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  • Slouch hat mystery

    My mum was positive that her grandfather served in the Boer War. However, on the 1901 census he's at home in Guernsey, so If he was in South Africa it had to be before or after April 1901. I have searched and searched but I can't find a record of him serving in the army in that period.

    During the First World War he was well into his fifties but he signed up and served as a driver with the Middlesex Regiment and served on the home front at Gorleston on the East Coast. Now a driver in those days could mean a driver of a mule train, not a vehicle driver.

    The mystery is this. My mum definitely recollects seeing a picture of him in army uniform on a horse, wearing a slouch hat... the wide brimmed hat with one side turned up still worn by the Australians. I've checked and although these hats were worn in the Boer War campaign the Army stopped using them in 1905. So my question is.... would a driver in the Middlesex Regiment on home service around 1916 be mounted on a horse with a slouch hat?
    Paul Barton, Special Agent

    Hear my themetune on http://www.turnipnet.com/radio/dickbarton.wav

  • #2
    Have you checked the Boer War listing on Kevin Asplin's website?
    Elaine







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    • #3
      Oh, yes. And I also spent an afternoon in the National Archives going through a box containing the papers of every soldier called John or Stephen Stewart in the Boer War. Now that was a marathon!
      Paul Barton, Special Agent

      Hear my themetune on http://www.turnipnet.com/radio/dickbarton.wav

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      • #4
        Believe the 2nd Boer War started in 1899 - so perhaps he was there at the beginning but returned home before the 1901 census!!

        There was one a bit earlier 1881 ish but perhaps he'd be too young for that.



        Researching Irish families: FARMER, McBRIDE McQUADE, McQUAID, KIRK, SANDS/SANAHAN (Cork), BARR,

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        • #5
          There were 2 Boer Wars and various "police actions" up untill about 1906.

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          • #6
            Hi Paul
            Is this the sort of hat you mean ?

            This is grandfather's older brother (born 1896) who emigrated to OZ, joined the AIF in 1917 .... died May 1918


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            • #7
              British Imperial Yeomanry wore slouch hats in the Boer war, I think there were others.

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              • #8
                Having a google
                It says that when the slouch hat was first introduced, the up-turned bit was on the right

                Australian Slouch Hat; a complete history; part 1

                Last edited by Rachel Scand; 09-02-08, 12:13.
                ~ FOR PHOTO RESTORATIONS PLEASE SCAN AT A RESOLUTION OF 300-600 WITH THE SCALE AT 100% MINIMUM ~ http://restoreandcolour.brainwaving.co.uk

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                • #9
                  Yes, that's the kind of hat she described. So unless I can find evidence that such hats were in use in the First World War in England I'll have to continue searching for him in the Boer War.
                  Paul Barton, Special Agent

                  Hear my themetune on http://www.turnipnet.com/radio/dickbarton.wav

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                  • #10
                    It's very confusing Paul ... have you tried asking on the Great War Forum ?

                    ~ FOR PHOTO RESTORATIONS PLEASE SCAN AT A RESOLUTION OF 300-600 WITH THE SCALE AT 100% MINIMUM ~ http://restoreandcolour.brainwaving.co.uk

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