hazelclark Posted 7 January , 2012 Share Posted 7 January , 2012 Just wondering if anyone knows of any means to trace a S. African officer who fought in Africa in the war. Ancestry doesn't seem to have anything. Hazel C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Hazel Greetings Please post all the details on him that you already have Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelclark Posted 8 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Hi Harry! I am afraid we have very little to go on as all documentation was destroyed in a fire. However here are the bones: Thomas Ormonde McBean Born around 1895 in South Africa Father was Simon Fraser McBean originally from somewhere around Inverness in Scotland Lived on Blythedale Farm on the umboti River not too far from Durban Married Evelyn Mary Douse in Woodbridge England in 1921 That is about it I'm afraid. All we know is that he did serve in Africa during WW! and in that he married an English woman after the war it is possible that at some point his regiment was posted to Europe. Anyway, any info. you could supply would be greatly appreciated. Hazel C. Hazel Greetings Please post all the details on him that you already have Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Hazel Corporal Thomas Ormond McBean, S.A.F.A. was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry as of 17th March 1918 and recorded in the London Gazette #30729, 6th June 1918, Page 6679. Link is here...http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30729/supplements/6679. He has a personnel file held at NA, Kew under the following reference: WO 374/43564 McBEAN, 2/Lieut T O 1915-1923. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 8 January , 2012 Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Another Gazette entry, Thomas was still serving with the Somerset Light Infantry in 1921. London Gazette #32607, 10th February 1922, Page 1267. Link...http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32607/supplements/1267 Somerset. L.I. — The undermentioned 2nd Lts., late Serv. Bns., to be 2nd Lts. 1st July 1921. Thomas Ormond McBean, with seniority 2nd Apr. 1920. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelclark Posted 8 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2012 Thankyou so much Steve! Will try to obtain the records. It is surprising that there was nothing on Ancestry in that you even have the reference. Maybe because he was South African.We only knew that he had been in the S.A. Army and served somewhere in German E. Africa. Thanks again. Hazel C. Hazel Corporal Thomas Ormond McBean, S.A.F.A. was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry as of 17th March 1918 and recorded in the London Gazette #30729, 6th June 1918, Page 6679. Link is here...http://www.london-ga...upplements/6679. He has a personnel file held at NA, Kew under the following reference: WO 374/43564 McBEAN, 2/Lieut T O 1915-1923. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 9 January , 2012 Share Posted 9 January , 2012 Officers' files haven't been digitised, and his original attestation papers for his ranks service will probably now be in this file too, so there was nothing there in the two series which Ancestry have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 9 January , 2012 Share Posted 9 January , 2012 Hi Hazel, You will probably find that copies of his SAFA papers are held in South Africa if he served in East and/or West Africa and was later commissioned into the British Army. I had a GG Uncle whose papers were eventually found in South Africa by forum member Kath...she may be worth a PM to fill you in on where to look. Rgds Tim D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelclark Posted 10 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 10 January , 2012 Thanks Tim and David. H.C. Hi Hazel, You will probably find that copies of his SAFA papers are held in South Africa if he served in East and/or West Africa and was later commissioned into the British Army. I had a GG Uncle whose papers were eventually found in South Africa by forum member Kath...she may be worth a PM to fill you in on where to look. Rgds Tim D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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