TOPIC:

Hi,

I hope that someone May be able to help with this sticky part of my research. This was originally start by my late mother researching her family. What we have gathered from this is that my GGfather was a miner by trade he went out so we understand as a volunteer and fought in I believe was the 2nd Boar War ?. not sure of that fact. He was later discharged with no more information on what he did or what his rank was. This is where I would like someone if possible to help out in seeing if there is any information. His name was James Cowan he was born abt. 1876 . On his return back to the uk he later married and had two children one being my grandfather. Because of the love of the country he and the family retruned back to South Africa in 1912. He was a mine manger for sinking shafts for the gold mines. During the WW1 he sent his family back but he stayed and fought as part of the German East Africa in Mechanised division attaining the rank of sargeant major after the war he return the family and himself to springs . They return back to the uk in around 1923 and died aged 50 in 1926.
So any advice, pointers or help would be grately appreated.

Regards

Yarrakid,

Welcome to the Forum!

Looking at the medal rolls, there are about 50 J Cowans listed but none in Brabant's Horse.

FindMyPast lists 7 James Cowans born in 1876 +/- 2 years.

I can see why its a stick part of your research.

Kind regards
David

Yarrakid,

Looking at the nominal rolls for Brabant's Horse (on this site), there is someone called J Cowen in 1/Brabant's.

His is listed as trooper but was commissioned into the CinC BodyGuard and CMR.

His medal was reissues to 25 Petheston Road, Highbury, New Park London in 1912 (which is quite a coincidental date!).

Regards
David

Hi David,

It's a tough on one to follow through one but it's really a case of elimation. One of the sues I have is that the surname is some what spelt differently which in it self is no bad thing but can lead down the wrong path so to speak. I'm looking into this as we speak to determine actually if this indeed is the one I need. One other thing is making me believe that his indeed could well be the one. Is that the surname is in fact Cowan rather than Cowen but nothing shows up for that particular person for that campaign. The facts after the event I know about that he returned to SA and moved to a place called Springs served in WW1, became a major poltical leader there and with the gold mines, but then returned back to the north east of England and setup business in he public house trade and died around 1926.. But thanks for all the info..

Hi,

To be honest I am guessing that the spelling is a misprint or mis heard, because like you say there seemingly nothing along those lines with the Cowan name. I'm am having problems in finding this address in the stuff on ancestry web site, I have a copy of the WO100 where it says it reissued the the commendation, but obviously nothing will be in the cenus for 1911, for the address in london, i have him ensconsed back home on the 1911 census in Bebside in northumberland, so unless this is the wrong person then i have assume its something along the lines of the P.O Box address?. But everything thus far seems to tie up with this person, fustrating, as i cant fortunately talk to the one person i need which was my late mother the oracle to all the family geneology. Apperently findmypast is supposed to have alot of stuff on there sites so may look into that to see if any collates with this information.

Good evening David,
I think you will find it was John Markham Court who held a commission in the Bodyguard and not Cowen, see Simon's other post on his great grandfather.

djb wrote: Yarrakid,

Looking at the nominal rolls for Brabant's Horse (on this site), there is someone called J Cowen in 1/Brabant's.

His is listed as trooper but was commissioned into the CinC BodyGuard and CMR.

His medal was reissues to 25 Petheston Road, Highbury, New Park London in 1912 (which is quite a coincidental date!).

Regards
David