TOPIC:

Hello, I am so pleased I found your very useful and informative website.
My husbands grandfather - a Frederick Merton, was in the Boer War. Unfortunately apart from the medals he left we do not have much other information about him.
He settled in Pretoria after the War finished, we are not sure when and in what circumstances. His wife and step son joined him and my husbands father was born there as was he.
Are there any records of how the ex soldiers could apply to remain in South Africa? Is there anyone in the forum who might have information regarding a Frederick Merton? Any help would be valued. Best wishes. KM

Welcome KM!

Can you tell us how the medals are named please?

With thanks
David

Hello KM,

There are a few entries in the Transvaal Archives which show that one Frederick Merton passed away in 1936 and his wife, Ellen (Willoughby) in 1956.

Could this be him ??

Reagrds
Adrian

Hi David,
Medal = Round silverish medal with 3 bars (Top bar SOUTH AFRICA 1901, second bar TRANSVAAL, third bar NATAL).
One side of medal = bust of Queen Victoria other side = Britania?? with SOUTH AFRICA in words.
Edge of medal says Cpl F Merton R.E.

The other medals are from WWI sorry as he was in both wars.
Regards KM

Hi Adrian,
Yes this is the same person. I have the notes we got from the Pretoria Archives regarding the wills of Frederick Merton and also Ellen Merton (Willoughby).
I can trace my husbands grandmother through various censuses and also the will records verify her details, but strangely the birth place and parentage for Frederick is not matching anything here in the UK.
We know he died in 1936 and what his age was but no birth records fit with other known facts. That is why I wondered if there was any other records, such as how did the soldiers apply or get granted permission to remain in South Africa once the Boer War was ended? It is fascinating to think the men who left U.K. for a war could be ready to spend their future and that of their families, in this far away country. Regards KM

Hi KM,

This is not that odd at all. Many men when discharged as time expired or even at the end of the war simply decided to stay on in SA rather than go home. Many men also when discharged as time expired whilst the war was still on the go attested into local units such as the Cape Poice the Natal Police and many other Units. There would have been a discharge certificate issued when he left the RE I would have thought however, I have no idea were you might find a copy of this.

Was any member of the family known as Edward Cavendish Merton?

Regards
Adrian