H Reed 29/838 58th Foot.

First of all a I would like to say thankyou for accepting my request to join this group.
I am looking for information on a friends Great Great Uncle who was awarded the 1879 clasp South Africa medal.
His name was H Reed, number 29/838 and was part of the 58th Foot.

All/Any information would be gratefully received as the family has literally nothing.

Many thanks in advance.

Simon

Hello Simon
Info from census and military papers not in any order.
Henry Reed 29/838 58th Regt born circa 1860 Towcester Northampton, Attested Army 14 Feb1878 aged 18 2 months Agri Labourer, he could not sign his name papers show X,
to 29th depot feb 78, to 58th as private 16 march 1878, to 2nd battalion 1 july 1881,
Imprisioned 1882 27 days, 1885 42 days, dec 1885 112 days,
Extended service to 10 years 19 feb 1885 whilst in South Africa.
to Army reserve 22 march 1888, discharged at Northampton 15 feb1890 service 12 years.
served uk 16 feb 1878 to 30 april 79, to south africa 1 may 79 to 14 sept 1885 to Hong Kong 5 sept 1885 to 16 march 88 to uk 17 march 88 to 15 feb 90.
served in zulu war 1879 medal and first boer war 1881 no medal issued for this war.
on his medical sheet sprained ankle 20 days bed rest 1882 and a dose of syphilis 25 days treatment 1883 whilst in pietermaritzberg Natal, also sick at Rorke's Drift in july 1884.
next of kin father joseph, mother susanna, brothers joseph, james, charles, frank, and john also 58th Regt.
from 1861 census, Address Inns Farm Towcester, Joseph born 1830 Agri Labourer, wife susan, kids james 1859, emma 1857, julia 1860, harry[henry] 1861 census records are always one year adrift.
two reed families living in Towcester about this time 1840's 1860's, your family came to Towcester abt 1859/60 henry born Towcester 1860 but james born Colne Essex 1859.
Brother John No 2362 58th Regt attested 1880, served south africa dec 81 to 1885, also at R/Drift in 1884.
Brother Charles born 1863 dies in 1888 aged 25 and was buried 5 may 1888 at St Mary's Easton Neston Northamptonshire.
regards Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Hello Rai. Thankyou so much for this information. I will get back in touch with the family and post their reply.

Seems he had quite a chequered time in the military. A lot of sickness too.
Would it be a fair assumption a lot of drinking and maybe sleeping around?

Interesting information. Once again thankyou so much.