Updateon my posting about the Boer War & Kibble Reformat

[Maud Jarvis]

Hi
I was un able to otain any records about James Barr when he was in the Kibble Reformatory, unfortunately none exist for the period of his stay there.

So now I`m hoping son can make it to Kew before Christmas and have a look for me, for James`s army record.

I`ve been going nearly daft these last couple of hours.
A long time ago, I was able to search on the National Archives site for the name of an ancestor, who had been a soldier in the early 1800s, I was able to access a page, on which I could type his name, the period of time searching for, and the WO ref (I think) then up came his name and the name of the Foot regiment he was in, and where the record was available (At Kew) which son travelled there and obtained.

So, thought me. I`ll do that again, but, OH DEAR I`ve searched until I`m cross eyed. but can I find that page!!! I`ve tried all the references available and searched all the help thinggys, but no, nothing can I trace, and now of course, would`nt you believe it!, I cannot lay my hand on the file I had for that ancestor (Benjamin Harris, he was in the 44th foot regiment) and on which I had noted down the national archive ref I need, I think the ref was included on the URL, but no joy, whenever you search for something, its sure to be missing!!

Don`t suppose anyone knows what I`m talking about, OR DO THEY??
if you do and can tell me where I`m going wrong, I`ll send you a big kiss
and hugs. !!

[sporran]

Hello Maud,


the search form is at
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp .

Type in the phrase (without quotes) "benjamin AND harris", then select WO on the results page, and you will find 7 results. There is a Benjamin Harris in the 14th Foot in the years up to 1832.


Regards,

John

[Maud Jarvis]

Thank you Sporran, that was the one, but sadly the James Barr is not turning up, all the dates are too early, so back where I started.
But, I know he was a soldier, it said so on the census, that his wife was "a soldiers wife-reservist" implying that he in 1901 must have been then on active service, but if he had been a soldier, should he not have turned up on the ref you gave me, that is certainly where my anc estor Benjamin Harris came up, so I don`t understand? perhaps it should be a different reference for a later time in the century, James was born in 1869, and would have been abt 32 year old in 1901, so I thought he would have come up on that lisr?

Obviously there must be a different section for an index to find his name?
Thanks anyway, a big XX for you

[sporran]

Hello Maud,


a similar search for James Barr turns up a couple of references for 1914-1920, but perhaps the one that could interest you is WO 97 / 4312 . This covers the service records of "Barnett N. - Barr James" for 1900-1913.

I have not (yet) been to National Archives or looked at what is contained in those archives, so your son would take a chance on finding something of interest.


Regards,

John