Captain Carlos A. Rivers - HMS Shah?

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Illustrated London News 10 June 1899

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Dover Express 06 May 1898

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser 12 May 1898

scratch

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
1901 Census

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Major Rivers, 1953
Major Rivers, 13 April 1953. Major Carlos A Rivers -- 103 years.;Caption slip reads: 'Photographer: Mitchell. Date: 1953-04-13. Reporter: Cowles. Assignment: Major Rivers. 57/58: Major Carlos A Rivers, 103, reminiscing on eve of his 103rd b-day anniversary tomorrow.'. (Photo by Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries/Corbis via Getty Images)

Posts : 366 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

graves,

There was no one with the name Carlos A. Rivers serving aboard HMS Shah during the Zulu War. He is not listed among the officers, or enlisted men of the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. He does not appear among the officers listed on the Navy List for December 1879, and neither does the name appear on the Medal Roll for the South Africa Medal 1877-79.

Tom

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Tom

Many thanks for having a look, I also could not find him listed anywhere.
Could he have enlisted under an alias?

Andy

Posts : 366 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Andy,

I doubt it. In one of your attachments, "Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser 12 May 1898", Rivers
claims he was a late Captain in the Royal Navy.

Tom

Subject: Re: Captain Carlos A. Rivers - HMS Shah? Mon Nov 04, 2019 7:18 pm

I’ve sought advice from a BSAP contact to see what they might have on file regarding this fellow.

JY

Posts : 3385 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi John

Many thanks for seeking advice from your BSAP contact. Hopefully it will bare fruit.

Andy

Subject: Re: Captain Carlos A. Rivers - HMS Shah? Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:29 am

Andy,

Apparently the BFI hold some footage of the arrival of the African contingent for the Greater Britain Exhibition.

http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/1186

There are some accompanying press reports of the scene and the exhibition in the side bar.

JY

Subject: Re: Captain Carlos A. Rivers - HMS Shah? Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:58 am

I think that Rivers is on these moving images:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-colonial-troops-and-cavalry-on-the-march-1899-online

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-savage-south-africa-savage-attack-and-repulse-1899-online

JY

Posts : 1085 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi All,
Well what can we say? his military career i cannot find anything for any period. He was born 1 April 1950 [according to his death registration but other records date his birth between 1850 and 1854].
Went to America in 1895, returned to UK. Left for USA again 11 June 1904 arriving New York 19 June 1904 his occupation is a Mechanic. [US records give two men of the same name one in NewYork the other California]. He Marries Lilian Y.E. Jehu in 1916 St Georges Hanover Sq London District, she born 1876 in Texas USA. He appears on the 1930, 1940, 1950 US Census firstly in Jacumba San Diego California, then Los Angeles California, by 1950 he is a Widow. He dies 27 Jan 1955 in Los Angeles, age 105.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

» Captain A. L. S. Burrowes, RMA. HMS Shah
» Captain Benjamin Sidney Jackson HMS Shah
» Rorke's Drift: The Immortal Anglo-Zulu War