John Thomas Rae

[paula]

Hi everyone this is my first post,I believe my great grandad John Thomas Rae served in the boer war for the Manchesters, can anybody give me the information to confirm this please
Date of birth 1871

[harribobs]

hi paula

welcome to the group

boer war isn't my area i'm afraid but hopefully some of the other members will be able to assist you. Can i ask why you think he was in the manchesters? are there any medals in the family?

cheers

chris

[paula]

Hi Chris
Thankyou for responding so quickly.to be honest i am not sure if he was in the Manchesters, i am just clutching at straws really.  I was told he served in the war in Africa, i cannot find him in the 1891 census,he got married in 1889,then had his first child in 1890 and then no more children until the year 1895. He turns up in the 1901 census with a football  team (children) that is,so i am left pondering where to search next.
Once again thanks.
Paula

[tisgrannie]

Hi paula welcome to the site. Can you tell us where he was born lived etc. Did he survive the war? Any personal info besides harribobs request for medals etc.
I'm sure if he was in the Regt someone will be giving some info,
best wishes
tisgrannie

[paula]

Hi Tisgrannie
yet again thanks for responding so quickly, John Thomas was born in Preston in 1871 and was living in Manchester in the 1881 census,he married in 1889 had his first child in 1890. He shows up again in 1901 living at Washway Cottages on Manchester Road Timperley. There is a five year gap from his first child to his second,and theres no trace of him in 1891 census. Plus i cannot find any war records for him in the 1st world war.
Thanks for your time.
Paula

[tisgrannie]

Hi paula just looked at 1901. I see what you mean about the children. twins in there as well! I would have thought if had had a 3 yr old and a 1 year old in 1901. Figuring that the census that year was Mar 31/ April 1st. He w would have gotten his wife pregnant early 1900 approx. Did he fight in the war I wonder?
Someone will come up with something
tisgrannie

[harribobs]

 not sure where you are paula and how much you know of manchester , but about washway cottages,  the main road through sale/timperley is washway road

[paula]

Hi Harribobs
I was born in Manchester,brought up in Sale and now live in Stretford. I do know what you mean, i was quite surprised as it being Manchester Road as i thought it was Washway rd. I was surprised at them classing it as West Timperley, as i would of said it was Broadheath Altrincham. I believe Washway Cottages were somewhere around where St Hugh s is now,but then again i could be wrong.
Kind regards Paula

[ladysmith]

Paula - He's not on the QSA medal roll for the 1st battalion which is the only one I have. I think it's unlikely he was in the Boer War if he was home for the 1901 census and had a one year old child at that time. It's possible he could have been a late entrant in South Africa with another battalion though.

David

[mack]

they may have had a child who died in that 5yr gap.

mack

[paula]

Sorry guys
I have checked info with dad,he now says it was India that he served his time in the army. This is not the first time he s lead me up the Garden Path.    Can anyone help  me with this pls. .
Paula.

[slob]

Hi,
Have you got the birth certificates for the children, the father's occupation might reflect his army status?

Cheers,
   Dave