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Armed Forces / Re: Missing piece of the puzzle- Theophilus Jones
« on: Friday 15 February 08 13:17 GMT (UK) »Hi Ayashi
Welcome to the Forum. My GGGF also served in the Royal Marines, from 1855 to 1876. He was promoted to Corporal only six months before he retired – I presume to give him a bigger pension – so your GGGF did very well. In my GGGF’s time they did not have Lance Corporal, so the rank must have been introduced later. I found his records about ten years ago in Kew and was able to get A2 copies in glorious colour. As they were trying out a new colour copying service, staff at Kew took an extra copy and pinned it to the wall of the copying room as a sample for years later. They probably took it down when they let visitors take their own photographs. His name was James Plummer if anyone remembers it.
Anyway, it will be RMLI. There was also the Royal Marine Artillery. I think they finally combined in the 1920s. At some time in the 19th Century they were called Red Marines (RMLI) and Blue Marines (RMA) from the colours of their tunics. Here is a link to the online guide at TNA - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/marines/step2.htm. Knowing that he was in Plymouth will help as finding his Division is half the battle. But you will need to visit Kew or employ a researcher.
In the 1901 census, have you seen his youngest daughter over the page, and also the visitor?
Ken
Hi Ken,
I would be really interested to here more about James Plummer. Perhaps you would humour me and post a brief biography?
Rgds,
Alex.