Hello everyone,
Please excuse my direct message and reaching out.
Having now reviewed the information in the forum and enjoying the varied content I feel somewhat closer to achieving my goal of locating the Regiment in which my grandfather served in the South African war (Boer War) 1899 – 1902.
Sadly, I never met my grandfather who had died before i was born, however, I have always had a fascination in him and a desire to trace my Welsh roots.
My Wife and I have made several forays to Wales and the Brecon area for weekend research purposes with little or no success. Trying to trace a “Thomas” in Brecon was the original needle in the haystack and i can still picture the librarians face when i asked for access to the computer system to carry out the research!
My father (now sadly deceased) often spoke fondly about his dad and having read Sue Brooks book Ein Cynefin ii (where we belong ii) it struck a chord with his stories of hardship and growing up the son of a farm labourer (John Thomas).
I have very little to go on apart from a 1911 England Census showing him living in Eastleigh Hampshire with his wife and my uncle. My grandfather wrote his birthplace on the census as Boughrood Buit, Radnorshire. DOB 1871.01.26
My grandfather lived a colourful life and my father’s story goes that he ran away from home at sixteen to join the army although lied about his age as he was too young to sign up, so Army records could be skewed. I know he fought in the Boer war as i have the attached photo of him on Portsmouth Guildhall steps at a regimental reunion. Grandad is in the back row on the steps and second from the right with a gap either side.
I was wondering (and hoping!) that with your amazing network if any of you had any information on how i can trace my grandfather's service record from joining up to his demob. I have tried the national archives and various websites all to no avail!
Thanking you in anticipation of any help you may be able to provide and looking forward to actively participating in future forums.
Your sincerely and kindest regards,
Dave Thomas.
![1899-1902-SouthAfricanWarVeteransAssociation.jpg]()
Please excuse my direct message and reaching out.
Having now reviewed the information in the forum and enjoying the varied content I feel somewhat closer to achieving my goal of locating the Regiment in which my grandfather served in the South African war (Boer War) 1899 – 1902.
Sadly, I never met my grandfather who had died before i was born, however, I have always had a fascination in him and a desire to trace my Welsh roots.
My Wife and I have made several forays to Wales and the Brecon area for weekend research purposes with little or no success. Trying to trace a “Thomas” in Brecon was the original needle in the haystack and i can still picture the librarians face when i asked for access to the computer system to carry out the research!
My father (now sadly deceased) often spoke fondly about his dad and having read Sue Brooks book Ein Cynefin ii (where we belong ii) it struck a chord with his stories of hardship and growing up the son of a farm labourer (John Thomas).
I have very little to go on apart from a 1911 England Census showing him living in Eastleigh Hampshire with his wife and my uncle. My grandfather wrote his birthplace on the census as Boughrood Buit, Radnorshire. DOB 1871.01.26
My grandfather lived a colourful life and my father’s story goes that he ran away from home at sixteen to join the army although lied about his age as he was too young to sign up, so Army records could be skewed. I know he fought in the Boer war as i have the attached photo of him on Portsmouth Guildhall steps at a regimental reunion. Grandad is in the back row on the steps and second from the right with a gap either side.
I was wondering (and hoping!) that with your amazing network if any of you had any information on how i can trace my grandfather's service record from joining up to his demob. I have tried the national archives and various websites all to no avail!
Thanking you in anticipation of any help you may be able to provide and looking forward to actively participating in future forums.
Your sincerely and kindest regards,
Dave Thomas.
