Military Chat

I'm keen to learn of my grandfathere's Army service. He was born in 1878 and served in the Boer/South African War. I think he was involved in some way in the 14 - 18 war as I have a photo of him as a corporal. I also have a programme of a variety show at Sandhurst College where he was on the programme as doing comic songs and monologues and named as Sgt Waterman.
Any help or advice will be much appreciated.
Thank you
Brian Waterman :-)

??

Militia Attestation

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s) George Henry
Last name Waterman
Birth year 1878
Birth parish Yalding
Birth town Maidstone
Birth county Kent
Birth country England
Service number 1020
Regiment -
Year 1896
Attestation date 08 Dec 1896
Attestation age years 18
Attestation age months 6
Attestation service number 1020
Attestation corps 3rd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment
Document type Attestation
Series WO 96 - Militia service records 1806-1915
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 96
Box 888
Box record number 34

Enlisted from Militia to Regulars 22.1.1897 (see below)

Address - near the Church, Collier Street, Marden, Kent

Attestation to Army from Militia

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s) George Henry
Last name Waterman
Birth year 1879
Birth parish Falding
Birth town Maidstone
Birth county Kent
Birth country England
Service number 4846
Regiment Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) - 50th & 97th Foot
Year 1897
Attestation date 22 Jan 1897
Attestation age years 18
Attestation age months 8
Attestation service number 4846
Attestation corps Queen'S Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Discharge corps Queen'S Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
Document type Attestation
Series WO 97 - Chelsea Pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 97
Box 4116
Box record number 55
Record set British

5' 3 ¾" 115 lbs Chest 33" min to 35" max Fresh complexion Brown eyes Brown hair CofE. Small scars top of head and left knee

NOK Father Edward of Collier Street, Marden, Kent and also older brothers John, James and David

Discharged medically unfit for further service 27.10 1897 (flat foot, probably congenital) - hospitalised in Dublin


EDIT - baptism 7.7.1878 Yalding of this one shows parents Edmond (interchangeable with Edward) and Honor

There is also this GH Waterman - no further details

Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933 Transcription

First name(s) G H
Last name Waterman
Service number -
Age 37 Years 11 Months
Birth year 1878
Birth place Islington
Birth county London
Birth country England
Occupation Horsekeeper
Attestation year 1915
Attestation date 21 May 1915
Attestation place Kingston
Unit or regiment 6th Dragoon Guards
Regiment 6th Dragoon Guards
Height 5ft 8in.
Weight in pounds 168
Chest expansion inches 3
Chest size inches 39
Distinctive marks Tattoo Both Forearms
Remarks 5 Garden Cotts East St Epsom
Notes Volunteers. This recruitment register has Register D written on the inside cover.
County London
Country England

The only George Henry Waterman's born 1878 +/- 2 years are the Yalding (Maidstone RD) one and one registered in West Ham RD

Births Sep 1878 (>99%)
Waterman George Henry Maidstone 2a 643
Waterman George Henry W. Ham 4a 151

Hi Grey Ghost
I trust that this is the way to get in touch with you and not through a medium ! The chap you listed last was my Grandad - the one from West Ham. That takes care of the 14/18 war but he told us he served in the Boer War so maybe he served in that war, came out and then volunteered for the next idiotic waste of life. I spent a lot of my early life at 5 Garden Cottages in Epsom. He and Cran virtually brought me up. Thanks very much grey ghost. If you have any ideas of places for me to search further, I will be very grateful. :-D ;-) :-)

I have found a George Henry Waterman on this site:

http://www.angloboerwar.com/name-search

Search just using Waterman; this man was in Driscolls Scouts. If you click on that link, it brings up links to search images of the Rolls.

Hi Potty
Thanks very much for all your trouble and the link. I did locate him on the rolls under 'U' at the end and I got his number and a date of 21/2/02 so maybe that was a discharge date or something. Cannot get further on that website so am trying other sites.
Thank you
Brian

If you have access to Ancestry ( I think it is free today!) there are two records in this set for a G H Waterman, Driscoll Scouts:

All UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949 results for Waterman

Find the set from the Card Catalogue.