TOPIC:

Hi Forum,
I have recently received my great uncle's attestation papers (NZ 3rd Contingent, No 5 Company.... BUTLER, Trooper/Private 624).

Page 1 of the papers has him in Brabant's Horse, no 624. Page 2 has him "discharged with ignonimy 1900/2442, 19/4/1900". He was killed 27th Aug 1900 at Winburg, SA. Elsewhere in the papers it is stated in letters he was in the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers.

Findmypast has 3 records of him. One in the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers, from the SAFF casualty lists. The 2nd from the Timaru Boer War Memorial in NZ, the 3rd Trooper 624, from the SAFF lists.

Several questions....

Is it possible to have been in both Brabant's Horse and Queenstown Rifle Volunteers..or are they of the same contingent/different times in the war?

Is there any way of finding out why he was discharged/court martialled? Any documents that would exist? (He was also stated in "Rough Riders" by Richard Stowers as being court marshalled (sic) and discharged, with no New Zealand medal issued).

Are there any memorials in SA with soldiers from overseas contingents?

Apologies for the long post...hoping someone can help!

Many thanks.

Hello,
I think it would have been possible to serve in the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers and Brabants Horse during the Boer War, the latter was raised during the Boer War and was part of the Colonial Division, the QRV had an Mounted Infantry company that was raised during the war and it also served in the same Colonial Division.
If he had served in Brabants Horse, there should be a nominal roll entry in the TNA WO127, his attestation papers should be in WO126 and regarding any medal issued from Brabants Horse would be in WO100/237.
There are memorials in South Africa which include men from NZ that had been killed, perhaps David could help with this.
Regards Frank.

Forgot to add, look at the menu on the left of this page, click on Unit Information, then South African Units, then Brabants Horse, there are also copies of the nominal roll entries with links on that page, Have fun!
Frank

Thanks Frank....have been having a good look at the units information. As yet haven't found him listed. I have downloaded "Colonials in South Africa" by John Stirling and looked at the time he died and where and think he may have been in both but more likely the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers.

Throughout his NZ attestation papers, with letters going to and fro about his money and belongings and how and where to send them, both Brabant's Horse and QRV names come up. One dept states they were unable to find him in Brabant's Horse and that he was in QRV.

Thanks too for the UK archive details. I would have to get someone over there to research it, as I am in Aussie now..unless anything is online.

This is a great forum and site!

And am I in the right topic area on the forum??

Hi,

Try the archway site for finding records of the 3rd contingent.
It is highly likely that there will be a file for military disipline of the 3rd cont (well there is one for the 4th cont anyway)
unfortunatly they are closed(not viewable online) so you will have to visit the Wellington Archives to view .
Try searching under 3rd contingent and rough riders.

baldhill flatt is an interesting area to explore if your ever in the area-tons of mining relics to view-I guess his father was a miner?

cheers

Glenn

Hi Glen,
That's great...have searched Archway a lot, but would nver have thought to search the contingent and Rough Riders...so many thanks for that!

Yes, his father, John Butler (from Ireland), was a miner...made his money from mining and leasing in the area, then went farming and did pretty well. The farm, Butler's Farm, is on the NZ conservation list and is still pretty much intact, due to the very dry climate around there. It is now being restored. I have been there once, but hoping to go back again soon and have more of a look around the area.

Thanks aagain,
Cheers,
Shona