TOPIC:

Also do you know what the names Reddesbey. And Phillipoulis. Would mean . Thanks so much

Hi
Reddersberg and Philippolis are both towns in the Orange Free State.

Adrian

Here's what I make of the info on this record sheet.

Previous military service :
- ... Police 3 years
- BPP (Bechuanaland Protectorate Police) 2 years
- "All through Zulu War in Baker's Horse"

Active service :
- 1879-81, including the Zulu War
- 1882-85 (probably the 3 years service in the ... Police)
- 1892-94, including the Matabele campaign in Rhodesia (this would have been the 2 years with the BPP) - wounded

Enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in London on 29.12.1899, on a one-year engagement
- in England from 29.12.1899 to 14.03.1900
- assigned to the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry as a private on 19.01.1900
- married Anne Matthews (widow) on 22.01.1900
- in SA from 15.03.1900 to 28.01.1901
- served in Ladybrand, Reddersburg and Philippolis (all towns/districts in the Orange Free State)
- in England from 29.01.1901 to 29.04.1901
- discharged at his own request on 29.04.1901 - by then he was a bugler.
- received a war gratuity on 13.06.1901.

The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry formed the 31st Company of the IY.

The writing sideways on the right-hand side of the Military History Sheet is the signature of the officer who approved the entries : ... Synge, Major and Adjutant, 1st Provisional Battalion.

Medals :
- South Africa Medal with 1879 clasp (for the Anglo-Zulu War)
- British SA Company Medal (for Matabeleland 1893)
- Queen's SA Medal with 'Cape Colony' and 'Orange Free State' clasps
- King's SA Medal with clasps.

Some additional info from South African sources online :

Natal Archives have a file containing a letter dated 1900 from Mrs A. Coleman to the Natal government, about him allegedly having a wife in SA.

Transvaal Archives have two files concerning a Charles William Coleman -- don't know if it's the same chap :
- a 1903 claim by Charles William Coleman at Edenburg in the OFS, about compensation
- a deceased estate file for a Charles William Coleman, dated 1942.

There's a photo of the latter's gravestone here : www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=3416965 .

Arthur, fantastic. Thank you.

Thank you so much. That helps me so much. The Annie Coleman is related him however the on Buried in 1942 is not .. .. just one more question. How would he have travelled back and forward from South Africa to England. I can’t find any shipping records ? He returned to England after 1902 with his 3 rd wife and I can find any ships record of them ? Would they both have travelled in military ship ?
Thank l you so much

Thank you