TOPIC:

Hi all, I have been researching the Norfolk Regiment for a number of years, in particular those from the Norfolk Regiment & Royal Norfolk Regiment who have been either killed or died whilst serving. To that end for the 2nd Boer War I have collected most of WO 100/173 QSA entitlement. I am more than happy to look up Norfolk Regiment information for others as there are some gems contained in information like: caught sleeping of duty & sentenced, medal forfeited and another where his medal was handed back in 1952.

Good site hope to learn and exchange more information

Regards

Bob

Hi

I'm new to this site and I joined it due to helping my partner research her Paternal grandfather, Frederick William Britton, Norfolk Regimental number 4105.

I have found him in the Medal Rolls of the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment as having been awarded the QSA with Cape Colony and Orange Free State clasps and the KSA with 1901 and 1902 clasps but on both Rolls it then states that the medals were forfeited but with no explanation given as to the reason. The QSA Roll states that it was returned on 27/06/04 and the KSA Roll has a reference number: AG2/M/13985

With your extensive research into the regiment can you throw any light on this or direct me where I might find out more?

As a footnote, he then re-enlisted for WW1, was transferred to the Border Regiment from the Royal Norfolks and was killed in action in 1918 with his name being listed on the memorial at Arras.

Any help or advice you can give to help us sort out this mystery would be very much appreciated.

Clive

Hi Clive,

Sorry for the delay in replying, I have been away. I have checked my copies of the QSA & KSA and yes your correct it clearly states that the medals were forfited in 1904, have you requested his service records, if they survived it may state the reason why.

I am also cataloguing all the names on Norfolk War Memorials, I dont know if it helps but there is a F.W. Britton listed on the War Memorial in Tilney St Lawrence, I have attached a copy for you, the name is the 3rd one down on the L.H. side.

Sorry I could not help any more, good luck with your research.

Regards

Bob Rogers

Hi Bob

Thanks for that. This is the right F.W. Britton and many thanks for the photo. We keep promising ourselves a visit to the memorial at Arras. We originally thought we were on the wrong line when we saw that he was serving in the Border Regiment until we found his WW1 record online and found he'd initially enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment before being transferred.

I don't think there's going to be any option but to try to find his Boer War service records at the National Archives but I must admit to feeling daunted by having to negotiate their catalogue.

Thanks again for your efforts.

Clive

My grandfather was a bit of a mystery: His birth name was Ernest Edward Cock (sometimes written as Cocks and sometimes erroneously transcribed as Cook!) but was a foster child of a family named Drew. In some areas of his life he used that as his last name. We are from King's Lynn, Norfolk, where his name is on one brass plaque of the S.A. War memorial, now in the town museum. I have a photo. On that he was listed in the Royal Horse Artillery, as a Driver, Pompom,Sec. A. We know nothing about where he served and I can't find anything online. Since I now live in Texas, I'm a bit stumped because going to Kew just isn't in the cards. This is a wonderful site. Thank you all so much for building this repository of information. I hope someone can give me some hope that I can find out more information.

Spooner,

There is an MIC for him available on Ancestry which simply states that he earned the BWM and VM for his service with the Border Regiment in the Great War. His number is given as 21332 and rank of Private.

The CWGC site list his as Frederick William Britain, died 21 Mar 1918 and commemorated on the Arras memorial, bay 6.

I couldn't locate any service papers on Ancestry for Britton or Britain.

Best wishes
David