4th light dragoons

[falang007]

Hello, could someone please help with regiment and service information. I have an ancestor who is recorded on his Marriage Certificate in 1859 at Coventry as being a Corporal in the 4th Light Dragoons.He married Hannah Webb. His address was recorded as 'Barracks'.
His name was James Holt and he was born in St. Peters, Radford, Nottingham in 1834.
I believe he died in Nottingham in June of 1879 aged 45. I don't know where he is buried.

[Peter Goodey]

If I were you I'd try to get hold of his soldiers papers.

Please read http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14

Your man's documents should be filed in the range WO 97/1272 - WO 97/1721 where they are arranged by regiment, which luckily you know. He will not be indexed by name in the catalogue.

[Geoffers]

Welcome to the B-G forums

Do you know when your chap left the army? - Does he appear in either the 1861 or 1871 census as a soldier, or a civilian?

If he left the army before 1873 - then his record might beincluded in this file at TNA - WO97/1287 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=690228&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CCAVALRY&accessmethod=0)- you could request TNA to provide you with an estimate for copying the file (if it can be found in this box).

If he was discharged from 1873 onwards, then I suggest trying this file to obtain his record - WO97/1739 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=690677&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CCAVALRY&accessmethod=0)

You cannot view the records online at the moment - you have to view tham at TNA, or hire a researcher to check for you, or order copies.

If you can wait, these documents are going to be made available online on a well known pay-per-view site - see this news item from TNA - Chelsea Pensioner records (WO97) and Militia Attestation Papers (WO96) (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/212.htm)

Do read the reseach guide linked in Peter's reply, above.

[Penny Gallo]

[edited to remove url - please google Surrey Genealogist to find the database referred to ] if you go to this and click on "Databases", then type in the surname. There are several Holts in connection with the Crimea. I can only find Thomas, Robert and Edward. I think this database records men wounded or killed, and it does give most of the regiments. I've found it really useful tracking down a Crimean veteran. Best wishes. http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-confused-smileys-358.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Confused-Smileys/)

[falang007]

Thanks for the help guys, I have a feeling he was not involved in the Crimea war, maybe if they had them he was a reservist or he was with a different Regiment, or he joined up too late for action. If he was made a Corporal sometime around 1859 did the 4th Light Dragoons see action somewhere else after the Crimea campaign up to 1859? I can't find him on the Cencus either. Does anyone know where the Barracks were in 1859, I can't find a reason why he married in Coventry at that time?

[Lawrence W. Crider]

1950 Private James Holt joined his regiment in the Crimea on 1st September 1855. Although he arrived before the fall of Sevastopol, the medal rolls only show him being awarded a Crimean Medal. Based on his regimental number, he probably enlisted around April to June 1855. The Depot Muster rolls show recruits enlisting with regimental numbers preceding his and following his, but his name is not shown. Any follow up on his military records should pick up after March 1856, as he had not been promoted to Corporal by that time.

[falang007]

thanks for the info Lawrence. I went to the National Archives in early March 2010. I couldnt find his service record. I found he paid £24 in 1865 to leave the dragoons who renamed - 4th Queens own Hussars. He was based in Dundalk Ireland when he left.