Im researching my Maternal Grandfathers army history but ave hit a snag he enlisted [I presume] under a different name than his own ! all I have his his Discharge papers from 1910 serving as 5477 Pte Henry Duckworth 1st Bn South Lancs Reg. from 7 Feb 1898-23 feb 1910 aged 32 years after serving 12 years &17 days . and signing on the "Special Reserve" in 1911 , looking at the age of 32 he would be about 36 in 1914 would have been recalled to the colours ? . [but might have been younger ,hence the alias] also would I be able to get any info from the army records as his name wasnt 'Duckworth' and his death certificate is in his real name what would be my next step . John
Try the free 14 day trial with Ancestry (or pop along and use a library terminal for free). That has details of Boer War, alternatively try Googling for Boer War soldiers records and see what comes up. Also search to see if the South Lancs have a regimental museum and contact the archivist. You never know what they might have... And let us know!
Hi Yes you can, Have a look here- Researching a soldier of the British Army of 1914-1918 read through that and see what you can find, any questions please ask He could have been recalled as the army would be after experienced men. See what you can find or post his details and I will see what I can find. regards Robert
Forum member SWB has his own website reagrding the Boer War & researching men who served in it. Welcome to Casus Belli (military books and medals)
Here he is with the South Lancs. in the Boer War. He qualified for the clasps Lang's Nek, Orange Free State and Transvaal. These are fairly common clasps for the Boer War, but someone will be able to point you in the right direction I;m sure. Steve.
Hi John, I think his records may well be on Ancestry.com? Was his wife's name Ellen by any chance? Steve.
This is turning out very interesting, according to the attached page from his WW1 records his name was Percy Redhead and used the alias Henry Duckworth. I really hope this is your man? Steve.
Well Thanks very much Guys , My grandads Name was 'Percy Redhead' and Grandma was 'Helen' nee 'Bromley' I know that he was a decorator housepainter by trade until his Death in Sept 1935 . other than that I know very little other than that . leaving 4 kids and a widow. I'm not sure why he used another name to get into the Army , was it common ? due to age perhaps , to get into a bit of an adventure . I know that his wedding certificate states him as 33 on the 13 december 1913. and death certificate states him as 55 on 30 sept 1935 means he was born in 1880 , so in 1898 he would be 18 years old . what was the enlistment minimum age then ? thanks a lot for your help guys John
John, I reckon he may of told fibs about his age (too young) for the Boer War and possibly the same again later on (a little too old) as WW1 loomed large on the horizon. All this was very common indeed. I will pm you this evening because I think there are more documents to be had online for you. Steve.
Found this Discharge certificate , He served 1914-1920 an extra 4 years on top of his 12 year stint in the 1st Bn south Lancs . a sixteen year service with the colours , most of it in India I Imagine .
Thanks to Steve [Bamboo43] Through some excellent sleuthing by Steve he uncovered a document , where Pvte Henry Duckinfield was a POW from 24 October 1914 to repatriation 31 January 1919, and was captured when he was in the 3rd Battalion at 'La Bassee' so he spent the rest of the war in captivity . It's something that wasnt passed down to me , so was it something to be ashamed about ? in those days ? John
John, I have never heard of soldiers from WW1 being shunned by their families for being POW's, after all there is not much you can do about these things. But war does strange things to communities, we have all heard of the presenting of white feathers to men who did not enlist or volunteer for that conflict. Also, the authorities deemed it necessary to award the seriously wounded soldiers with silver badges, so that the people of his town knew of his previous service. Keep digging and the answer may still come to light!
