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That was a very good find by Volunteer (Pete) - my search was deflected because he told a lie about his age when he attested in 1884.

You obviously subscribe to Ancestry but his attestation papers, service record and discharge papers can be found on find My Past (copies also obtainable from the National Archives).

Definitely him as his given next of kin conform with your FT:



Well almost conform - Elizabeth would appear to be a revelation.

On Ancestry you can find him on two medal rolls - do a Military search, enter his name using initial only and enter 1090 as a keyword: top two are him showing his Queen's South Africa Medal had 5 clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing's Nek and South Africa 1901.

Regards, David.

But was he a Baker.

Never again Dave based on all the records for him from 1895 onwards - all a "Labourer" with the exception of the 1911 Census when he was a "Stoker".

Whilst he might have lost his bakery skills in the army, they did teach him to be able to sign his name - which probably means they taught him to read and write - his only recorded scholastic achievement whilst in the army was a Fourth Class Education Certificate (1886). The record of his 1895 marriage certificate showing him as a labourer able to sign his name:

You guys are amazing

Not amazing, just having fun and, in my case, keeping the grey cells active. My contributions have largely been based on the excellent FT you have created on Ancestry. I am assuming as John Beasley was only your grandfather, the 40 has the same significance as the 44 in my email address.

Are you able to access his military paperwork on FMP? If not, if you message me your email address, I would be more than happy to download all (about 15) pages and email them to you. Dave F has already posted one of them.

In the meantime to take you briefly through his prolonged military career:

Enlisted in the Middlesex Regt in August 1884 adding a year or two to his age to qualify. He attested to 7 years of active service followed by 5 years in the army reserve.
After 18 months home service he spent 6 years in the East Indies, returning home in February 1892 to be transferred to the army reserve. He was fully discharged on the 12th anniversary of his enlisting. So he had done the 12 years but not quite in the way he had originally signed up for.
Whilst in the army reserve he would have led a civilian life and towards the end of it he got married and started a family.
He then did something unusual he applied for another 5 years in the army reserve which meant, when the recall came not long after the start of the South African War of 1899-1902 he had little option but to re-join his Colours.
He sailed to South Africa during February 1900 (as a draft i.e. a replacement/reinforcement) and returned home during July/August 1901 and was fully discharged on 17 August 1901 as "Time Expired" having completed the extra five years. For the first time in 17 years he was a fully free man with no future obligation to the army.

He served in the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment whilst in South Africa. To get an overview of their involvement in the war use the Unit Information module on the left hand menu on this site.

Regards, David.

Many thanks for that, David,
I couldn’t get any info on Ancestry because I kept putting in his full name, not just his initial.
I don’t have access to find my past, so your offer would be gratefully accepted.
It does sound unusual that he signed up for a further five years in the army reserve. Did they offer some sort of payment for that?