Charles William Coleman

Posts : 2 Join date : 2013-08-06

Hi. I am looking for information on my great grandfather who fought in the Zulu war baker horse... I found this information on his war records when he joined the imperial yeomanry for the boer war. He was born in natal on 1861 and a british subject. He also received medals for the Matebeleland war. He was no 1431. Thank you

Subject: Charles William Coleman Tue Aug 06, 2013 2:50 pm

Hi Coleman .
Welcome aboard , I checked the Medal Roll for The South African Medal 1877-78-79 . Trooper W. Coleman Bakers Horse
was entitled to the South African General Service Medal ( also known as the zulu war medal ) with Clasp 1879 . Which means as you probably are aware that he crossed the border and was present in Zululand . Unfortunately all the Colonial Records that were in England were pulped in 1915 as part of the war effort ! , the reasoning in that escapes me a little ,
possibly , the pulped paper was used as wadding for explosives ? . I dont have access to one of my books which may give some more info on your Grt G'father , if '' Graves '' see's this he may check Terry Sole's work '' For God , Queen & Colony .
90th You need to study mo

Posts : 3040 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

I will have a look for you when I get home later today.
Salute

Posts : 399 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

Hi 90th

I am not sure where you have obtained the title for the medal 'South African General Service Medal' - from the official warrant dated 1 August 1880 for this medal it is correctly known as the 'South Africa Medal 1877-8-9'. Note also Africa not African. Sorry to be picky about this.

Posts : 3040 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All

In "For God , Queen & Colony" there is listed a Trooper William Coleman but not Charles William Coleman as serving in Baker's Horse.

I have listed in my records the following:

A Zulu War and Boer War pair to Private W. Coleman, Uitenhage Town Guard, late Bakers HorseSouth Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Tpr. W. Coleman, Bakers Horse); Queens South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (616 Pte. W. Coleman, Uitenhage T.G.) good very fine £250-300.

Could this be the same person as Charles William Coleman?

scratch

Subject: Charles William Coleman Wed Aug 07, 2013 1:55 am

Thanks Kenny . Happy to be corrected . my slip up .
90th

Posts : 2 Join date : 2013-08-06

Thank you everyone. I am new to this, as I had no idea my great grandfather was such an interesting character... I have been told he died in 1918 in Ww1 in England but found passenger list where he and family came back to CapeTown 1912.... His short service record stated he was in the Zulu war but I was told he was an interpreter as it states he spoke all the dialects and languages. It definitely said Bakers Horse.. So maybe he went by William when he was young. In a medal roll for Metabeleland war his name is definitely charles William and states his sister as contact so I know that is correct. Any leads would be appreciated in trying to ascertain his death either in the war or civil.
Thanks once again