Thanks Adrian - will do some more research to see if I can get anymore information about his regiment.
The family story is that he 'was in the Kaiser's army - but swam a river to get away!' I think I've managed to find his marriage (Carl Taube)to my G Grandmother (Marie Schneider) Dec 1880 in St James Clerkenwell but after that nothing! The marriage cert. shows him, his father and father-in-law as hairdressers.
I believe he died between 1888 - 1901 but can't find a death cert. I know that my g'mother and her brother were brought up in Germany (probably near Wolmirstedt, Saxony-Anhalt) as their mum had to go back into service (not sure if that was in England or Germany) They were back in England in 1901 (census & school records) No trace in alien immigration records of their movements. Seems like I've hit a 'brickwall'
As I am very new to this I'd be grateful of any suggestions of my next steps.
Thanks