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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: cannyfindit on Tuesday 30 December 14 15:03 GMT (UK)
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I recently discovered that one of my ancestors had been a Chelsea Pensioner. I looked up his details in the records at FindMypast, but was a bit bemused by the findings that the search gave out...I don't fully understand what to do with them (if there is anything that I can do with them).
The document transcribed was an attestation for the year 1862; my ancestor was 18 years old. It gives his attestation corps as "Military Train", it also gives his service number. There is a box number and a box record number (British Army service Records 1760-1915)..and that's about it.
Now I have no head for military records stuff, so can someone tell me where I should look next, or am I unlikely to find any further info?
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You need to post a link to what you have found. Or at least his name and the WO reference. It may be just an index to another record. Although 'box' may refer to the box it was stored in at the National Archives, before they decided to let Findmypast get involved, and so it now meaningless.
The Military Train was created after the Crimean War to improve transport.
Ken
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Here's what I acquired for my 5 credits:
British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription
First name(s;) George
Last name; Heal
Birth Year 1844
Birth parish: Cheddar
Birth Town: Axbridge
Birth County: Somerset
Birth Country: England
Service Number: 500
Rank: ---
Regiment: ---
Document type: Attestation
Attestation Year: 1862
Attestation Day: 17
Attestation Month: 1
Attestation age years: 18
Attestation age months: ---
Attestation Corps: MILITARY TRAIN
Attestation service number: 500
Series: Chelsea pensioners British Army service records 1760-1913
Box: 2150
Box record number: 107
Record Set: British Army service records 1760-1915
category: Military, armed forces and conflict
Record collection: Regimental and service records
Collections from; Great Britain
I didnt see any WO number mentioned, I'm sure.
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All you have is the transcripton, you need to click on VIEW IMAGES to download the records
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mm....the image cost quite a bit....in the end it's the full attestation document. Looks like he signed up for 12 years. There's no other information about where he went or served, though....is it possible to research that any further?
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From you last post it sounds as if you have downloaded all five pages, if that is the case then I'm afraid there is nothing more.
Jebber
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But there is so much you can learn from those pages!
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He does have another Record on FindMyPast in the form of the entry in the discharge book of the Army Service Corps, which is the unit he was discharged from in 1881.
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Thank you saw119, and Jebber....I think I've asked enough of you, and I can get on with "digging" a bit later on...family is waiting for tea! best regards.