HAC Royal Field Artillery

[Francis Stanley]

I wonder if anyone has any information on the Following:

I Have a G Grandfather who had a Soldiers New Testament with an inscription that reads; Army No 76730 Gunner F Conway,HAC Royal Field Artillery, Field Forces S Africa.
It is dated 1900.
I have tried to find any records on F Conway at the National Archive with no Success.
I was wondering if anyone knew the most likely places the HAC Field Artillary would have operated in this time frame and why he would have been there.
Francis Conway was born in Ireland but in the 1881 census was working as a Billiard Marker and living in South Kensington. In 1863 he would have been a 37 year old in this conflict which I would have thought to be quite old for a private soldier

Any Ideas?

[berry]

G'day Francis,
re Honourable Artillery company,following British reverses at Magersfontein,Stormberg and Colenso,some 200 HAC members went as a formed unit to serve in South Africa,mostly with the City Imperial Volunteers(CIV) as infantry,mounted infantry,also with a field battery manned by officers and men of the HAC.
Regards Sid

[Francis Stanley]

Sid
Thankyou for the reply, I get the impression there weren't many HAC Field artillary units, this may help to narrow my search, I have to admit I was a little disappointed when the national archives were unable to suggest what to do next when I could find no information there

[Brett Hendey]

Perhaps it would be worth using the services of a professional researcher. The Boer War specialist who I use is:
meurig@casus-belli.co.uk

Regards
Brett

[berry]

Francis,
If you are able have a butchers at the following- Goold-Walker,The Honourable Artillery company 1537-1947,from Gale & Polden,Aldershot,photos,maps etc.
Erskine Childers,who served with the CIV,Riddle of the Sands,(see post in this forum)
Casualty roll of the S.A.field force,reflects their casualties and actual locations where casualty was sustained.
Sterling's British regiments in SA 1899-1902.
city imperial volunteer battery,equipped from funds collected by the Lord Mayor officered and manned mainly by HAC.
Commanded by Maj. G. MCMicking,horses purchased from London Omnibus company . Batttery had 4x12 1/2 inch q.f.
Batt. arrived in Capetown feb 1900.most of their campaigning in north of Orange River colony and then north of Pretoria.
Hope this helps.
Sid

[Francis Stanley]

Thanks for your help and suggestions, I will certainly give it a go

[joanjododds]

Ref: Frank Pollard
I know that my Grandfather lost a leg in the Boar war. I have found info: as follows.
Pollard F, Gunner, 93936, 53rd Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Wounded at Ladysmith 6th January 1900. This is the only F.Pollard listed.

I also found an eye witness account written by Captain Thwaites 0f the 53rd Battery "The Battle of Platrand"
Quote "Gunner Pollard. limber gunner of No. 1 sub-division, was also hit in the leg by a shell fragment which subsequently had to be amputated."
I have a map of the area the battle took place.

Joan Dodds nee` Pollard

[jainso31]

The City Imperial Volunteers along with there small contingent of HAC,served inn South Africa until Oct.1900; when they were recalled to London on the "score" the war was over.It ,of course was not,it was the end of set piece battles, which the Boers were not suited to-so they reverted to guerilla war tactics .I can find no mention of the return of the CIV or HAC
Ref. THE BOER WAR by Thomas Packenham.

jainso31

[Brett Hendey]

A very useful website is:

www.angloboerwar.com

There is a great deal of information on units that served in this war. There is also a forum on which questions can be posed.

Regards
Brett

[jainso31]

Thank you very much Brett for the link; which I would hope to have a look at- given time.:)

jainso31

[Francis Stanley]

Brett
Thankyou for your link I will give it a look see.

Jim
I have a book on the Boer war But I cannot remember the author I think it may well be Thomas Pakenham, I must dig it out.

[jainso31]

Stan
I hope you do have Thomas Packenham's "The Boer War", next to to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; who I consider the best narrator of that war for detail .You won't be let down.

jainso31

[jainso31]

Stan
I hope you do have Thomas Packenham's "The Boer War", next to to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; who I consider the best narrator of that war for detail .You won't be let down.

jainso31

[Francis Stanley]

Jim
Just been on the site reccomended by Brett, well worth a visit, lots of interesting stuff on it.

[jainso31]

Yes Stan I also had a look around ;and whilst there signed up-it is a goldmine for Boer War minutiae:).

jainso31