These are extracts from National Archives Ref WO 126/45 for the Boer War service records for selected names starting between L and R for FRENCH'S SCOUTS. There were a variety of standard forms and also many sections of the forms were not completed. As a result the details included vary.
transcribed by Rowena Wattrus
William LADBROOK
Age: 20, Trade: Butcher
Previous service: Brabant's 5 months
Private address: Mrs L Ladbrook, c/o Mrs G Darlow, Burgers St, Port Elizabeth
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 23 Aug 1900
Arthur Henry LANGLEY
Age: 19, Trade: Miller
Previous service: Brabant's Horse 5 months
Private address: Mrs WH Langley, c/o Mrs J Howse, South Union St, Port Elizabeth
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 23 Aug 1900
Albert LESCHINSKY
Age: 22, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Feather sorter
Reg. no. 30815
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 13 Feb 1901
Mother: Mrs M Leschinsky, Middle St, North End, Port Elizabeth
Single
James Barclay LITHGOW
Born Falkirk, Scotland on 16 Mar 1870
Previous service: Natal Volunteer Staff Office at Pmbg during war
Trade: Accountant
Height: 5 ft 10 ½, Weight: 11 st, Complexion: Ruddy, Eyes: Blue
Hair: Light brown, inclined to baldness, Waist: 36, Chest: 38 ¼
Size of head: 6 7/8, Size of foot: 7
Wife: Eliz. Lithgow, Exchange, Maritzburg
Horse: Black gelding
Enlisted: Maritzburg 12 Feb 1901
Ernest MARLOW
Age: 32, Trade: Stevedore
Previous service: Cape Police 13 mths
Private Address: c/o Mrs Liquin, Mitchell St, Southend, Port Elizabeth
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 27 Aug 1900
Ernest MARLOW
British subject, No previous service
Enlisted: Johannesburg 1/v/01
Wife: Mrs Bridget Marlow, Mitchell St, Port Elizabeth
Arthur MARTINELLY
Reg. no. 34794
Born: Port Elizabeth
Previous service 1st Brabant's Horse and C D F 9 mths
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 25 May 1901
Age: 19, Nationality: English, Trade: Nil
Mother: Mrs M Martinelly, Crawford St, North End, Port Elizabeth
Clarence Westbrooke MATHEWS [MATTHEWS on re-enlistment]
Reg. no. 20744
Born: Port Elizabeth 1870
Previous service: Kitchener's Horse 10 months
Age: 22, Nationality: Colonial born, Trade: Draper
Enlisted: 5 Dec 1900
Mother: Mrs C Mathews, Shell Cottage, Havelock St, Port Elizabeth
Single
Re-enlisted 01/v/01 Johannesburg
Edwin Walter MAWBEY
Born in Bristol England 13 Aug 1870
Previous service: Natal Carbineers 9 months discharged after disbandment of Regt.
Enlisted: Durban 30 Jan 1901
Trade: Accountant
Height: 5 ft 8 ½, Weight: 142 lbs, Complexion: Light, Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black - moustache fair
Waist: 31, Chest: 37
Tattoed N C Right arm
Size of head: 7, Size of foot: 6
Wife: Mrs Grace Lilian Mawbey, P.O. Box Umgeni, Durban
Frank MAXWELL
Age: 26, Nationality: British, Trade: Compound manager
Enlisted: 18 Dec 1899
Sister: Annie Maxwell, Eschowe, Zululand
Rank: Trooper
Discharged as med unfit and own request 24 Jul 1900 after 219 days service
John Cooke McADAM
Reg. no. 20707
Born: Port Elizabeth
Previous service: 7 Dec 1899 - 15 Oct 1900 Sgt Major 2nd Brabants
Age: 33, Nationality: Colonial (English), Trade: Miner
Enlisted: 20 Nov 1900
Father: GA McAdam, Sharks River, Port Elizabeth
Single
Arthur McDONALD
Reg. no. 20717
Born: Edinburgh, Scotland
Past service: 13 mths 26 days Rhodesia Regt
Age: 21, Nationality: Scotch, Trade: Blacksmith
Enlisted: 23 Nov 1900
