TOPIC:

My name is Dorothy Lane and I am researching my husband's Boer War connections.
His grandfather enlisted with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 6th Battalion using the name C. Green and died at Bloemfontein of disease on 13th October 1900. Death certificate obtained and details of where he is buried known. His real name was Charles Lane and we don't know why he enlisted with a false name. A distant relative thought he may have joined the military before and deserted. He was born circa 1857, so was quite old to be going off to war.
I have been unable to trace the Attestation papers for Charles and know absolutely nothing about this man.
It is known that his son John Lane also went to the Boer War and I do have his Attestation papers. He joined the Royal Warwickshire 6th Battalion Militia 20/07/1898. We were told that Charles and John went out to SA on the same boat, so Charles presumably enlisted at around the same time.
John's Attestation document says he was disembodied on 03/06/01 and discharged time expired 19/07/04. He was paid SA War Gratuity and in possession of S.A. Medal with clasps for Cape Colony Orange Free State.
I would like to know something about any battles that these two men might have fought in.
This is a very interesting site and I look forward to maybe learning something about the conditions these two men found themselves involved in.
Regards
Dorothy Lane

Hello and welcome,
I assume you husbands grandfather is 9581 Pte C Green, to answer your question I would perhaps visit their museum at St Johns House, Warwick, 01926 491653, I have never been there so I cannot recommend it, but, you could give them a call to see what they have to offer.
Regarding the Boer War, there are some good books listed on this site, from the menu on the left, click on books.
If you are ever in London, the National Army Museum in Chelsea would be worth a visit too, they should be more than able to answer your questions on life in the army during that war.
Regards Frank

Hello and Welcome Dorothy.....

"A distant relative thought he may have joined the military before and deserted. He was born circa 1857, so was quite old to be going off to war."

I have a South African medal to a man named Ollenbittle, he also deserted and rejoined to fight in the Boer War so therefore that is a possibility....

Also

He could have used the documents (Birth Certificate) of someone else to enlist just so that he could look after his son....

Mike

Hello Mike
Thanks for your reply.
He was old to be going off to war - the conditions in the area of Birmingham where he lived were very poor and he probably saw it as a means of impoving their living conditions.
With regard to joining to look after his son, we were told by family hearsay that the first he knew of his son joining was when he saw him on the boat going out to SA. In fact, my husband was told by his own father (who by the way was in his 50s when my husband was born - hence the lack of knowledge about his paternal relatives) that Charles was surprised when he saw the 'family relative' on the boat and said 'what are you doing here'. My husband didn't know it was his father's brother.

Hello Frank.
Yes, the C. Green in question is No. 9581 - I contacted the War Graves Commission in South Africa and they gave me details of where he was buried - namely President Ave Cemetery, Bloemfontein (exact location not known). However, I haven't been able to find anything else about him.
I sent a couple of e-mails to Wawickshire Regiment museum at St Johns House, Warwick but they have never replied - so I don't think they hold any records about individuals. However, we do intend to pay them a visit because they will, I am sure, have records of battles which their regiment was involved in.
Do you know if the National Army Museum in Chelsea hold any individual records or is everything held at Kew?.
Having only just found this site, I haven't had time, as of yet, to browse what is available but I will follow your advice and check out what publications are available because my husband is particularly interested in the potential battles and conditions that the men fought under.
Unfortunately, this man is proving to be the major 'brick wall' in our Family History because we can't trace him before 1881 when he first knowingly appears on the census, married with two children. An actual marriage has not been found and 'Lane' is a common name in the Aston area of Birmingham. Therefore, we don't know about his parentage.
Anyway,thanks for your very useful reply.
Dorothy

Hello,
I would phone the Warwick museum and see if they have someone on hand to answer your questions regarding the 6th battalion, the TNA have all the surviving service papers from the victorian period, The NAM would give you an insight in to the day to day life of Tommy Atkins.
Regards Frank