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Boer War Officer


Jerrymurland

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I'm not entirely sure where to start with this one! Another (!) of my Great Uncles was in South Africa during the B. War - just discovered this after ploughing through my g/fs diaries searching for stuff about July 1st 1916. Apparently 2/Lt. Stanley Murland was in the 60th Irish Yeomanry (was that part of the Imperial Yeomanry?) and at some time a prisoner. Are there any B. War Experts that could put me onto the right bit in the PRO.

Jerry

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Hi Jerry

The unit was the 60th ( 3rd Belfast) Company, 17th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry until 1901, then in July it was 60th (North Irish) company 17th Batt Imp Yeo, I have, had a look at the casualty roll for the South African Field Force, but can not see him.

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This our man?

LG 6-4-1900

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.

To be Lieutenants, with the temporary rank Lieutenant in the Army. Dated 7th April 1900 :—

Thomas Stanley Murland, Gent.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

Steve.

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More from the Gazette:

LG 21-6-1901

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.

17th Battalion,

The undermentioned Lieutenants to be Captains, with the temporary rank of Captain in the Army. Dated 15th May, 1901 :—

H. Dales.

T. S. Murland.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 25-3-1902

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY (IN SOUTH AFRICA)

17th Battalion,

The undermentioned Officers resign their Commissions, and are granted the honorary rank of Captain in the Army, with permission to wear the uniform of the Corps :---

Captain T. S. Murland. Dated 12th February, 1902.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

LG 18-4-1902

THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY (IN SOUTH AFRICA).

17th Battalion, The date of the resignation of his Commission by Captain T. S. Murland and of the grant of the honorary rank of Captain in the Army is 8th March, 1902, and not as stated in the Gazette of 25th March, 1902.

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/archiveVi...;selHonourType=

Steve.

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He won't be on a casualty roll as he survived, died in 1912 in Canada. Yes Steve, as usual you have found the man in question - thanks.

Hugh, just realised this is an NIH connection, another one!! Many thanks gentlemen, looks like I've got to read up on the BW now. Any suggestions where I should start?

Jerry

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From the Times 11-4-1901

post-6536-1163789414.jpg

Steve.

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In the 1902 Army List he is down as

Murland, T S *15 May 01

A footnote says that * means ‘With temp. rank of Capt. in Army from this date’

The 17th Bn comprised:

50th (Hampshire) Co.

60th (N. Irish) Co.

61st (S. Irish) Co.

65th (Leicestershire) Co.

It looks like he was senior officer in one of the companies, as the battalion only had one major who was second in command of the battalion.

KA’s book calls him Capt TS Muirland with 61st Coy, and he is entitled to the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Rhodesia. Notes say “Also with 60th Coy I.Y. See Individual Claims Roll, “Murland” in Army List”.

There were 274 and 276 Cape Colony clasps awarded to the 60th and 61st Coys respectively, which gives a good indication of the unit strengths.

He would be classed as a casualty if he was wounded or taken prisoner. The fact he was in hospital, but not in the casualty lists, probably shows he was in hospital due to illness.

Pete

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He won't be on a casualty roll as he survived, died in 1912 in Canada. Yes Steve, as usual you have found the man in question - thanks.

Hugh, just realised this is an NIH connection, another one!! Many thanks gentlemen, looks like I've got to read up on the BW now. Any suggestions where I should start?

Jerry

Jerry,

Loose NIH connection, note the 60th Coy is North Irish. 13 Imperial Yeomanry companies with Irish connections were formed: -

http://southirishhorse.com/documents/history.htm

Also remember that casualty is used in the true sense to record killed, wounded and missing, not simply killed.

Regards

Hugh

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Boer War Service records are presumably held at Kew? I've done a quick search on the A2A site but only got the Murland references I'm already aware of. I'm sure i'm doing something wrong! Any help much appreciated.

Jerry

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I've just noticed that on board the SS Galeka in April 1900 that sailed for S. Africa with some of the IY officers was a T.S Mulland - this would be one of the many variations of Murland - so this would be my man Thomas Stanley. Also on board was a Lt. A. Smith Dorrien. Too young to be THE Smith-Dorrien but a relation perhaps?

jerry

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Jerry,

The TS Mulland on SS Galeka is most likely your boy, there is no evidence of a Mulland here: -

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/kevinasplin/IYM.html

Good job the name wasn't Smith!

Also I've just lifted this from pages 6 and 7 of: -

The North Irish Horse, A Hundred Years of Service by Richard Doherty

__

Seventeenth Battalion included 50th Hampshire Carabiniers, 60th North Irish, 61st South Irish and 65th Leicestershire Yeomanry Squadrons. The North Irish Squadron, commanded by Captain R L Moore, of Molenan House, Londonderry, was the only squadron to embark on SS Galeka equipped with helmets in lieu of slouch hats. Their cap badge was the Red Hand of Ulster on a white shield; the South Irish badge was in the form of a shamrock. The battalion, as well as 18th Battalion 1st Sharpshooters, landed at Beira in Portuguese East Africa on 11 May to join the Rhodesian Field Force and, from June until early December, 17th Battalion marched across, down and then halfway back up Southern Rhodesia. Entraining at Bulawayo, they moved south, first to Orange River Station and then De-Aar, both in Cape Colony. On 21 December they joined in the hunt for the elusive Boer generals Hertzog and Brand, a quest that was to take the two Irish squadrons the length and breadth of Cape Colony.

Going into action for the first time, things started badly for the battalion. On 22 December forty-four men (fifteen from 60th and twenty-nine from 61st) and Lieutenant Murland were taken prisoner. Two men from 60th, four men from 61st, and Lieutenant-Colonel T J de Burgh, the commanding officer, were slightly wounded. De Burgh had been the first Squadron Leader of 61st (South Irish) Squadron. The prisoners and lightly wounded were allowed to withdraw and, next day, walked twenty miles, arriving at De-Aar a day later to rest and refit. This small composite squadron remained in De-Aar until 16 February when they replaced the Berkshire Yeomanry Squadron in 10th Battalion. Once again, the next three weeks were spent in chasing the commandos of Hertzog and Brand.

__

Hugh

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Jerry

Boer War records in heaps starting at WO32/7844 !

Sotonmate

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I've got access to a book expanding on the POW bit (it just ain't on me bookshelf at the moment but me bruvvers). I'll snaffle it over the weekend and get back to you.

Any joy with this one Hugh?

Jerry

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Jerry,

The book I had in mind, Absent Minded Beggars by Will Bennet has no mention of TS Murland. It is, however, about the Imperial Yeomany, and is worth the read.

My brother is sure he has photos from the casualty rolls which may record TSM. If we can't find them then I guess he's one to do if you come down to Kew with me.

Cheers

Hugh

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Jerry,

The book I had in mind, Absent Minded Beggars by Will Bennet has no mention of TS Murland. It is, however, about the Imperial Yeomany, and is worth the read.

My brother is sure he has photos from the casualty rolls which may record TSM. If we can't find them then I guess he's one to do if you come down to Kew with me.

Cheers

Hugh

Cheers Hugh, next time you go down to Kew let me know. Probably after Christmas is the best time for me.

Jerry

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