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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Dinkydidy on Saturday 24 January 15 20:17 GMT (UK)

Title: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: Dinkydidy on Saturday 24 January 15 20:17 GMT (UK)
A widow of the 44th regiment remarried in 1843 to another member of the 44th, and their son's Australian death certificate in 1908 said that he was born in "Ghiznee, Afghanistan" in 1844. I have since found his christening record at Kussowlie on 25 August 1844, with his father now belonging to the 9th regiment, but he was said to be born on 16 July. How likely is it that he was actually born in Afghanistan?

Didy
Title: Re: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: Jebber on Saturday 24 January 15 21:04 GMT (UK)
Some soldiers had their families with them, and since you have his baptism, you can be quite sure the birth information is correct.


Jebber
Title: Re: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: Dinkydidy on Saturday 24 January 15 21:39 GMT (UK)
It is clear that the baptism occurred at Kussowlie, but no actual PLACE of BIRTH is stated. I wonder if it was possible at that time that he could have been born in Afghanistan before returning with his family to Kussowlie.

Didy
Title: Re: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: ashwin_nov on Thursday 21 April 16 11:40 BST (UK)
Information can be verified from the Church Records at Kasauli.

contact@christchurchkasauli.org


A widow of the 44th regiment remarried in 1843 to another member of the 44th, and their son's Australian death certificate in 1908 said that he was born in "Ghiznee, Afghanistan" in 1844. I have since found his christening record at Kussowlie on 25 August 1844, with his father now belonging to the 9th regiment, but he was said to be born on 16 July. How likely is it that he was actually born in Afghanistan?

Didy
Title: Re: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: km1971 on Thursday 21 April 16 15:39 BST (UK)
The British  'Army of Retribution' left Afghanistan in November 1842. They were sent there to avenge the massacre of about 15,000 British and Indian troops and camp followers earlier in 1842. The British did not return until the 1870s. So I cannot see how a British subject was born in Afghanistan after about summer 1841.

Ken
Title: Re: 1st Afghan War - when did the British return to Afghanistan?
Post by: Dinkydidy on Monday 02 May 16 16:40 BST (UK)
Sorry for this tardy reply Ashwin & Ken, but I have just returned from an internet-free holiday.

After a little research, it didn't seem likely to me that the birth could have been in Afghanistan. It also seems that other members of the family may have died around the time of the massacre. I believe that Ghazni had been one of the British victories at the time and its name may have lingered in the memories of this regimental family. It's not the first time I have found suspect information on a death certificate.

Didy