Great Grandfather served in India and maybe Boer War...help!!

[JustineBeer]

Hi

I know that my great grandfather served in the British Army either in India or the Boer War, or maybe both.

Any idea on where I can look for this information. I know his date of birth, county where he was from etc, but not what regiment or that.

Cheers
Justine

[DaveHam9]

Hello Justine,

If it is the Boer War I can look it up with a bit more info.

I have two sites for India but it's a very hard place to research.

Regards,

Dave

[DaveHam9]

What about these two:

Walter BEER and Walter George BEER ?

William Thomas BROUGH ?

Several possible JEFFREYs and lots of possible CLARKs.

[JustineBeer]

Hi Dave

My g grandfather's name was William Clark and he was born in 1879 in
Clifton, Bedfordshire, UK.

I have couple of photos of him in his army uniform, so maybe if i could show you that it may help with what regiment etc.

Apart from that I don't have much information and as Clark is a pretty common name it could be hard to find.

I appreciate any help you can give me though.

cheers
Justine

[DaveHam9]

Hello Justine,

Did he have a middle name? Did he end up in Australia and if so do you know when? There are two separate databases, one for Australian and one called 'Soldiers of the Queen' for UK-based regiments which served in S Af.

As far as the photos go they can be posted in the Old Photos board.

There are two ways of putting them there. One way is to attach a file from your own computer. But to get better quality photos it's best to upload them to some site like Photobucket then paste the img link from the site where the photo is stored.

Others here can give you further tips in the Old Photos board.

Regards,

Dave

[JustineBeer]

Hi Dave

Thanks for that. Will post the photo this week to the other board.

No, he didn't have a middle name according to his birth and death records.

And no he didn't emigrate to Australia either, he was born and died in England, so would have been the UK soldiers database i would think.

Cheers
Justine

[DaveHam9]

Hello Justine,

Ok thanks. No middle name on the birth reg:

Births Mar 1879
Clark William Biggleswade 3b 394

Just had a look in the two databases. There are over 40 x William CLARK who served in the Boer War.

We will need all the info you have and hope his unit can be determined from the photos.

Regards,

Dave

[DaveHam9]

OZ database http://members.pcug.org.au/~croe/ozb/oz_boer.cgi

SOTQ database http://members.pcug.org.au/~croe/sotq/sotq_abw.cgi

The SOTQ index aims to narrow your search for Boer War veterans but do not expect too much from it - at this stage it only covers something over half of the 500,000 Boer War soldiers and nurses on the British side. Moreover, many entries just provide initials rather than given names. Hopefully that could still make your haystack a bit smaller.

[JustineBeer]

Hi Dave

Thanks for that, but yeah I think I am just going to have to put the photos up and hopefully someone can tell by the uniform on his regiment and maybe i can find his service record that way.

I know everything else about him, just not his service record.......and because he has such a common name very very hard to find anything out on him.

Thanks again.

Cheers
Justine.

[JustineBeer]

Hi Dave

what about the national archives, or would i need his unit or service number i think for that right?

cheers
Justine