Mother: Mrs J McDonald, Middle St, North End, Port Elizabeth
Single
Joseph Mc KEATING
British subject, Previous service: French Scouts
Enlisted: 23 Aug 1900 Re-enlisted: Johannesburg 1/v/01
Mother: Mrs James McKeating, Top of Cape Rd, Port Elizabeth
Age: 28, Trade: clerk
Previous service: 1893 and 96 Matabele Campaign - MRF and BBP - medal
Private address: Mrs McKeating. Newington Road, Port Elizabeth
Charles Edward MOFFITT [MOFFATT used, but altered in some places]
Born: Hinlation, Northumberland 19 Jul 1881
Previous service: 5 mos Valentines Heidelberg Volunteers - discharged on own request
Occupation: Bank clerk
Height: 6 ft, Weight: 142 lbs, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Hazel, Hair: Brown
Waist: 31, Chest: 33 ½, Size of head: 6 7/8, Size of foot: 8
Address: c/o Standard Bank, Durban
Father: C Moffatt, Heidelberg
Enlisted: 11 Feb 1901 Johannesburg
Arthur Xavier MORIARTY
British subject, Previous service: French's Scouts
Enlisted: Johannesburg 1/v/01
Brother: D Moriarty, Victoria St, King William's Town
Patrick MULLINS
Reg. no. 30819
Enlisted: Port Elizabeth 8 Feb 1901
Age: 31, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Barman
Sister: Mrs Wilkinson, 31 Stream St, Port Elizabeth
Single
Ernest James MURRAY
Age: 24, Nationality: Scotch, Trade: Telegraphist
Enlisted: 22 Nov 1899
Rank: Trooper
Discharged as medically unfit 30 Jan 1900 after 70 days
Character: Very Good
Address after discharge: Naauwpoort Telegraph Office
Allen O'BRIEN
Reg. no. 30823
Born in Grahamstown
Previous service: P A G M I
Age: 20, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Painter
Brother: W O'Brien, Looker On Office, Port Elizabeth
Single
Enlisted: 20 Feb 1901
Height: 5 ft 7, Chest: 36, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Blue
Bullet Scars right fence? Right shoulder, left thigh, Right leg, chest
Rank: Trooper
Discharged to supery list 8 Nov 1901 after 262 days
Address after discharge: Steel Rd, Off Stamford Hill Rd, Durban
William August OEHLEY
Reg. no. 20737
Born: Somerset East
Previous service: Nesbitt's Horse 12 Aug 1900 to 13 Nov 1900, Rhodesian Regt 22 Feb 1900 to 12 Aug 1900
Age: 22, Nationality: South African, Trade: Saddler
Enlisted: 28 Nov 1900
Father: Mr O Oehley, Charles St, Somerset East
Single
Martin Andrew OLSEN
Born: Durban 4 Apr 1883
Occupation: Clerk
Height: 5 ft 8, Weight: 8 st 12, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Brown
Waist: 28, Chest: 34, Size of head: 6 ½, Size of foot: 7
Father: Andrew Olsen, Gale St, Berea, Durban
Enlisted: 20 Jul 1901
British subject
John E PAGE
Born: Adelaide Cape colony 4th Oct 1874
Previous service: VMSC & Mountain Police Langeberg Campaign - resigned 24 Apr 1900
Trade: Clerk
Height: 5 ft 11 ½, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Lt Brown, Hair: Brown
Size of Head: 6 7/8, Size of Foot: 7
Mole on left thigh
Father: Mr EB Page, Henry St, King William's Town
Enlisted: 25 Apr 1900 Bloemfontein
Maxwell George PARSONS
Born: Grahamstown 2 Oct 1878
No previous service: Trade: Surveyor
Height: 5 ft 8, Weight: 10 st, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: L brown
Waist: 34, Chest: 36, Size of head: 6 ¾, Size of foot 8
Next of Kin: AJ Parsons, Engineer in Chief, Cape Government Railways, Cape Colony
Enlisted: 4 Jul 1901 Johannesburg
Clement John Henry PATTERSON
Born: Fort Beaufort 8 Jun 1873
Previous service: Nat. Vol. Amb. Corps 4 mths and French Scouts 9 mths - discharged when time expired
