TOPIC:

Hello .... My G. Grandfather .. Pte. W.A. Barnsley was a member of the First City Volunteers, and was awarded the Service Medal.

How do I locate and download a copy of his "Attestation Papers" ???

Thanks

Len Barnsley
Canada

Hi Len, welcome aboard.
As far as I know the First City enrolment papers are under the Grahamstown Volunteers in The National Archives (UK) in boxes 88-90 in series WO 126. I was not able to locate his name on the QSA roll for the Grahamstown First City Volunteers but my experience with the First City is that the roll is problematic so I would not take it as an indication that he wasn't with the unit. Do you know his service number by any chance?

Cheers,

Mark

PS I don't believe that his attestation papers are available online from TNA so you would have to go in person or get a researcher or somebody in the UK to access them at TNA.

Len,

I concur with everything that Mark has said. There are the contact details of Paul Baillie (available on the Contact's menu item at the top of the home page) who could do this for you.

Regards
David

Hi Mark;
Thanks for the reply,.... I rec'd. this information from the Web Site, no service number was provided. The Source was: "Roll of the CGHGSM", I do believe I also read that he originally enlisted with the Grahamstown Volunteers as he did live in Grahamstown with his parents.

Where is TNA located in the UK ??? I'm in Canada. Approx. what would the cost be for someone to copy the information ???

Greatly appreciated

Len Barnsley
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada

Len, CGHGSM! I'm afraid you have the wrong war . A look at the First City, Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal (CGHGSM) roll shows he got the CGHGSM with Basutoland clasp for the Basuto Gun War of 1880-1881. I have no idea if any attestation papers exist for this unit and conflict. The First City Regiment is still in existence so a Google search may reveal a contact for them and they might have something on him.

On Ancestry24 I see there is a record of a William Alexander Barnsley marrying a Dora Ball at the Grahamstown Cathedral but no date is given. You might be able to find a reference to documents on him in the various South African national, provincial or city archives and repositories. Here's the link to the searchable index: www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl
You would need to retrieve the record in person or hire a researcher to do it for you (I have no idea of costs. A Google search would probably reveal contact details for researchers at the various archives and repositories).

Cheers,

Mark
Taiwan

Hi Mark ... .... Yes, you & I are now dealing with the same information on the same individual, William Alexander & Dora Ball were my Great Grandparents. I have traced all the information from Ancestry24 in the past.

Mark you have just opened a few more doors for me by providing those suggestions.


Cheers from Canada

Len