1517 Sgt Herbert Hillman, lst Bn South African Mounted Rifles

[lascamelias]

Researching Sgt Herbert Hillman - general help needed please. This is everything I have so far:

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Herbert Hillman enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment at Devizes on 18 January 1900, age 20, stating that he had previously served in the 1^st Wilts Rifle Volunteer Corps. Birthplace Bromwich, Birmingham, father Daniel Hillman, Newtown, Tisbury, Wiltshire.

He was discharged on 5 March 1901 at his own request on return from South Africa, his services not being further required. He served 321 days in South Africa from 16 February 1900 to 2 January 1901 and was awarded the South African Medal.

On 2^nd June at Roberts Heights South Africa, Corporal Herbert Hillman died of pneumonia, son of D Hillman of Semley, Wiltshire. Deeply mourned by his father, brothers and sisters. (Western Gazette Friday July 4 1919).

Sgt Hillman was buried in Thaba Tshwane (Old No 1) Military Cemetery, Gauteng, South Africa, with CWGC headstone.

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Sgt Hillman obviously returned to S.A. after 1901. What were the South African Mounted Rifles and what would he have been doing in South Africa during WW1.

LC

[bushfighter]

LC

Take a look at this:

http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/344964.html

Harry

[lascamelias]

Hi Harry, t

Thank you for the link. Wow! What a website that is. I'm afraid it's far too "technical" for me though; I did read the page you sent, plus a couple of others. Very impressive indeed.

What I really need, what I really really need (!) is a couple of sentences describing in layman's terms what Sgt Hillman might have been doing with the South African Mounted Rifles. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing how long he was with the SA Mounted Rifles, or where he was serving.

I'm not writing an in-depth military article. Can you do something for me, or am I asking too much? Please tell me if I am.

LC