TOPIC:

Does anyone have ideas on how to search for my mothers' grandfather's Boer War records. What we know is that he was only 15 when he signed up to serve in the British Army. He was living in Port Elizabeth. He was refused because he was too young, but enlisted under the name of a man he met on a train, a Mr Fred Minns. This was in 1897. He received the QSA medal (my mother is checking the clasps next week when we get home).

We have searched the various online databases but without specific unit info we are at a bit of a loss. Happy to do the work but would love some guidance.

Thanks all ye experts!
Shannon

Hello Shannon,

There are only 3 people called F Minns on the QSA rolls

F Minns -1st Battalion Essex
F Minns - Royal Field Artillery
F Minns - 10th Late 5th Division Amm Col
F Minns - 28th Battery Royal Field Artillery
F E Minns - 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

I would have have expected a South African unit from his place of enlistment.

If you can check the unit on the QSA next week (and his regimental number if present), we can can them provide more help.

Kind regards
David

Thanks so much for looking for us (we are sitting here with blurry eyes at 10.15pm in the USA). My mother wanted to add that his real name was Fred Milner Smithyman. We think it was a British unit because that is what the family story was, but it could have been SA.

We wanted to check what we should look for on the medal. I was thinking to look only on the clasp. Is there some way to see a unit from the medal?

I shall submit a picture of him in uniform, but it looks very typical to me.

Shannon,

I am about to go and make breakfast here in the UK so enjoy your sleep tonight!

When you see the medal, have a look at the rim. It contains the details of the recipient, his number, rank, name and unit.

From there we will be able to find out more about him.

Best wishes
David

There are some Smithymans on the roll but none looks to be very good matches

T Smithyman - 7th New Zealand Mounted Rifles
W Smithyman - SALH
William Smithyman - Western Province Mounted Rifles

I have found another record that says he was in the Royal Field Artillery, infantry corp. This F.Minns was listed as a DRIVER in 1900. We believe this is the right one as we know he continued to serve as a driver right into the second world war and later in East Africa. He claims to have driven General Smuts up there and we know he worked on vehicles. His step-father was an Engineer.

Was there any more information in the QSA list about the F. Minns in the RFA? We don't have any registration numbers or other details for him yet.