The Queen's

[G.V.Ford]

According to my grandfather's notes, in the 1890s he joined a regiment that he referred to as the Queen's. As far as I can tell there seem to have been a number of regiments calling themselves the Queen's this or that. How can I find out which one it was? He was living in Lewisham/Nunhead at the time.

By 1901 he had done a runner (he doesn't say why) but subsequently spent WW1 in the Royal Garrison Artillery (under an assumed name) so there is no help from the census or WW1 records.

Geoff

[v.wells]

He might still be listed at TNA http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp?j=1
Enter surname and approx dates before he went awol. It won't give an index but if you narrow it down you can order digital images of attestion papers. Pick a date say 1878 to 1900 and see what you come up with.

[Peter Goodey]

Geoff

If he was discharged normally his papers should be in WO 97 at the National Archives (his name will not appear in the catalogue - papers are filed alphabetically by name for this period).

If he deserted, I'm at a bit of a loss to know what to suggest. I know of lists covering earlier periods but not this late.

[Geoffers]

I don't know if deserters are included in the discharge documents in WO97, I'd be interested if anyone knows for sure. My guess is that they are. Using the search engine link given by Vanessa:

In the word or prhase field, enter his surname only
In the year range enter the period you know he served
In the department or series code enter WO97

These records are stored in large boxes containing a hundred or so records. The hits are arranged alphabetically,showing the first and last names that appear in each box. You can order a record online via TNA, they should either tell you the cost or let you know that they cannot locate a matching record.

If you are looking for the name FORD. If the name is unusual and you do not get any hits, you may have to change the way you search - ask if this is the case.

[neil1821]

The Queen's is probably the Queens Royal West Surrey Regt
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/002WSurr.htm

The West Kent Regt would be the Queen's Own
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/050QORWK.htm

2nd Dragoon Guards would be The Queen's Bays
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/DG2bays.htm

There are actually not too many regiments that could be described as The Queen's, assuming we're talking regular army and not yeomanry.
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders is probably not the answer on geographical grounds.