British Army in India, late 1890s

[Anna]

Have discovered great grandpa served with Hampshire Regiment in India 1892-1898 and 1900-1903. One child certainly born there, recorded Lucknow, maybe two (Army records indecipherable)

Anxious to learn are they any Census lists of troops in India, where can one find birth records for children of troops in India, are there any websites giving information on the British Army in India? Or even 3rd Hampshire Regiment over there. This is new information to me and really wanting to know about life for wives and children over there.

[get2BJ]

Try this site - I've pulled up the person search page for you. I have had some successes here with my step-father's parents, their siblings, and his grandparents, all of whom were married/born in Bombay:

http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_person_search.php

Best wishes

Brenda

[Geoffers]

Try service records which are held at The National Archives. See their research guides

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp

(Scroll down t 'B' and look at the links prefixed 'British Army')

Army births are recorded in separate registers - for this period you will need the index to the regimental registers of birth. As you know the regiment, you stand fair chance of finding identifying the entries you want from the indedxes (unless his name was Jones in a Welsh regiment).

You can find these on pay-per-view web-sites such as 'findmypast' - they are also on fiches at many county record offices. Copies of certificates can be pruchased from the GRO.

Geoffers

[Anna]

Thank you for your replies. I was aware of the fibis site but it didn't come up with anything for me. I have now found a site called familyrelatives.com where you can search overseas records for free.

I certainly have learnt a lot in the space of a very short time about the Hampshire Regiment!! I got his papers through Army Pensions WW1 (via a place we don't mention) because although he left the Regiment in 1911 after 21 years service he re-inlisted in 1914, discharged in 1917 as being medically unfit. The papers make absolutely fascinating reading plus the fact there is a full physical description of him.

I wish I could get the same about another great grandfather who was in the Staffordshire Regiment and later the Royal Welsh! Unfortunately I don't have enough information to go on.

I guess I am really interested in the human side - what life was like in the Barracks - I guess I may need books rather than the Net for that.

[Geoffers]

I wish I could get the same about another great grandfather who was in the Staffordshire Regiment and later the Royal Welsh! Unfortunately I don't have enough information to go on.

You should be able to trace his service record - especially since you know the regiments, the records should be held at Kew. Again refer to the research guides at TNA and the link I previously gave.

Geoffers

[Anna]

Geoffers,

I know I should be able to access, but I am a newbie when it comes to Military, when I go to National Archives I just get one reference number after the other and they are only references about records, they don't come up with anything to actually physically acess anything or enter a name.

I must be doing something terribly wrong.

[Geoffers]

When you say 'go to the National Archives' do you mean actually going to the building itself, or to its web-site - or using the pay-per-view site that you mentioned?

I am assuming that your other great grandfather was alive and served about the same period of time.

TNA's web-site does not index individual army records on its catalogue for this period.

Your chap may not have served time to pension and so not appear on the web-site you mentioned.

Records relating to his service should be held at TNA, you will need to go there and search through the individual records to identify your chap's record. If you know his date and place of birth, you ought to be abe to identify him.

By the way, I don't know of any census returns for army in India

Geoffers

[Jo Simpsons]

My bit may be totally off mark for you. I subscribed to a list a good while ago mind,
http:www.indiaman.com (http://www.indiaman.com)
but the info I havent followed on as yet, My Hubbys step mothers side. But I got this today, not sure where you live but...

Who Do You Think You Are - TONIGHT!
Tonight, the long awaited programme about the Impressionist, Alistair McGowan's Anglo-Indian roots will be shown tonight (4th October 2007) on BBC1 at 9pm.
One newspaper describes the episode thus: "Alistair McGowan had always assumed his origins were Scottish, even though his father was born in India. Little does he suspect what he is about to uncover as he begins his investigations in Calcutta... It's an exhilarating eye-opening ride into the past, with new surprises at every turn, and it leaves McGowan positively reeling."
For more information about the series, please click the link below, where you can view unseen fottage from the series. McGowan's episode will not appear on the website until after the programme has aired on TV.
Who Do You Think You Are? (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bbpfgfcab.0.eevfgfcab.aovswyn6.1464&ts=S0285&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbcwhodoyouthinkyouare.com%2Fin dex.php%3Fpage%3Dhome)
Also, we have added another ebook to our website titled; "The History of the Army in India 1662-1906." This ebook is valued at £27.00 but for a limited period we are giving it away for only £1.50.
The History of the Army in India 1662-1906 ebook offer! (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bbpfgfcab.0.fevfgfcab.aovswyn6.1464&ts=S0285&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiaman.com%2FIndia%2520Army%2 520History%2Findia-army-history.html)
Best wishes
Paul Rowland, The Indiaman Magazine email: editorial@indiaman.com
phone: +44 (0)1909 774416
web: http://www.indiaman.com (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=bbpfgfcab.0.rkngg8n6.aovswyn6.1464&ts=S0285&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiaman.com)

[Anna]

Thank you for that information Geoffers, it's the first time I have had to investigate military connections (as you can tell!), unfortunately a trip to TNA is impossible for the time being. As you seem to be knowledgeable about the Military, regarding Pensions - were they guaranteed a Pension? I presume it depended on length of service but were there standard rates do you know?

Jo, I greatly enjoyed the WDYTUA programme last night, one of the better ones I thought, and it just goes to show you can never assume who you are. I am just thrilled to have made my find, makes a welcome change from Ag Labs.

[Geoffers]

regarding Pensions - were they guaranteed a Pension?

Soldiers could be granted a pension either on retirement following long service or because of disability, the pensions being administered by the Royal Hospital Chelsea and until 1929 (I think that's the date, it was around then anyway) for the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham for those in Irish regiments. I understand that the system of pensions was fairly standard.

Geoffers

[marilynmahabir]

Have discovered great grandpa served with Hampshire Regiment in India 1892-1898 and 1900-1903. One child certainly born there, recorded Lucknow, maybe two (Army records indecipherable)

Anxious to learn are they any Census lists of troops in India, where can one find birth records for children of troops in India, are there any websites giving information on the British Army in India? Or even 3rd Hampshire Regiment over there. This is new information to me and really wanting to know about life for wives and children over there.

Hi Anna,
My ancestors were with the British Army in the 1880/1890s too and I have got lots of invaluable info from the India Office at The British Library in Euston/St Pancras. They keep records of births, deaths and marriages and it can be searched by index books and fische for details.
Best wishes
Marilyn

[ShirleyB]

Im trying to trace an uncle, Ernest Hall who died in India during WW1, I think he was with the Royal Berkshire regiment but unsure, any ideas anyone please

[marilynmahabir]

Im trying to trace an uncle, Ernest Hall who died in India during WW1, I think he was with the Royal Berkshire regiment but unsure, any ideas anyone please

Try www.cwgc.org that may help.
Marilyn