Reservist Help please

[Maud Jarvis]

I was interested in a previous topic concerning a "Reservist in 1900"
as I too have a similar question.

On the (Scots) 1901 census, my grandfather`s wife is described as a "reservists wife" her name was Sarah Barr (nee Boyd) he James Barr
did not appear on the census, and as this was in 1901 I assumed that he must have been conected in the Boer War services.

This was the first clue I had that he had been previously a soldier, but I cannot find any other records in which he is mentioned as being a soldier,so I now wonder how on earth I can possibly trace what regiment he could have been in, would it be likely to have been a Scottish regiment?
Are there any sites that give lists of soldiers of ordiary rank who were in the Boer War, and if so, where can Ifind them?
My grandfather lived in Greenock.
In1881 he had been in an Industrial School (Kibble) but unfortunately there are no records available, I imagined that.

he may have gone into the army when discharged from the school

Could anyone advise me on this, what would be the likley regiment he would have been entered into from the Kibble school? perhaps someone else had an ancestor who had been in Kibble who could answer this for me?

If anyone can help I would be very grateful thank you.

[Currie]

Hello Maud,

Not quite on the Military subject but there’s a report in the Glasgow Herald, Wednesday, February 9, 1881 regarding the events which led to a James Barr from Greenock being sent to Kibble Reformatory for six years. It wasn’t too serious an offence.

If you haven’t seen the article I could either paste the text on the forum, or send the text by PM or send you the newspaper image as well via email if you let me know your email address by PM, or all of the above.

Please let me know which you would prefer.

Alan

[Liz Turner]

Kibble School still exists today. Here's the link to their web pages:-

http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/291 ... entre.html

Liz

[Currie]

Back again Maud to tie up some loose ends.

The situation regarding reservists was set out by Montrose Budie is the earlier thread. The odds are that if he was a reservist in 1901 he would have been in the regular army prior to that and that his then absence from home would have had something to do with the war in South Africa but there’s no guarantee that is the case. Around 250,000 regulars and 90,000 volunteers went to South Africa from Britain.

If he came out of Kibble in 1887 and his occupation in 1891 and at subsequent marriage and birth of children through to 1901 were non military then the only way you’re likely to find out his military situation in the foreseeable future would be by accessing any records at the National Archives. I don’t think there is a complete Boer War list online anywhere, maybe bits and pieces.

Army records for the period you’re interested in, that are held by the National Archives, are sorted alphabetically rather than by regiment. Knowing the regiment isn’t as vital as for the earlier years but probably the more you know about a soldier the easier it may be to identify his record. There are research guides here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mili ... /step4.htm

Hope that helps,
Alan

[Maud Jarvis]

Thank you Currie for the further information about tracing my grandfather`s army record. Seeing his wife recorded as a reservist soldiers wife, was the first indication I had that he had been a soldier.

I will check out the Nat Archives site you have mentioned and see what I can find.
Unfortunately James Barr is such a common name in Scotland. I will ask my son to visit Kew for me and see what he can find. He will not mind doing so, he loves rooting amongst old records, he often goes to Chelmsford to visit the Essex record office, a lot of the Jarvis family records, baptisms etc are there.
There are various details I can tell my son to look for to make sure he has the correct man, so hopefully he will be able to find him.

I could not help thinking what a tough sentence had been given to James for his crime in pinching the newspapers, when you consider what kids get away with today! I just wish I could have obtained his record whilst he was in the reformatory, its such a shame they have not retained them as far back as the 1800s.
I wonder if he ever got into any more trouble after that episode. He could have been a bit of a lad though, when I think that he must have been carrying on with my father`s mother (Christina McCulloch) when at the time he was obviously planning to marry someone else (Sarah Boyd, they were married the same year as my father was born in 1896 !)
I wonder if the two women knew about each other!

It is no wonder my mother was so reluctant to answer any questions, what with that and so many other things I have uncovered, she must be spinning in her grave by now !! My father had been a Church Elder, so they would not have wanted anyone to know that he had been illegitimate
when you think how common that is today, I wonder what will happen if opinions change in the future, what surprises are in wait for the future family historians !!

Well I must stop blethering now and go and have that cuppa, once again many thanks for your interest in helping me, it is appreciated.