TOPIC:

My Great Uncle Michael Canning served with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers between 1894 and 1912. His Regiment Number was 4598.

Born in Dublin in 1877, he saw service in India before joining up with the 1st Battalion of the RIF in Jan 1902. I can see from my research that he sailed on SS The Armenian from Bombay so would have arrived in South Africa at the end of Jan 1902.

His service record shows that shortly thereafter he ran into some form of disciplinary action.

16th March 1902 – Michael Canning is listed on his war records as “In confinement awaiting trial”. (Bloemfontein, Pretoria, South Africa)

24th March 1902 – Tried and sentenced to 6 calendar months of imprisonment for his unspecified crime. (Bloemfontein, Pretoria, South Africa)

26th June 1902 - Unexpired portion of imprisonment remitted.

29th June 1902 – Returned to duty. (Bloemfontein, Pretoria, South Africa)

The service record doesn't give any account of what the crime was or under what conditions he was held for the 3 months of his imprisonment.

Can anyone point me towards a source of information that might cast some light on these questions?

Thanks and Regards

Des
Sydney, Australia

Des,

It looks like your great uncle didn't enjoy his short time in South Africa?

I'm not sure where you will find more information on the incidents you mention. I have seen court martial records for the Navy at the National Archives in London but not details of less serious cases.

Have you checked if the regimental museum has any more records?

Best wishes
David

Thanks for the suggestion David. Perhaps he enjoyed himself too much!

I've had a researcher at Kew look through Boer War court martial records. Given that he was sentenced to six months he must have been tried by a District Court Martial as a Regimental Court Martial wouldn't have had the sentencing powers to give six months.

The researcher conducted a search in reference WO86/51 & 52 – District Court Martial registers Home and Abroad from 1900 to 1902. Unfortunately the period from September 1901 to October 1902 is not covered. It appears that this has not been preserved.

Also in WO92/8 – 10 are DCM registers for the Boer War. These only go to a date of September 1901.

He also searched the catalogue for any further Courts Martial registers etc for this period but it appears that nothing survives for the period of Michael’s court martial.

So unfortunately I'm running out of avenues to explore.

If the actual court martial records don't exist I wonder if it might be worth checking WO84 (court martial charge books of the Judge Advocate General's Office) to see if there is an entry for him? If so it should tell me what he was charged with.. Anyone ever looked at these?

Hi Des, I'm researching my Greatuncle's family history. He was Andrew Lyons Ellis, born in Co Derry in 1873, and joined the R.In.Fus. between 15/1/1893 and 29/5/1894. His regimnetal no. was 4578 and I think he seved in the Boer War So it looks like he may well have known your relative. I see you have been able to get some information and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction with regards to researching his military history. His brother John (my grandfather) was also in the Skins but probably did not serve in S.Africa. At that time he was in the 5th Bn at Ballyshannon as a Sgt. instructor training recruits for S.Africa.
Hoping to hear from you, bye for now.
Jim Ellis

Jim,

The papers for Andrew Ellis, born 1786 in Ronadwood, Wicklow, are available at the National Archives or via FindMyPast.

The QSA roll (WO100/183p189) shows entitlement to CC and Transvaal. 2nd RIF.

The supplementary roll (WO100/183p243) shows entitlement to SA02. 2nd RIF again.

Regards
David