jonseagrave Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Hi folks, I'm tracking down great-grandad, Henry Onslow CMT 2271 ASC... Thanks to the forum and you lot I've pieced together quite a bit of his WW1 history, but I'm trying to trace his pre-war service. He was in C reserves, ASC at the start of the war, w hich he'd signed up to 28/1/14. On his attestation paper, it says in the 'have you served...?' section :"Yes, 5th bn Rifle Brigade, discharged, termination of engagement'. No dates given. I think I'm right in thinking 5th bn is the RB reserves, presumably indicating he'd finished a period in the regulars. Family lore has it that he fought in the Boer War,which is conceivable (born 1881). I 'followed the trail' at the NA for 'soldiers enlisted before 1913', and trawled through the requisite box of original attestation papers- plenty of Henry Onslows, but not him. He was from Bow, in London. Where should I look? What should I do? Cheers, Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 John, I have the RB medal rolls for the Queens South Africa on my computer. I will have a little look for you to see if he is there. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Jon, There is an H. Onslow in the 5th's Queens South Africa Medal Roll. Number 6298, entitled to the Q.S.A. with the Cape Colony, Orange Free State and 1902 clasps. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Furnell Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Hello Jon. I'm not sure if they have an online resource,but maybe the(i think)Royal Greenjackets museum at Winchester could be of help. I researched one of my Great-grandads there,25 years ago,and they were a brilliant and had a wealth of info. All the best. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Jon, That is the only H. Onslow that I can find in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 4th Mounted Infantry Company, 5th, 7th rolls or the R.B. Mounted Infantry attached rolls. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Onslow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonseagrave Posted 26 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Excellent work, chaps! Many thanks. Any idea why I couldn't find his pre-1913 enlistment papers? The blurb at the NA seems to imply they should all be there- unlike, say, the burnt documents. Or would a soldier who re-joined the army- like my great-grandfather- have had his papers transferred to the place where that fateful bomb dropped? Will try the Greenjackets archive service... Cheers again Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 26 November , 2006 Share Posted 26 November , 2006 Jon, I believe that if he went on to serve in WW1 his papers would have continued, so if they are anywhere they will be in WO363 or WO364. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Stewart Posted 27 November , 2006 Share Posted 27 November , 2006 Jon, You maybe looking in the wrong place as the 5th Bn, Rifle Brigade was infact a Militia Battalion based at Bethnal Green and therefore his terms of enlistment would differ from those of the Regulars. The term of enlistment was for four years at the end of which they could re-engage. You'll need to look for Militia Muster Rolls and Militia enlistment papers, if they still exist. In 1908 the battalion was transferred to the Special Reserve. Prior to 1881 the 5th Bn, Rifle Brigade were known as the Queens Own Royal Tower Hamlets Light Infantry. Graham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 27 November , 2006 Share Posted 27 November , 2006 Graham, Is absolutely right, this Militia Battalion was embodied for the Boer War purposes:- 1/5/00 to 20/10/00 9/12/01 to 3/10/02. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonseagrave Posted 27 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 November , 2006 That's very interesting... So, I guess the next question would be where one would look for those militia muster rolls/ enlistment papers? Are such things kept in the NA or should I try the Greenjackets themselves? Cheers for all your help Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 27 November , 2006 Share Posted 27 November , 2006 Jon, I have never been through the 5th's Muster Rolls but have gone through quite a few of the other Battalions Muster Rolls. Especially the 4th's around the time of the 2nd Afghan War as it seems that a lot of soldiers in the 4th at this time were short timers whose records do not survive, so the only way I could oiece together anything about these men was through these Rolls. They are at Kew. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonseagrave Posted 27 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 November , 2006 Cheers, Andy! Looks like a good excuse for another potter to Kew... I presume the staff will be able to guide me to them- I don't remember seeing one of their handy advice sheets for tracing someone in the militia. What info can you get from these rolls? Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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