Barlow, William
Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps
Rank: Staff Sergeant farrier
Service No: 3637
Boer War service: 30 Nov 1899 to 22 Oct1901
Date of enlistment: 5 Aug 1880
Date of discharge: 4 Aug 1902
Reason for discharge: Completion of tour of duty
Other information: Prior to serving in the Boer War, William served in South Africa, Egypt and Kenya. He was court martialled in 1888 for being drunk on duty. In 1899 William was sent home from Kenya to serve a period of imprisonment for shooting two of his officer’s dogs. He spent a total of 22 years in the army
Born: In 1861 in Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Family: He was the son of William Barlow and had at least one sister. He married Emma Elizabeth Jackson on 25 December 1890 in St. Michael and All Angels Church, Croydon, Surrey. They had two children – William Eric and Emma Elizabeth; his wife died shortly after giving birth to their daughter on 21 October 1893.
Residence: In 1861 he was living with his sister Emma in Tilstock Village, Shropshire at a nursery for illegitimate children. No trace can be found for the family in any other Census records. In 1890, at the time of his marriage, he was living at 24 St. James Road, Croydon. William’s intended residence on discharge from the army was given as 31 Arundel Road, West Croydon, Surrey.
Employment: He was a blacksmith (farrier in the army). His attestation papers indicate he was apprenticed to John Baker, blacksmith in Macefen, near Malpas, Cheshire.
Death: Date and place unknown
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