Searching for info on David Dorward 2nd Dragoons

[gourdongirl]

On the death of my great aunt, I recieved a box with some of her things. In that box was a news paper cutting about her father (my great great grandfather)on his death in 1931. I am keen on geneology and have managed to find out some information about him, but not much. (especially his military service). Here is an abreviated transcript of the news paper cutting.

"Mr David Dorward was born in Dundee. He won 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal as the fastest swimmer at school in Dundee (Don't know which school or aything about the swimming medals)
He joined the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) in 1898 and went through the Boer War as an officer's servant. He was for a considerable period, despatch rider to Sir John French, and won the Queens Medal with 6 bars. He also gained the Kings medal with bars for South Africa 1901-1902. He was in Sir John French's famous ride from Paardeberg to Kimberly and he was at its relief on 15th Feb 1900. His brother William and himself were in the 22 who formed the horseshoe formation which captured General Cronje twelve days after Kimberley's relief.

At the outbreak of the Great War he was in Section D Reserve when he was to the colours, and served with the Scots Greys in France until his time expired at the end of 1915. He served as an orderly in General Chetwoode's staff."

If anyone out there in TS can help or point me in the right direction that would be great.

Thank you in anticipation.
Shona

[LesleyB]

Hi Shona

At the outbreak of the Great War he was in Section D Reserve when he was to the colours, and served with the Scots Greys in France until his time expired at the end of 1915. He served as an orderly in General Chetwoode's staff."

Have you tried the service records (WW1) available on Ancestry? You can perhaps access Ancestry for free at your local library.

Not sure what area you wish to know more about? If other than military, then there is the 1901 census, Birth etc. to be found on Scotlands People - you will also be able to find hsi death there.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Adam Brown]

Shona

Instead of looking at official documents his service with Sir John French, the 'famous ride to Kimberley' and Capture of Cronje all sound like things that will have been written about in biographies and history books.

No offence to this forum but for this request I'd join the Victorian Wars Forum...

http://www.victorianwars.com/index.php

..and post the newspaper cutting there. I'm sure someone there will point you to some sources.

Remember that Sir John French was a famous Great War general so a good biography of him should cover his war service in South Africa. That would mean you would have a fair idea of how your ancestor got his six clasps.

Cheers

Adam

[Adam Brown]

A quick check on Google found a recent (2006) biography by Richard Holmes

"The Little Field Marshal: A Life of Sir John French "

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0304 ... dp_product

Cheers

Adam

[Adam Brown]

Hold on to your hat, he may be on film...

...The same year, Paul produced some of the earliest footage of the Boer War, including genuine scoops in the form of footage of the capture of Boer general Piet Cronje and the victorious Scots Guards entering the town of Bloemfontein.

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/ ... index.html

Adam

[gourdongirl]

Thank you for some great advice.

Adam...I have now posted it on the Victorian wars Forum, thanks for introducing me to that forum.

I have his birth, marriage and death certificates, so have his personal details.

I also have some Boer War books, which do mention the capture of General Cronje etc.

I suppose I was looking for confirmation that he was actually involved. Maybe there is a list somewhere of the 22 who were involved in the horseshoe formation.

I will go to my local library to try and access the film clips as you can't do that at home.

Your help has been great so far.

Thankx.
Shona

[Montrose Budie]

.....much snipped.............
At the outbreak of the Great War he was in Section D Reserve when he was to the colours, and served with the Scots Greys in France until his time expired at the end of 1915. He served as an orderly in General Chetwoode's staff."[/color]
.....snipped.........

Shona

Hi Shona

I don't believe that TNA's online index covers the 1890s or 1900s as yet, so you might need to visit Kew yourself or use a professional researcher to access the WO97 and other series of records held at Kew.

It's very likely that there will be a lot of material, as the pre-WWI records were held at a different archive than that used to store the WWI records that were partly destroyed by the Luftwaffe in WWII.

The survival of his records from WWI is another matter altogether, sadly; there only being around a 50:50 or thereabouts chance that they survived the depredation of the German night bombers !

There's an excellent chance that someone on the Great War Forum at http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/ will know about the existence and location of regimental records for the Scots Greys such as the regimental war diary, and General Chetwoode's staff.

The WWI medal cards, either on the TNA website, or now also on Ancestry may also provide some info of interest.

I see that someone has already pointed you in the direction of the Victorian Wars Forum.

mb

[Adam Brown]

Shona

Is this his brother William?

DORWARD, WILLIAM
Nationality: South African
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: South African Infantry
Unit Text: 4th Regt.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 09/04/1917
Additional information: Son of John B. and Jane R. Dorward, of Dundee, Scotland. Clerk in Pyalls, Ltd., Cape Town.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 1.
Cemetery: HIGHLAND CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT

4th S.A. Infanty were the South African Scottish and they were serving in 9th (Scottish) Division in 1917.

If it is the same man he maybe stayed in South Africa after the Boer War?

Cheers

Adam

[gourdongirl]

Shona

Is this his brother William?

DORWARD, WILLIAM
Nationality: South African
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: South African Infantry
Unit Text: 4th Regt.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 09/04/1917
Additional information: Son of John B. and Jane R. Dorward, of Dundee, Scotland. Clerk in Pyalls, Ltd., Cape Town.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 1.
Cemetery: HIGHLAND CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT

4th S.A. Infanty were the South African Scottish and they were serving in 9th (Scottish) Division in 1917.

If it is the same man he maybe stayed in South Africa after the Boer War?

Cheers

Adam

No this is not his brother. They both returned from both the Boer War and WWI. His brother lived in Arbroath.

Shona

[Pelling]

Hello Shona
I hope that you still pay the odd visit to this site because I note that your last post was back in 2009, the reason I now wish to make contact with you is because I have some news which should brighten your day. I am the present custodian of the medals awarded to your Great Great Grandfather DAVID DORWARD (or DORWOOD as he was later shown as). If you would care to contact me here or by E-mail - sales@dmd-medals.com - I can give you further information.
Sincerely
Pelling