How do I research this Boer War soldier?
QA few years ago, my friend found details of the following soldier while searching online: “John Henry Dubb. Died 1903. Second Boer War 1899-1902 South Africa. Document Discharged. 34. co asc 68/ sa/ 4640/ 31 over 10? Awarded a Cape Colony Clasp.”
Unfortunately, I don’t know which website the information came from, but I believe the soldier is one of my husband’s relatives. Are there any records that would reveal details of his parents, next of kin and where he was buried? How can I learn more about his military career? Angela Dubb
AAlthough 34 Company Army Service Corps (ASC) served in South Africa and the reference ‘68/sa/4640/31’ is clearly a War Office one referring to a South Africa medal, I can find no army record for JH Dubb, not even him receiving the medal!
Dubb isn’t mentioned in the published South Africa Field Force Casualty List 1899-1902, but as he died in 1903 this isn’t surprising. In case he was still a soldier I searched the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929 (on Ancestry) looking purely for ASC soldiers, but found nothing.
His service record should be on findmypast.co.uk but – using every variation I can think of and looking through all ASC men – there’s no obvious candidates. I’ve downloaded the free Boer War ASC Medal Rolls from The National Archives’ Discovery catalogue (using their Digital Microfilm service) but can’t find him there.
A John Henry Dubb died in Bideford in 1903 – I assume you’ve checked him? 34 ASC Company were in Devonport in 1903 when the medals were issued.
I suspect the reference was originally found on a website devoted to the war. The online resource roll- of- honour.
com/ Boer contains some great links, but even its searchable database doesn’t have him.
Could your friend have found the information on someone’s
ancestry.co.uk family tree? Phil Tomaselli