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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: KDrive on Friday 07 September 12 08:55 BST (UK)

Title: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: KDrive on Friday 07 September 12 08:55 BST (UK)
Hi there
I'm trying to track down an ancestor - John Watson -who was in the 18th Irish Regiment in the 1861 census but I can't track his war records down via the forces-war website, or even find any mention of the regiment on that site
Does anyone know another option on how to access military records?
Many thanks
Alan
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: gortonboy on Friday 07 September 12 12:49 BST (UK)
Hi,,when and where was he born?  ;)
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: KDrive on Friday 07 September 12 20:02 BST (UK)
Hi
He was born in County Tyronne in 1837 and was 24 in the 1861 census, stationed at Shorncliffe Army camp/barracks with the 18th Irish Regiment
Thanks for any help
Cheers
Alan
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: GrahamSimons on Friday 07 September 12 20:14 BST (UK)
One born Ardstrow, Co Tyrone, comes up on Find My Past but no b date stated.

The 18th became the Royal Irish Regt.

Their Muster Rolls are at the National Archives: search in the Catalogue for "18th Foot" in series WO12. I have searched these Rolls for a different Regiment and it is time-consuming with lots to check, but at least you get to see and handle the original document written by the officer concerned.
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: KDrive on Friday 07 September 12 22:11 BST (UK)
Thanks Graham
As I live in New Zealand I'll try and see what I can find on-line - otherwise a bit expensive coming over just for this, my wife may get a bit annoyed!
Cheers
Alan
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: Tyrannosaurus on Monday 10 September 12 09:53 BST (UK)
It was the 2nd battalion of the 18th Foot that was at Shorncliffe in 1861. In case it helps here are the Headquarters locations of the battalion.

From regiments.org
1857.09.18    2nd Battalion, 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment
re-formed in Ireland from volunteers of Irish Militia regiments
1858    UK    
1863    New Zealand - last battalion to leave NZ

From ‘Stations of the British Army’.
From Jun 1858 – Enniskillen
Sep 58 – Castlebar
Oct 58 – Londonderry
Apr 59 – Curragh
Nov 59 – Aldershot
Sep 60 – Shorncliffe
Sep 61 – Portsmouth
Jun 62 – Jersey
Mar 63 – Parkhurst
May 63 – Passage to N.Z.

Rex
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: KDrive on Tuesday 11 September 12 02:47 BST (UK)
Thanks Rex, that'll come in handy, one more step down the road to finding what I want!
Thanks again, much appreciated
Alan
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: meekhcs on Tuesday 01 October 13 11:50 BST (UK)
Hello
I also have an elusive ancestor who served in the 18th Irish Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Stationed at Shorncliffe in the 1861 census. From Ancestry I have discovered he served in the Maori Wars 1863-66 and was discharged in Feb 1870. As the 2nd Battalion left NZ in Jan 1870 for Australia I am assuming he was discharged in Australia. The trail goes cold after this. I presume he either stayed in Australia or returned to NZ. His name was Charles Parmiter.
Charles Parmiter was born in East Stoke, Dorset in 1830. In 1851 he was an apprentice ironmonger to a Mr Tandy in Worcester. I do not know how he made it from there to the 18th. He was unmarried.
 I haven't been able to get to Kew to view the Muster Rolls. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you   
Sally
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: km1971 on Wednesday 02 October 13 05:08 BST (UK)
Hi Sally

I have information obtained from the National Archives, that the 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment left NZ in February 1870. But like all information regarding a regiment's 'station' and movements this usually relates to the commanding officer. Being overseas they would have fewer ships to call upon, so it would not surprise me if they were actually transported over the course of a number of months.

A book was published about 20 years ago on men taking their discharge in NZ, I would ask on the NZ board in the hope that someone has a copy.

Ken
Title: Re: 18 Irish Regiment
Post by: meekhcs on Sunday 06 October 13 18:02 BST (UK)
Ken

Thank you very much for your info and advice. I have discovered a Chas Parmiter in the NZ directories in 1916, which would be old for my Charles Parmiter. However, I wondered if Chas may be son of Charles. I also wondered if Charles stayed in NZ after discharge. Chas Parmiter was in the right area of NZ.

Sally