TOPIC:

My great granddad Thomas Jarvis served in the 2nd Boer war and received The Queen's South Africa medal (3 clasps - Transvaal, Free Orange State and Cape Colony) and The King's South Africa medal (2 clasps - South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902).

My great grandma Ada gave birth to my great aunt in March 1902 so it seems unlikely that Thomas was her father and yet an old family story says that Ada followed Thomas in the army.

Did any British wives meet up with their husbands in South Africa or is there any reason Thomas could have gone home during this time even for a short visit? I realise it is unlikely but I'd like to confirm one way or the other.

I appreciate any help anyone can give and send thanks in advance.

Regards

Debbie

Do you have the medal? What is the unit on the rim? That may give a clue.

Generally it would not be that a wife accompanied a husband.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

I don't have the medals but I was told Thomas was in the 3rd Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry.

Regards

Debbie

Debbie

There is a T Jarvis who served with the 2nd Kings Shropshire Regt in the Boer War who received the same medals and clasps you refer to.

He had two numbers, 3708 on the first medal and 3897 on the second. There is a chance, a remote chance that he could have been sent back to England for a brief while and then returned to SA to continue his service.

I don't have access to his papers but there is every chance that they have survived and are downloadable from Find My Past for a fee. If so then they will reveal all and will be well worth the money.

Regards and good luck. Perhaps she wasn't a philanderer after all.

Rory

Good morning Debbie,
Welcome to this forum, service papers for the British Army for the period in question are to be found at Kew, with many on line, after a very brief look at those in WO364, I see there was a Thomas Jarvis who rejoined the colours, to serve in the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.
He had, however, already served in the 3rd Shropshire's and was discharged time expired, he had both QSA and KSA and was married to an Ada Gough in 1899.
Again, welcome on here and good luck.
Kind regards Frank Kelley

Debjs47 wrote: My great granddad Thomas Jarvis served in the 2nd Boer war and received The Queen's South Africa medal (3 clasps - Transvaal, Free Orange State and Cape Colony) and The King's South Africa medal (2 clasps - South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902).

My great grandma Ada gave birth to my great aunt in March 1902 so it seems unlikely that Thomas was her father and yet an old family story says that Ada followed Thomas in the army.

Did any British wives meet up with their husbands in South Africa or is there any reason Thomas could have gone home during this time even for a short visit? I realise it is unlikely but I'd like to confirm one way or the other.

I appreciate any help anyone can give and send thanks in advance.

Regards

Debbie

Hi Rory,

Thanks very much for the information you have given me.

Regards

Debbie