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Thanks, Mark, I'd seen conflicting reports of when the 14th arrived in India, so it's nice to know that it was definitely already there when our man arrived.

And thanks for that, Andy. That makes sense - our man remained with the 38th Field Battery throughout his time in India. But this moved from the 14th to the 61st Field Brigade in March,1929.

I found it hard to locate anything online about Brigades and Batteries in the inter-war years. I couldn't find anything at all on the 61st.

Thanks again.

Thanks Alexander.

I hadn't picked-up on the FS reference.
And, as we all know, they can be annoyingly vague about where information came from.

The Northumberland diocese (including Newcastle-on-Tyne) wasn't separated from Durham until 1882, so long after the introduction of civil probate in 1858.

This all sounds a bit mysterious, but at least I have a lead to follow now.

And thanks for the book link, Mark - that's a real puzzle.
The book was published in 1827 and includes Miles' burial (he was, indeed, a Master Mariner).
However, he was buried at Ballast Hills Cemetery on 1 Mar 1829 !

"Curiouser and curiouser"

Thank you all for responding.

On the Ismay one-name study website, a Will is described for a Miles ISMAY in 1810:
https://ismay.one-name-mwp1.net/groups/web/group203/pafc02.htm#56C2

Miles didn't actually die until 1829, so presumably 1810 is when the Will was written.

There was no Probate for Newcastle-upon-Tyne (unless someone knows better than me), it was part of the Diocese of Durham. However, I've checked Durham, York and Canterbury. And there's no Will.

Does anyone have an idea where this Will might have been proven ?
It's driving me nuts.

Thanks Shaun

I've already ordered his WW2 RN Service Record from TNA/MoD.
But not holding my breath. ;-)

I have a soldier, Timothy KELLY, who served during WW1 with the Royal Irish Rifles as a Rifleman.
His entry on the BWM & VM Roll (see attached) shows that he served with the 2nd and 16th Bn.
I have his discharge papers which show that he originally enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers in July,1915.
And a hand-written note in his Pay Book stating that he first served on the Western Front in June,1916.
He was taken prisoner-of-war on 21 March,1918 while with the 16th (Pioneer) RIR.

So far so good.

My problem is with his RIR Service Number - 3/10797.
'3/' would indicate that the number was issued with the 3rd (Reserve) Bn.
And comparable Service Numbers were issued in 1917, which does not align with him first having served overseas in June,1916.
Or am I wrong ?

There are other anomalies.
His discharge papers state that he was aged 16 when he enlisted in 1915 (which is correct). So he wouldn't actually have been eligible to go overseas until he turned 18 in December,1916.
Another note in his Pay Book states that he enlisted in 1914, aged 15. Which is clearly not correct. So was he just wrong in stating that he first went to France in June,1916 ?

I think that's what I'm starting to suspect.
But I could do with another pair of eyes before I write off his notes as 'economical with the truth'.