TOPIC:

I am trying to find my grandfather's Anglo-Boer records but not having much success despite having been in contact with two independent researchers. Hopefully, someone here will be able to assist. His details:

Name: Bernard John Gowran Fitz-Patrick
DOB: 28/9/1875
Next-of-kin: Probably Ada Sarah Fitz-Patrick (mother)
Residence: Probably Barberton

A cousin, now deceased, thought he had been connected with the Bushveldt Carbineers but that seems unlikely.

In searching the QSA rolls, possibly contenders exist:
BJ Fitzpatrick (Natal rangers, recipient of Natal 1906 medal)
BJE Fitzpatrick (Standerton Mounted Police)

Although his surname could well have not been hyphenated in the records, there is a possibility that it was registered as "Patrick" because of the hyphen.

If anyone can help, please let me know.

Regards
Alan Fitz-Patrick
(email: alan.fitzpatrick@nufocus.co.uk)

Alan,

Welcome to the forum and apologies for the delay in replying to you.

There is only one other B Fitzpatrick listed on the QSA rolls and this is a Private (2928) in the 1st Connaught Rangers.

I looked at the entry on the Standerton MP roll and it is shown as Fitz Patrick with a space rather than a hyphen. The initials are B J E.

I checked the rolls for B Patrick and found none listed with this name.

To have joined the Standerton MP, it is likely he was resident in SA. Does that accord with what you know of him?

Best wishes
David

Hi David

Thanks for getting back to me.

The BJE Fitz Patrick could well be him as a barely legible 'E' could easily be transcribed into a "G" and the surname with a space instead of a hyphen is not unheard of.

Although he was born in the UK, he moved to S Africa with his parents and siblings in about 1890. In 1897, at the time of his father's death, he was living in Barberton. In 1915, his mother and some of his brothers were living in Greytown. He could have still been in Barberton when he enlisted but I can't be sure of that.

Regards
Alan