Trade: Amalgamator/Painter
Height: 5 ft 10, Complexion: Fair, Eyes: Grey, Hair: Light brown
Scar on left thumb
Size of head: 6 7/8, Size of foot: 8
Present address: P O Johannesburg
Father: CJH Patterson, P O East London
Enlisted: 27 Aug 1900 Re-enlisted 8 May 1901 Johannesburg
Private address: c/o Trooper EJ Patterson, Natal Mounted Police, Stanger, Natal
James PAVELEY
Born: Australia 24th May 1868
Previous service 12 mos Transport I M I - discharged on expiry of time
Occupation: Transport conductor
Height: 5 ft 9, Weight: 170 lbs, Complexion: Dark, Eyes: Gray, Hair: Dark Brown
Waist: 35, Chest: 38, Size of head: 6 7/8, Size of foot: 9
Bullet wound right calf, Scar on right cheek
Mother: Mrs Kate Paveley, c/o Railway Cottages, Durban
Enlisted: 6 Feb 1901 Durban
Peter Hy PIETERSEN
Enlisted: Cape Town 28 Apr 1900
Age: 40, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Carpenter
Brother: Wm Pietersen, Erw Villa, Observatory, CC
Rank: Trooper
Discharged as time expired 7 May 1901 after 1 yr 10 days service
Character: Very Good
Address after discharge: 3 Knysley Terrace, Observatory
Thomas POLLACK
Reg. no. 20428
Born: Sunday's River, No previous service
Age: 18, Nationality: Scotch, Trade: Machinist
Enlisted: 28 Nov 1900
Mother: Mrs M Pollack, Grahamstown Crossing, Port Elizabeth, CC
Single
John Joseph RANDALL
Age: 27, Nationality: Colonial English, Trade: Engineer
Born: Port Elizabeth
Previous service: Matabele Campaign
Father: John Randall, C Cooper and Queens St, PE
Single
Charles George REESE
Reg. no.: 20702
Born: Port Elizabeth
Previous service: 27 Aug 1899 to 17 Oct 1900 Rhodesian Regt "Frontier"
Age: 22, Nationality: Colonial (English), Trade: Bookbinder
Enlisted: 22 Nov 1900
Aunt: Mrs E Boyce, Upper Pier St, South End, Port Elizabeth
Single
Duncan REID
Age: 21, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Clerk
Mother: Mrs J McFarlane, Colesburg
Rank: Trooper
Discharged as Medically unfit 18 Jul 1900 after 6 months and 3 days service
Character: Good
Henry RICHARDS
Age: 39, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Wheelwright
Enlisted: 1 May 1900
Wife: Mrs C Richards, c/o Isaac Pritt, c/o Lloyd Lancashire Regt, Main Barracks, C Town
Adam RITCHIE
Born: Aliwal North 1868
Previous service: C M R - purchased out and C Police - resigned to join this Regt.
Reg. no. 31753
Height: 5 ft 7 ½, Weight: 166 lbs
Wife: West Bank, E London
Enlisted: 13/14 Mar 1901 East London
British subject
Denis Le Grange ROBINSON
Reg. no. 20745
Born: Jensenville, Cape Colony
No previous service
Age: 21, Nationality: Colonial Born, Trade: Farmer
Enlisted: 5th Dec 1900
Mother: Mrs S Robinson, Gwaarts River, Kliplaat Station
Single
Stephen ROODT
Age: 32, Nationality: Colonial, Trade: Prospector
Enlisted: 26/28 Apr 1900 Rosebank
Sister in Law: Mrs E Roodt, 7 Pope St, Salt River, CC
Rank: Sergt
Discharged as time expired 10 Dec 1901 after 1 yr 235 days
Character: Very Good
Address after discharge: 17 Pope St, Salt River, CC
Johannes ROUX
British subject, Previous service: French Scouts
Enlisted: Johannesburg 1/V/01
Father: PA Roux, Peddie near King Williams Town
Michael Bestar RUSSOUW
Reg. No. 20432
Age: 21, Nationality: Colonial Trade: Overseer
Enlisted: 12 Dec 1900
Brother: Nicholas Russouw, 28 Bryand St, Capetown
Single
Rank: Scout
Discharged as time expired 23 Jun 1901 after 6 months service
Character: Excellent
Address after discharge: Town Council Inarry?, Top of Strand St, Cape Town