East and West kent regs.

[HOLLOWAYRANGER]

Hello im trying to find my grandfathers war record

Herbert henry Robertson born 6/6/1884

joined under age and fought for east kents ( buffs) in boer war was awarded a D.C.M and a bar during ww1 also became a kings corperal for bravery,also served in india and became a colour sergeant before retiring.
15 years east kents
17 years west kents
died sept 1953 sorry not 52
full military funeral coffin carried by 6 colour sergeants and last post salut
artical in local paper

and yet can find no trace of the man !!!

Can only think that he lied about his name so that he could join up under age ! if so how can i find him???
many thanks for any help and tips

 

[gedcom]

This looks like it could be his medal card from National Archives, which you can download for £2.

Description Medal card of Robertson, Herbert H
Royal West Kent Regiment 3139 Private
Royal Defence Corps 40293 Private

Gedcom

 

[gedcom]

I have just looked at the above card on Ancestry. There is a number at the side saying 23/9/53 - is this the date he passed away? (sorry just seen you said 52 - not sure what the above number means then - his death is registered in 1953 so I suspect this is the correct medal card)

I have put service numbers into the Pension and War Records and cannot come up with anything so perhaps his records are one of the many that do not survive.

I have looked in The Times and the Gazette and nothing as yet.

(You can try Kevin Asplins site to see if there is anything from his Boer War service)

Gedcom

 

[jon attwood]

The Buffs regimental museums may be able to help?
http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/buildpage.php?id=601

http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museu...oyal-East-Kent-Regiment-Museum-Collection.htm

the regimental diary may well hold some useful information too, might be stored at kew.

I suspect that one of my ancestors was in the buffs too, but can find no record of him at all, unfortunately many of the records simply do not survive.

Jon

 

[HOLLOWAYRANGER]

Hello thank you for your replies ,the medal card really throws me as it has no mention as to his dcm or bar? Yet the era is right also india is mentioned and i cant believe that there were two herbert henry robertsons in the kents

im aslo sorry to give you duff info he did indeed die 8th sept 1953 not 1952 so my guess the date on the side was the date they were told.

 

[gedcom]

Hi Hollowayranger

He may have been given his DCM for the Boer War.

I have found a site which says there were 9 DCM's awarded in the Boer War within the Royal West Kent Regiment, but don't know how acurate that is.

There is another site which gives a name list of DCM's awarded in Boer War but I cannot see a Herbert Robertson listed, again I don't know how acurate or complete it is.

http://www.angloboerwar.com/DCM/dcm.htm

Do you actually have his medals? I wondered if they were engraved with a number or anything.

Gedcom

 

[HOLLOWAYRANGER]

Sorry for delay i dont help a home computer so only on line during work breaks!
many thanks for info will try to use it to help with my search think it very likey that herbert changed his name to join up under age born 1884 so 15-16 for 1900 boer war, think my best hope is to try and track all the kent winners down and see which if any dont have a past/post war history ,all i can be sure of are that he was buried as herbert henry robertson that their was a panic as his pension was made out to robinson ,i tried to upload an artical from local paper but sadly it didnt work! not great with computers! cant find an url for picture
bit mystery is what happened to medals no one knows ,he liked to drink so maybe sold in pub or held by museum under his other name? or my guess buried with him!
have placed it on facebook on a group A ROBERTSON WILL RULE THE WORLD!
ok maybe not!
thanks again for help every bit of info or tip gives me another chance to find him! Brian