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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Aideen McBride on Friday 09 May 14 19:56 BST (UK)
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Hi
This is a photo of my Great great grandfather Hugh Carroll (Dublin Ireland) born 1856 died 1907.
We have been told that it is a Conaught Ranger uniform, but I would be very grateful for any other information the photo gives.
can the medals be identified?
is there any significance to the design on his sleeves?
Also where would the Conaught Rangers have served between 1875 and 1900 where might he have been posted.
and where can I go to find his service record.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Aideen
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Quite possibly the Queen's SA Medal & Khedive's Star.
Depending on when he went in maybe the Afghanistan Medal
Also looks an NCO.
To try & id medals/uniforms requires a good quality scan.
This is what we're looking at.
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Hi Aideen
The problem is the ring suspension on the first medal (nearest the heart). This is not for a campaign (unless you go back to the Turkish Crimea), but more likely for a royal visit, jubilee etc. Either way he is wearing them the wrong way around, as it was campaign medals first, then commemorative.
The Connaught Rangers had green facings (collars and cuffs) while all other Irish Regiments were 'Royal' and had royal blue facings. So no help there.
The Connaughts did wear two types of collar badge - a Irish harp with a scroll underneath and an elephant (without a howdah). And he could be wearing both. Or he has his collar undone. So a better scan of the collar badges is also needed. Their museum may be able to tell you if they wore them together at any time.
The cuffs for the Regulars were cut straight across until c1901 and for 20 years before. And I believe they also lost the white front piping. So I would guess he is in the Militia, after serving as a Regular when he received both campaign medals at least.
Ancestry have 19th century medal rolls, and Findmypast have surviving records for the Regulars and Militia.
The Connaught's Militia were separate regiments for Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. They were also the county regiment for Leitrim, but the Leitrim Militia were affiliated to the Rifle Brigade. Men had to live in the county to be in the Militia. So that should be a clue.
They were formed in 1881 from the 88th and 94th Regiments of Foot, and these titles were still being used well after 1881.
Ken
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Had a look on Ancestry & FindMyPast & can't see a Hugh Carroll Connaught Rangers.
We need to try & positively identify his Regiment.
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Thank You Jim and Ken for your answers.
I'll go back to the family member who has the original photo and see if I can get a better quality scan.
Have you any idea where the Conaught Rangers recruited from, Could he have signed up in Dublin? Or would have have had to travel to those counties you mentioned?
Aideen
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Hi Aideen
You could enlist almost anywhere.
But you also have to consider is that he served as a Regular in another regiment - even an English or Scottish one and then joined one of the Connaught Rangers Militia.
Where did he live towards the end of his career?
Ken
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HI Ken
He died in Dublin 1907 in the workhouse/hospital of pneumonia, and his death cert gives his occupation as 'carman' The family business up to the end of the last century were car men/ carriers,
I think I have him on the 1901 census living with a sister but no occupation is listed there.
Aideen
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If you have checked Findmypast for his service records, all you have left are the medals. If you can get a better scan then post it here. Otherwise you can a question on the British Medal Forum, where someone may recognise the combination.
Ken
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Thank You Jim and Ken for your answers.
I'll go back to the family member who has the original photo and see if I can get a better quality scan.
Have you any idea where the Conaught Rangers recruited from, Could he have signed up in Dublin? Or would have have had to travel to those counties you mentioned?
Aideen
My great-grandfather, born in Chatham, Kent in 1852, was in the Militia in 1871 in Fort Gomer, Alverstoke, Hampshire; he attested 88th Foot 27 May 1871 in Gosport, Hampshire ; among other places, he was in Athlone and Galway 1876 - 1877.