Your questions answered
Investigating a South African connection
Q I am researching my great-uncle Adolphus William Cox, born 24 November 1885 Maidstone, Kent, died 11 January 1936 Tuckenhay, Devon, and have hit a brick wall. I have a family photo of him in military uniform of a kilt, and the headstone of his grave in Devon has the words ‘Transvaal Scottish 1914-1918’. I found they were linked to the Boer War, but could not find a connection. He was (also) in the South African Medical Corps, 1st South African General Hospital, Abbeville (France). I am intrigued as to whether Adolphus joined up to take part in the Boer War and was then re-enlisted for WW1, or how he was enlisted with no paper trail or links to regiments in the UK.
Pat Meech
A Adolphus William Cox was still a 15-year-old lad living with his parents in Wookey Hole, Somerset, when enumerated in the 1901 Census; but the Anglo-Boer War only lasted from 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902, consequently he was too young to have served. I did however find him travelling alone as ‘Mr A. Cox’, departing Southampton on 15 June 1912, sailing to the Cape on the SS Edinburgh Castle. His age of 31 is slightly out, but occupation of miner proved correct. His passenger entry can be found on Ancestry.co.uk and Findmypast.co.uk. Adolphus ended up living in Johannesburg two years before the outbreak of WWI.
South Africa’s contribution during WWI
On the outbreak of the war
