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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: toedwar on Wednesday 20 October 10 19:07 BST (UK)
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I am looking for a manifest of the men on the HMS Jumna which sailed from Bombay & Vingorla, India to England but was diverted to Aden/Suakin in Feb 1884. Is there a record anywhere of all the soldiers who were on the ship? I have the reference from “Troopships and their History” by Col H C B Rogers OBE that states that the 10th Hussars, M-I Battery RA and 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers were on the vessel but I suspect there were others from other units as well. I am looking for Arthur Rowland O'Regan.
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I sorry I can't help you with which other units were onboard, I suspect elements of the supporting corps suchas: the Army Medical Department; Medical Staff Corps; Army Service Corps & etc.
What I can assist with is a period photograph of H.M.T. Jumna circa the time.
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h4/Isandlwana/HMTJumna001.jpg)
Her Majesty's Troopship Jumna
Isandlwana
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Thank you for the photo Isandlwana. It's always nice to see what sort of conditions they had for travel etc.! I believe there were elements of other units on the ship, i.e. other soldiers returning home, etc. but I haven't been able to find any source information. My hope is to find a manifest of the soldiers on the vessel, similar to the passenger lists of civilian vessels.
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Troopships did not need passenger lists as each unit on board would have taken their own roll call once or twice a day to see who had fallen overboard. I assume you have looked for him on Findmypast? That is the best way to look for an individual.
The first involvement of the 10th Hussars and 2/RIF was El Teb on 24th February 1884. They did not receive the earlier Suakin 1884 clasp. The 1st Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment were also involved at El Teb (and not Suakin), and they too had come from Aden. They may have hitched a ride. Also involved were elements of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, plus the corps already mentioned.
You could also research the newspapers of the ports of call to see what information they give, but you really need to provide more information about who this man was and why you think he was aboard this ship.
Ken
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Ken, thanks for the information - hopefully no one fell overboard! I have looked for him on FindMyPast without success. He's very elusive and my big problem is not knowing what unit he was in which is why I was hopeful there might be a manifest of units or soldiers on the Jumna. He was the subject of another thread where I posted what information I have, but the short answer is that he wrote a letter home dated "Suakin, February 21st" while on a small transport vessel out of Suakin (presumably to Trinkitat) in which he states the Jumna was diverted at Aden. Here is an excerpt from the letter:
"When we arrived at Aden we were sent on here at once to check a follower of the Mahdi's. We reached here on the 19th and with the 60th Rifles and with the 2nd Brigade Royal Irish Fusiliers are on our way now to relieve Tokir which is besieged. We sailed at noon today and shall arrive about 5pm.
We expect to be in action tomorrow, the sooner the better and then I hope they will send us home. We were served out with arms and accoutrements yesterday. I suppose you have seen in the paper that the Jumna was ordered here."
I also know that he came home to England after the action at Tokir and then emigrated to South America sometime before 1900 so had presumably left the army before them but don't know under what circumstances. He was born June, 1856 so would have been 27 at the time. I am fairly sure he was not in the 10th Hussars which was the other unit on the Jumna (he also served in the 2nd Afghan war but is not in the Afghan medal rolls for the 10th according to Garen) and his reference to the 60th KRR and the 2/RIF suggests he was not in either of those units. Your information that the Y&L also came from Aden is new to me, so they would be consistent with the information in the letter. Were the Y&L in Afghanistan?
Tom
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I was also hoping to see a manifest for JUMNA, but for a journey four years earlier when the ship brought my grt grandfather (66th regt) back from India in Dec 1879 - my intention was to check up on any additions to his family. Alas, like you, my hopes have been dashed by the info from km1971.
I have been able to track JUMNA's movements from articles in The Times which is accessible on online with a Lancashire Library card number.
On checking the issue of 26th Feb 1884 I see that JUMNA did indeed unload at Suakin all the units mentioned plus 17 military police. No mention of any other regiments on board.
Jim
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Were the Y&L in Afghanistan?
Hi Tom
Yes the 1st Battalion of the Y&L (then the 65th Regiment) are on the Afghan medal roll for 1878-80. Other information says they were in Aden for two years before being sent to Sudan.
Ken
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On checking the issue of 26th Feb 1884 I see that JUMNA did indeed unload at Suakin all the units mentioned plus 17 military police. No mention of any other regiments on board.
Jim
Jim, thanks for the information about the reports in the Times for Feb 1884. I haven't had any luck finding him in the units mentioned in the reports, which is what has prompted me to look for other possible units. No luck so far but I'll keep looking!
Tom
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Other information says they were in Aden for two years before being sent to Sudan.
Ken, thanks for the information. Unfortunately, the 65th doesn't seem a likely candidate if it was in Aden for the two years before being sent to the Sudan as it doesn't fit with what he says in his letter. When we arrived at Aden we were sent on here at once....
Is there any way to search the medal rolls for the Sudan medal without going to Kew? Are they available any where else? Tom
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Is there any way to search the medal rolls for the Sudan medal without going to Kew? Are they available any where else?
Hi Tom
The roll for 1882 is on CD. I don't believe the 1884 version is. If you don't get a more informed answer here you should try a question on the British Medal Forum.
Ken