Wars and ConflictsΒ permalink
Alfred Sidney Alan Watts
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Message 1.Β
Posted by Heather (U14749729) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
I have been told my great grandfather fought in the Boer War.
His name was Alfred Sidney Alan Watts and he was married in 1902. -
Message 2
Posted by Stepney Boy (U1760040) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011
Hi,
These are the only Watts shown as fighting in the Anglo-Boar war.
Last name First names Number Regiment
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Watts Alfred 111 Utrecht-Vryheid Mounted Police VIEW
Watts A 799 Durban Light Infantry VIEW
Watts A 3961 Army Ordnance Corps VIEW
Watts A 2835 The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment VIEW
Watts A 2735 The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment VIEW
Watts A 5107 18th Hussars VIEW
Watts A 5424 The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) VIEW
Watts A The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment VIEW
Watts A 5654 The Royal Sussex Regiment VIEW
Watts A 3429 The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) VIEW
Watts A The Royal Sussex Regiment VIEW
Watts A E 9257 Army Service Corps VIEW
Watts A H 9960 Army Service Corps VIEW
Watts A H 59 Strathcona's Horse VIEW
Watts A J 9431 Royal Army Medical Corps VIEW
Watts A L 23689 Imperial Yeomanry VIEW
Watts A V 26082 Imperial Yeomanry VIEW
Watts VIEW
Watts Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters)
Regards
Spike -
Message 3
Posted by MB (U177470) on Wednesday, 12th January 2011
Can you give a few more details which might identify him?
Date and place of birth, the censuses will give a clue to which name he tended to use and a clue to regiment.
There are several records online covering that period but often only have initials - Boer war (as above), pre-1913 service records and medal lists. -
Message 4
Posted by Heather (U14749729) on Thursday, 13th January 2011
Alfred is the name on the census. He was born in 1870.
H -
Message 5
Posted by MB (U177470) on Thursday, 13th January 2011
Still can't identify him without more information. There is one who joined up 1889, discharged 1895 or after then. Recalled 1899 and served in South Africa to 1902 but there are others born around 1870 so need more information like place of birth, parents names, occupation .... anything that might idnetify.
MB -
Message 6
Posted by Heather (U14749729) on Friday, 27th May 2011
Thanks
I did eventually find Alfred Watts.
He signed up at Taunton - Somerset Light Infantry.
He is on the 1891 census in Hampshire.
It appears that he went to India and later got posted to South Africa.
It was amazing how detailed the records were - details of scars on face and left hand. I guess that was the only way they could identify casulties in the past. -
Message 7
Posted by Michael Alexander Kearsley (U1675895) on Sunday, 5th June 2011
My great grandfather's military papers for 2nd Boer and First World War had details of a mole and his height and things such as eye and hair colour and complexion, though oddly one said he had grey eyes and the other blue yet were filled in by the same man. I suppose my other grandfather who fought in World War I no doubt had similarily detailed info on them. Distinguishing marks - not just casualties, but to stop any possibilities of people going AWOL and their places being taken by friends or being kidnapped and their place taken by enemy infiltrators which it has to be considered there might be potential for.
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Message 8
Posted by Heather (U14749729) on Monday, 27th June 2011
The complexion of my great grand father was mentioned as well - but I could not read what it said and having never seen him - I have no idea what he looked like.
His wife lived until she was in her nineties and so did their youngest son. So I remember seeing them. -
Message 9
Posted by rhmnney (U14528380) on Monday, 27th June 2011
Heather during WW2 in addition to colour of eyes, hair, height, weight and any distinguishing features, skin marks, moles etc two thumb prints, with if I remember correctly, your signature included between them, one copy on second page of AB (Army Book) 64 part one, and the second copy kept at Records. Later on after demobilization, the second set of thumb prints were returned to you, so in fact you were and are in possession. So in effect the government did not retain any of your thumb prints.
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