My great great uncle was a Major

Greetings,

I asked the question about the Major because my great great uncle was Major Saw. He was my mums grandads older brother about 18 years older. My grandads father was a master builder in London. He sent all of his children to college the called (university?) but my mums grandads mother died when he was 5. His father drank all the money away that would have paid to sent my mums grandad to college. His father died a few months latter. He was sent to live with his aunt, who owned a glue making plant. She sent him to college to learn gardening. When the war broke out, my mums grandad enlisted in a calvelery regiment. Sometime in the war he was wounded by flak, and his horse was killed. When he was in hospital a Major was visiting all the wounded men. He came over to my mums grandad with an officer's cain under his arm and asked his name. When my mums grandad said his name, the Major said you are my long lost brother. He invited him to his house in London when he was on leave. This sort of life style my great grandad was not used to as they dressed for dinner. He stayed one night and left the next day, he never whent back. I know very little about this side of the family, but I do know that the Majors aunt owned Denum studeos in London and one of his sisters had a farm in South Africa. Has anyone ever by chance heard of a Major Saw? I would like to know some more on him.

Thank you

Ben

[mike_baram]

"he was wounded by flak, and his horse was killed"
Hmm, was the horse's name "Pegasus" by any chance?
"Flak" comes from "Flieger abwehr kanone", literally "flier defense gun" (anti-aircraft gun).
Perhaps you meant he was wounded by shrapnel?

According to the British Army List 1919 - there is one Officer by the name of SAW listed -
Major F.A.Saw - on retired pay - operations in South Africa 1896 (medal) (I presume this is the British South Africa Company Medal for service in Rhodesia 1896) - served Boer War 1899-1901 -ops in Cape Colony, south of Orange River 1899-1900. - (Queens Medal 2 clasps). Does not mention service in WW1.
Hope this helps. Regards, Stuart.

Whats retired pay and the queens medal? does it say anything else? thanks Ben

Yep you right wrong word.

Ben

Hi Ben,
An Officer at his own request or due to age,could be placed on the Retired list at half pay. They remained in the Army List - basically it was being placed on reserve - & could be recalled to the colours in time of need.
The Queens South Africa Medal 1899-1902 was one of two campaign medals issued for the Boer War- usually shown in the Army Lists as the Queens Medal. There are no further details in the 1919 Army List, however Whitakers Naval & Military Directory 1899 lists Major Francis Albert SAW Doctor of Medicine. Royal Army Medical Corp - serving in Cape Colony. Was born in 1862 - married 1898. Thats all for the moment - any of this mean anything to you. Regards, Stuart.

Hello Stuart,

My great granddad was 15 years younger then his Major brother. My nan says that her father said that his brother was a Major in world war 1. His name did start with F, but her father only met him once. As he was put off by his brothers posh way of life. My nan does not know much, nor does she remember.

Ben

Stuart,

Could you possibly tell me where & how you accessed the British Army records? I would like to look up the records of some of my own relatives.

Thanks

Simon

Hi Simon,

Info came from my own private library- can try & help you if you wish - also have the address locations of various Records in the UK where you may find out far more.

Regards, Stuart.