For a newie. What do those numbers mean on the service record.

My relative, William Holland, joined up in Ashton under Lyne on the 16th July 1877. On 1st March 1879 he was at the Cape of Good Hope and stayed until the 2nd October 1879. He returned Sheffield and was declared unfit for service on 1st April 1881. He was still in Sheffield Barracks for the 1881 Census.

These are the numbers that mean so little to me.
He joined 4th Brigade in July 1872 and was a 1264. His number on his attestation papers was 1952.He transferred to 25 Brigade on 2nd Feb 1879 and he became No 2026. There is also a R.*.O. _ but I can't read the *. It might be a W or M. Hard to read. There is also a 2/19

I would like to know which regiment this relative joined and which battles happened during this Cape of Good Hope period. It did say he was awarded a campaign medal but that it had not been collected.

I assume he joined a Manchester Regiment? Very confusing. Thank you

helen_w129,

I found a William Holland, Regimental Number 2026 on the Medal Roll for the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment.

The roll shows he was entitled to the South Africa Medal with clasp “1879” for participation in the Zulu War.

With service in South Africa from 1 March 1879 to 2 October 1879 it looks like he was one of the replacements for the men of the 24th who were killed at Isandlwana.

On 1 March 1879 15 officers and 526 men who replacement drafts for the 1/24th departed Woolwich on the hired transport “Clyde” for South Africa. On 3 April “Clyde” ran aground off Dyer’s Island, about 70 miles from Simon’s Bay. All the crew and passenger’s got ashore safely, and were picked up by HMS Tamar, a troopship, and taken to Durban where they disembarked on 11 April 1879.

The Medal Roll shows that he was later in the 2nd Battalion, 19th Regiment. Apparently he was out of the service when the medal issued and the medal was returned to the mint. The date of the return is difficult to read but appears to be 17/9/1885.

Hope this is of some help to you. Maybe someone who is more familiar with the 24th can fill in more details for you.


Petty Officer Tom

Out of a few bits of information I had - you gave me back a man with a sense of humour and a soldier. Thank you.

There were two bits of information that I did not include. Firstly his service record states "the original sheet lost on wreck of Clyde" I didn't include that because I did not know it was relevant.

Secondly my grandmother told me that her father was known - not to his face-as One Lamp Billy. He only had one eye. He always said that his eye had been shot to the back of his head in battle. He called it his war wound.

I know now that on his return to Aldershot Barracks he was struck on the head with a poker, lost an eye and so discharged.

Clearly Aldershot is a dangerous place!!

Once again - thank you

Hi Helen

Firstly welcome to the forum.

Let me explain his service numbers for you.
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William's first service number was 1269, when he enlisted into the 4th Brigade 1st Battalion 19th (1st Yorkshire North Riding – Princess of Wales's Own) Regiment of Foot.

His second service numbers was 2026, this was when he transfered into the 25th Brigade 1st Battalion 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of foot.
Petty Officer Tom has kindly listed his service during his time with the 24th and his part in the Zulu War.

His third service number was 1952, when he transfered back to the 4th Brigade 2nd Battalion 19th (1st Yorkshire North Riding – Princess of Wales's Own) Regiment of Foot, but now known as Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment).

Hope this explains his service numbers.

Yes I understand. So obvious now. Helen