a small extract.

Regards to all.

Bannon,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for an interesting first post.

Your great aunt could have been referring to the Boer War of 1880-1 which is somewhat mistakenly called the First Boer War. The later conflict, between 1899 and 1902, was the Second Boer War. Given his date of birth, there is no way he could have been involved in that conflict.

A quick look for service papers to 1915 came back negative I'm afraid.

There was only one C Streeter in the Second Boer War, the one you found. There should be an attestation paper for him at the National Archives which will give you some biographical information and may confirm if he is a relative.

I cannot see an MIC for him to indicate any Great War service. A Charles Henry Streeter was killed in the Great War.

Good luck in your search
David

Thanks for that David, much appreciated and without dragging you off from your main interest here, can you provide me with a link for the Charles Henry Streeter you say died in the Great war? I have been unable to anything so far with Ancestry.com for example. One of the biggest problems as you known is the slight changes of names that seem to occur with Harry being replaced by Henry - which is exactly what his father Harry Albert did!

With reference to my Grand Aunts description of the uniform she remembers her brother wearing, does that fit in with anything you may know? The soldiers own field dress (obviously different from and dress uniform) seems to show that the British Army had second thoughts about the wearing of bright red, adopting in part instead the Boers more appropriate (and dare I say it) more 'successful' outfit!

Kindest regards

Bannon,

Here is the index entry from Find My Past re the Great War casualty:



If you search the Find My Past site, there are several matches for C Streeter in the 1911 Census, marriages, burials etc.

You are right that the regiments had more than one kit but this is the extent of my knowledge in this area. Does anyone know when red tunics were phased out?

Regards
David