Captain Thomas M'Donagh, died 1898

[grisel]

Thomas and Anne are in UK censuses in 1871 and 1881.
In barracks in Whitehaven in 1871, a sergeant in militia and Chelsea pensioner.
In Carlisle in 1881, a Quartermaster.

Find my Past also have him in the 1878 army list.
QM Thomas McDonagh 1st April 77.
On the line above in brackets and italics Capt in the Army 4 Mar 68 but it is not clear who this refers to. However he is still a sergeant in the 1871 census.
Would he have been promoted to become a Quartermaster? The Cumbria's Museum of Military Life in Carlisle may possibly know.They have a web site and do have a research service for a fee.

[grisel]

Bearing in mind that my understanding of army ranks is minimal, I came on a 15thMay 1863 Hansard debate about the pay and conditions of Quartermasters. My understanding from that is that they were recruited from the ranks, generally staff sergeants, and became commissioned officers then at the end of service were given an honorary rank and an increase in pension.
It was quite a lengthy debate and I may have misunderstood - but maybe this is how Thomas became a Captain on his retirement.

[Jomot1]

The first time I see him in the local papers referred to as Quartermaster is 20 July 1878 in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald: Quarter-master T. McDonagh

So searching from the 1873 appearance as Sergeant Major McDonagh until July 1878 brings up this:

Wellington Gazette and Military Chronicle, 15 April 1878
Military Appointments - To be Quartermasters
[...]
T. McDonagh, Roy. Cumberland

(Roy being Royal)

[Pam Downes]

Thinking about it, though, the Freeman's Journal should have its facts right?

e (April 1)
So it looks very much like the 'Captain' part was an embellishment by someone once he was back in Ireland.

Anything written by a third party, especially after someone's death, is only as reliable as to how well someone knew the deceased. I had trouble finding the death of my granddad's brother I eventually found a likely candidate whose age and area of death fitted, sent for a copy of the death certificate and it came back with an incorrect middle name. It was an unusual middle name, but it was near enough his actual name to be him. Plus the occupation was one he'd had for thirty years. He died in the workhouse infirmary with no relative to register his death because he and his wife had separated some time previously.

[Sinabhfuil]

Still not finding a service record for the Cumberland Militia / 3rd Border Regiment so I’ve searched the newspapers and there’s no mention of him being a Captain.

The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald of 4 August 1883 carries a report of the annual training week and lists the officers in attendance. The Captains were Bain, Le-Fleming, Ritson, Thompson, Blencowe and Irwin, with Thomas recorded as Quarter-master T. McDonagh

The Cumberland & Westmorland Herald of 10 May 1884 reports on a month’s annual training and lists the officers in attendance as Captains Glencowe, Irwin, Bain, Lacey Thompson, Le-Fleming and Quartermaster Mc.Donagh. Captains Atkinson and Butler were also temporarily with the regiment.

We know Thomas retired in 1885 and the Army and Navy Gazette dated 28 March 1885 says:
3RD BATTALION, THE BORDER REGIMENT. – Qrmr. T. McDonagh is placed on a retired allowance (April 1)

Army and Navy Gazette 11 April 1885
THE BORDER REGIMENT. – Qrmr.-Serjt James Edward Bonner to be Qrmr. vice T. McDonagh, retired (April 1)

So it looks very much like the 'Captain' part was an embellishment by someone once he was back in Ireland.

Sounds like it all right!