Many countries that appear on modern maps are relatively recent creations. Some peoples hold to the belief that no one owns land. We are all transient tenants. They have a point. Belgium was created in 1830. The map of Africa was mainly drawn in the 19th century. Much of the Middle East had lines drawn…
All posts tagged Pre 1914
Boer War Concentration Camps
It is easy to identify ways in which the British authorities could have done a better job in the Boer War. Well it is with the wisdom of hindsight. Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, military leaders were slow to adapt to new tactics. The Boers knew that they could…
Middleburg and Middleburg
As covered in “Manchester Regiment – Initial Service” (https://www.roscommonstanley.me.uk/direct-line/manchester-regiment-initial-service/) , Patrick transferred to the Third (Line) Battalion on 7th February 1903. He was one of a party of 157 men sent out to South Africa. Some of them were detached at St Helena. There is no way of knowing whether Patrick was one of these.…
Manchester Regiment – Initial Service
Having signed up for the Manchester Regiment in Pontefract on October 2nd Patrick arrived at the Regimental Depot in Ashton-under-Lyne (near Manchester) on October 4th. The writing is quite faint, but it appears to say that he was posted to the 4th Battalion on October 17th. At that time, they were based at Kinsale, south…
The Manchester Regiment (1)
After six weeks in the militia, Patrick transferred to the Manchester Regiment. As discussed in ‘From Yorkshire to Lancashire’ and ‘Yorkshire and Lancashire History’ there must have been a very good reason for this move. Before addressing that question, there are some things to pick up from the enlistment paperwork. He has put on 8…
Home based militia?
I am indebted to Karl Noble of Rotherham Council’s Museums Service for a chance comment that he made in an email. “Out of interest the 3rd Battalion were used only once as an independent unit overseas, from January to August 1902 they served in South Africa on garrison duty and protecting supply lines. They had…
Reorganising Regiments
Units in the British Army have always had some wonderful names. E.g. 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot. E.g. 84th (York & Lancaster) Regiment of Foot. In 1881, Hugh Childers, the Secretary of State for War, implemented a series of reforms for the infantry regiments. Each regiment was to have two regular battalions…
More on the Militia
Patrick’s enlistment paperwork provides a range of detailed information. He was 5ft 5 1/2 in tall (166cm) and 125lb (57kg). This gives him a BMI of 20 which is considered healthy by today’s standards. The Army said that he had blue eyes. My father (Patrick’s son) disagreed. He said that they were more brown than…
Joining the Militia
Following his birth in Roscommon in 1883, Patrick Stanley seems to have left no trace on official records until August 1902. On 19th August 1902, Patrick joined the 3rd Battalion of the Yorks & Lancs Regiment. His regimental number was 9988. This was a militia unit. He signed up for a period of six years.…
From Yorkshire to Lancashire (2)
Patrick signed up for the army in Pontefract, Yorkshire. Once he had joined the army they would have made arrangements for him to travel to Regimental Headquarters in Ashton-under-Lyne. I do not know how Patrick travelled from Yorkshire to Lancashire. The most likely option would have been by rail. Rail travel meant steam locomotives in…