TOPIC:

Hello,
my great grandfather was killed in WW1, I have his papers from that conflict. Since taking out a subscription on FMP I have discovered he also served in the Boer War.
His papers from 1886 state -
Albert Dale 7229 York & Lancs Regiment
Embodied 13/12/1899
Disembodied 4/12/1900

Embodied 9/12/1901
Disembodied 6/8/1902

Discharged Time Expired 15/8/1902

Not being use to Boer War history and the terminology I hope some one would explain exactly what he was up to during the war please ? especially the terms Em/Dis embodied, and why two periods on it?

regards
Dean.

Hello Dean,
Welcome here, your great grandfather was serving in the Militia, the 3rd York and Lancaster's so when the war started some Militia battalions were "embodied" or called out for service to replace those Army battalions that were sent down to South Africa, they replaced these men on their duties at places like Aldershot.
In the case of Dale, he and his battalion were called out again, but, for active service in South Africa and a brief look at WO96 and WO100/200 confirms this in addition to, a well deserved Queens South Africa medal and clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal and South Africa 1902, again, welcome here.
Regards Frank Kelley

Thank you for the warm welcome Frank, much appreciated. Also thank you for the info.
I would really like to 'flesh out' his stay in South Africa.
Please forgive my ignorance Frank but would you be able to add anything else to my questions, no worries if not Frank, I'm more than pleased already.

Is there anyway of knowing where he went the first time of Embodiment

Which regiment was he with in SA, can I trace his time there by following the battalion he was with?

W096 ?

W0100/200 I think this is for the medal rolls ? what exactly is in the rolls, should I have a researcher send me copies from TNA ?

The Clasps, areas he fought in ?

regards
Dean.

Hello Dean,
It would be worth talking to their museum in Rotherham I feel regarding the exact history of this particular battalion, rather than just a quick search, but, generally speaking, the Militia were used for garrison duties, as a result, members of the Army and SAMIF who had been performing these duties could be released for other duties.
He was serving in the one battalion only for his service in the Militia, as shown in WO96.
WO96 are the Militia papers at Kew.
WO100 are the medal rolls at Kew, the medals were issued from these, the rolls are available on line.
The clasps were issued from the same rolls and are those that he was entitled to receive for his service in South Africa, yes, you got a particular clasp for service within the area it covered.
The end game was played out in 1902 and the fighting in the Northern Transvaal was at it's complete worst throughout January of that year, very intense indeed, he would have certainly seen the aftermath and it's affect on people had he been in that particular part of the Transvaal.
Regards again Frank

Trefcon wrote: Thank you for the warm welcome Frank, much appreciated. Also thank you for the info.
I would really like to 'flesh out' his stay in South Africa.
Please forgive my ignorance Frank but would you be able to add anything else to my questions, no worries if not Frank, I'm more than pleased already.

Is there anyway of knowing where he went the first time of Embodiment

Which regiment was he with in SA, can I trace his time there by following the battalion he was with?

W096 ?

W0100/200 I think this is for the medal rolls ? what exactly is in the rolls, should I have a researcher send me copies from TNA ?

The Clasps, areas he fought in ?

regards
Dean.

Hello Dean

Embodiment - I would look at the local papers, they will have reported these events.

He served with the 3rd bn in South Africa (Jan-August 1902), they centred on Kimberley in the western Cape and the individual companies were sent to garrison various towns, blockhouses and provide escorts to convoys.

The bn only had 16 casualties, just 3 caused by the enemy (all died), so their combat experience was minimal. However, some (perhaps a company - 60 men?) were involved in one convoy that was brutally ambushed by the Boers on 7 March 1902 at De Klipdrift in the western Transvaal. The 3rd bn commander Lt-Col JG Wilson was mortally wounded and one other killed. Sources suggest the remainder were captured - but their names are not recorded in the Official Casualty Rolls. Your GGF could have been here.

Medal rolls are available on Ancestry.

WO96 - the militia papers on FindmyPast, you have these already.

Regards
Meurig

Trefcon wrote: Thank you for the warm welcome Frank, much appreciated. Also thank you for the info.
I would really like to 'flesh out' his stay in South Africa.
Please forgive my ignorance Frank but would you be able to add anything else to my questions, no worries if not Frank, I'm more than pleased already.

Is there anyway of knowing where he went the first time of Embodiment

Which regiment was he with in SA, can I trace his time there by following the battalion he was with?

W096 ?

W0100/200 I think this is for the medal rolls ? what exactly is in the rolls, should I have a researcher send me copies from TNA ?

The Clasps, areas he fought in ?

regards
Dean.

Thank you Meurig, more excellent info from the forum.

Any 'Bibles' I should be reading on the Boer War ?

best regards
Dean.