TOPIC:

hi, i am trying to find out anything i can about my great grandfather who was in the guards during this conflict. his name was charles ford of coldstream guards and his number was 2002. i think he was awarded a medal too.

Hi nita57

Welcome to the forum.
I have had a look on Find My Past but unfortunately the service papers for 2002 Pte.Charles Ford Coldstream Guards are not there.
He was awarded the QSA medal along with these clasps:
Cape Colony and South Africa 1902
Hope this helps.

Paul

Hi Nita,

I have got a copy of his Service Record from Ancestry.co.uk. He did fight in the Boer War and then signed on as a reservist. Unfortunately, this meant he called called up to fight in 1914 at the age of 36 and fought with the 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards in the first few months of the war. He earned the British War Medal, The Victory Medal and the the 1914 Star. If you get in touch I can send you all the information I have got (inclding family history stuff). His mother's brother Sgt James Jukes was also killed in WW1 near High Wood on 23rd July 1916.

Malcolm,

Welcome to the forum and well found on those service papers.

I find those men who served in the Boer War and then were recalled for the Great War difficult to locate in many instances, mostly I think because of the change in regimental number and large numbers of potential matches where the surname is less uncommon.

Can you tell me how you go about this sort of search please?

Many thanks
David

I think I was lucky because Charles was retained as a reservist with the Coldstream Guards and kept the same service number. With other soldiers particularly as you say with more common surnames and from the major twons and cities I imagine it is much more difficult. All you can do is review all the potential matches on a site like Ancestry and see if they match other details you know about the soldier e.g. age, parents, family, location etc. Sorry I can't be more help I just feel lucky.

Malcolm

Malcolm,

Its always useful to see how other approach this type of research to discover better methods and ways of finding information. The part played by luck is often one of the contributing factors and long may that continue!

Best wishes
David