Genealogy Chat

Hi All
Wonder if anybody has an idea.
One of my ancestors joined The 5th Dragoon Guards in 1890 in Aldershot Hamps.
He appears at his home address in the Lancashire 1891 Census shown as a soldier but is absent from the Lancashire 1901 Census.
Would it be possible that he served in the 1901/1902 Boer War and were would that information be held.
I understand that there is lot of information about soldiers that had served in this particular war and that individual photos were taken of all the soldiers who served in that war.
His name was Robert James Pickavance who was born in 1873 in Liverpool Lancashire.
Any information you could give me would be very much appreciated as it would be nice to obtain a photograph of him.
Regards
norma

I cannot find him in that war in the ancestry site but he may be there even though I have not yet found him, or his Boer War records could be in the find my past site.
I have found his WW1 service record. If you would like it - there are 7 images - I shall send my email address to you.

Can't help with his Boer War service, but his WW1 Pension record is on Ancestry and it is free until Sunday if you don't have a subscription.

So it is, Potty :-)
I needn't send email address after all.

R Pickavance is listed in the Boar War. Medal Rolls,,

R Pickavance--5th Dragoons

Service No--3390,

With a transfer draft to.

R Pickavance.

7th Dragoons.

Service No-SD G/3393.

1899---1902 South Africa.



any further information isnt viewable just at the moment,but **National Archives uk** Kew have these full service records and you can download them for avg of £3-50.the site is fairly easy to use.

Just glancing through his Pension record, it also has his medical record from 1890 onwards to 1897, with details of where he served.

Ancestry lists two Robert Picakavances - they are the same man. The one born Lancaster has the wrong POB in the index . POB from the record is Liverpool.

Hi Everyone
Ahank you so much for that info will now investigate
Also to Joy for offering to send me the WWWI infor we already had that information forgot to mention that before but thank you for the offer

Regards
Norma.

Kay's medal find does not tie up with the Service Record on Ancestry - that Robert Pickavance served in India!

Hi Norma,

I assume this is the Robert Pickavance, father James, Mother Mary, Brother William (also soldier)? As this is the only one withthat name listed as a soldier I could find.
If so, then his pension record is on Ancestry (need to wade through a lot of related paperwork). It shows (on the same page fortunately) his NoK as those listed above, same address as on the census.
It shows his location of service as:
1890-93 Home
1893-97 India
1897-99 Home
1899-1902 (Blank or faint - see below)
1902 Home

Although the dates 1899 - 1902 is blank or VERY faint, looking on the same page it says he is eligible for the South Africa medal 1899-1902.
Can't view the medal rolls from here (as said elswhere you need the advanced viewer to see those actual documents) but it looks quite conclusive.
I would recommend viewing and downloading the documents as there is a lot of info. Ancestry military stuff is free until end of Sunday.
PS. Forgot to add. To find that page, go in to WW1 Pension Records and drill down P > Pi > Pic > and go to image 1897

Hi Rob
Thank you for that info the only blip is his mothers's name which should have been Margaret but everything else seems ok.

Will forward this info on to my other ancestor who is researching him,robert is my grandfathers elder brother.
Regards
norma

Hi Norma,

I've looked again and it may well say Marg rather than Mary (it's written in the margin).
So it does look like that's why he wasn't in the 1901 census.

Further to the Medal Rolls on Ancestry, BOTH those mentioned by Kay are him - he transfered from 5th Dragoon Guards to 7th Dragoon Guards. There isn't a huge amount of info on them (but as the service record in the Pensions is quite complete there probably isn't much that is not covered there anyway).
It confirms he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with the Orange Free State, Transvaal and Natal clasps, and the Kings South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps (more info on these medals is available on Wiki).

Hi Rob
Thank you for that further info I have forwarded all the info that has been so kindly mentioned on this site to my relative who is reasearching him.
Warm wishes to everyone
Norma