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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Maggott on Monday 29 March 10 22:12 BST (UK)

Title: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: Maggott on Monday 29 March 10 22:12 BST (UK)

I have a photo, dated Calcutta,1924, of my father and some colleagues horsing around on what looks like the terrace of an hotel.  He was a squaddy serving in the Royal Artillery- can any Army experts tell me anything about this posting to Calcutta, I wonder?  Was it likely to have been to the city itself? Or to Dum Dum, which I believe was the location of the arsenal? 
Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I'm just starting on this branch of research & I know zilch about military matters
Any info very welcome-thanks
Maggott

Title: Re: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: DianaMC on Tuesday 06 April 10 10:51 BST (UK)

You could try the Families in British India Society
http://www.fibis.org/

Title: Re: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: Maggott on Tuesday 06 April 10 20:55 BST (UK)

Hi & thank you for your reply.  I didn't think of FIBIS-I've used their info in the past, but I'd always assumedl their focus was on civilian life.  Shows how much I know!  I'll certainly try them
Best
Maggott

Title: Re: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: Mal2010 on Tuesday 11 May 10 20:58 BST (UK)

Try an internet search for Fort William Calcutta, e.g. Wikipedia. This was a huge fort and you may be looking at the barracks which could hold some 15000 soldiers and frequently their wives as well. there are lots of photos of the fort on the net and you may be able to see a familiar building....
My Great Grandad is buried there.

Title: Re: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: DianaMC on Wednesday 12 May 10 06:39 BST (UK)

Thanks for the new lead - lots of interesting material to read.

Title: Re: Royal Artillery in India
Post by: Maggott on Wednesday 12 May 10 12:48 BST (UK)

I didn't know about Fort William-many thanks  Maggott