Researching military personnel

South Africa was a distant and exotic corner of the globe in 1899, and it captured the imagination of many Canadians, with more than 7,000 serving. The South African War was a significant military engagement in that it marked the first time that Canadian volunteers — both soldiers and nurses — served abroad and distinguished themselves alongside their British counterparts, thereby helping to develop a unique Canadian military identity separate from that of the British forces in a sustained campaign.

This guide will illustrate the process of researching the military service of individuals who served in South Africa with the Canadian military, the South African Constabulary, and the Canadian Scouts, between 1899 and 1908 — from identifying service with military contingents to locating service records, medals, land grants, and supporting archival sources for further research.

The Red River Expeditionary Force (RREF) was created in the spring of 1870 and consisted of British regulars and two Canadian militia battalions, one each from Quebec and Ontario, totalling 1,200 members. In 1885, more than 3,000 militia members from Central and Eastern Canada were brought together for the Northwest Field Force, with an additional dozen nurses supporting the government forces. Units were also raised locally, including the Alberta Field Force, Steele’s Scouts, the Rocky Mountain Rangers, and other smaller formations. In 1885, Métis fighters numbered approximately 250 or more, with additional support from First Nations allies.

This guide will illustrate the process of researching an individual’s service or participation, and the military operations of 1870 and 1885 — from understanding the historical context to locating service records and related archival resources for further discovery.