TOPIC:

Ive just joined here and my interest in the Boer War is related to my Grandfather. He went out to USA as a young man, then went into Canada and joined the Mounted Police. He went to Africa with Lord Strathcona's Horse under the command of Sam Steele. I have records of my grandfather's service with the Mounted Police and it states (written by Sam Steele) "very good man, stayed in South Africa and joined the Imperial Military Railway. This is where I have "lost" my grandfather as I cannot find any further records of the Imperial Military Railway. At some stage my grandfather returned to Canada (again as a Mountie) where he met my grandmother and they both returned to England when WW1 broke out. I would be grateful if anyone can give advice or info concerning the Imperial Military Railway.

Thanks

Good morning and welcome to this forum,
There is various memoranda at Kew, concerning the IMR and their medal roll is also there in WO100/252, perhaps you could tell us what your grandfather's name was.
In the meantime, Mike, is the best person to talk to on all matters that are related to Strathcona's Horse.
Again welcome, kind regards Frank Kelley

golfy46 wrote: Ive just joined here and my interest in the Boer War is related to my Grandfather. He went out to USA as a young man, then went into Canada and joined the Mounted Police. He went to Africa with Lord Strathcona's Horse under the command of Sam Steele. I have records of my grandfather's service with the Mounted Police and it states (written by Sam Steele) "very good man, stayed in South Africa and joined the Imperial Military Railway. This is where I have "lost" my grandfather as I cannot find any further records of the Imperial Military Railway. At some stage my grandfather returned to Canada (again as a Mountie) where he met my grandmother and they both returned to England when WW1 broke out. I would be grateful if anyone can give advice or info concerning the Imperial Military Railway.

Thanks

Hello Golfy46,

A warm welcome to the forum.

Best wishes
David

Good Morning Golfy46

First let me say welcome to the forum.....

Second, Another Strathcona......

Can you tell me his name and if you still have his medal?????

I and the Regimental Museum are trying to find any information on any of the Strathcona's.....

Mike

Thank you for your reply and the information regarding records at Kew. I have tried this source for information, but they do not hold record of my grandfather (George Mitchell) since he went to Africa with Strathconas thru the Canadian Mounties.

Thank you for your reply. My grandfather (George Mitchell no. 439 pte with Canadian Mounted Police) joined the Straths through the Mounted Police. I have a copy of his record which states "Canadian Special Service Forces, South Africa 1899 - 1900 which gives his name, rank and date of joining etc. It also states that he was awarded the Queens Medal with 3 clasps (Belfast? - writing a bit blurred but looks like Belfast - Orange Free State and Natal. The next form states again Canadian Special Service Forces South Africa and states "discharged from Canadian Mounted Police on 9 October 1900 - reason - joined Imperial Military Railway.

Unfortunately it is not clear whether he ever had ownership of his medals, my father was estranged from my grandfather at the time of his death and when my grandmother died all her affairs were looked after by one of my father's sisters. I have since been in contact with my aunts (the family has been estranged for 30 years)and they say they did not find any medals or records of his time in Canada or Africa. This may seem a bit odd, but my grandfather never revealed his origins to his family, when we were children he used to tell us about his time in Canada and the Klondyke gold rush etc, but he would never reveal who his parents were or where he was born. Having received his Mountie records I was able to trace his family and they were kind enough to help me trace his youth. He was evidently the "black sheep" who would not conform to his Victorian fathers strict upbringing and he "ran away" to USA as a young man.

Unfortunately, therefore, I am unable to help with any records or medals etc about the Straths but I would be eternally grateful and interested to hear anything about them. I have recently read a book written by Col. Sam Steele (its now out of print but my local library searched down a copy for me) of the life and times of the Mounted Police and there is a section about their time in the Boer War, which makes interesting reading.

Once again, many thanks for your reply.