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Thanks for the response Mick.

I actually got my dates slightly wrong - he was born in 1899/1900 at Curragh.

I've spent much time studying the 11th's history, because I convinced myself years ago that he'd served with them. The Regimental Museum doesn't have any records for enlisted men/nco's. Also, because he died as an officer, I dimly recall that the service records in question were destroyed in WW2.

As for the 11th's postings. General dates can be misleading. Often, Regiments sent detachments to serve overseas with different Regiments, or would send A & B Squadron but leave C at home.

I've since discovered that his wife's family lived in Cheriton, the village next to Shorncliffe. So now I, trying to find a regiment to fit the following dates and locations!!

1898/9 - Shorncliffe
1899/1900 - Curragh
1901 - Overseas
1908 - Shorncliffe

I'm still going with the 11th - comes back from India to Shorncliffe. He meets and falls in love with a local girl. New posting to Curragh, she gets pregnant and gives birth there, whilst he goes off to Sth Africa. She takes her first-born home to her parents in Kent (1901 census). He comes back from the war and is posted to Shorncliffe. Child number 2 is born there. He retires in shortly thereafter. Rejoins in 1914 as Lt QuarterMaster and then, very sadly dies of wounds in 1918, aged 49.

I would appreciate some help in researching my Great Grandfathers early military career.

The facts are:

Lt Quartermaster John Richard Sealy Mills, 11th PAO Hussars
Died of Wounds May 1918 (buried Cheriton, Kent), aged 49 (born 1869)

That information comes from family knowledge, CWGC, and the Regimental history at the Winchester Barracks.

I know what he did during the war but have always wondered what he did beforehand. I know he had a military background but that he wasn't serving at the outbreak of the war.

The 1911 census shows him in Edmonton, Middlesex, working as a Steward Marine. He had a wife and 2 children and this is where I need to start putting some meat on the bones.

My Grandfather was born at Shorncliffe Barracks in 1908.
His brother was born at Curragh Barracks in 1898.

In the 1901 census, my Great-Grandmother was listed as visiting her father in Kent and had her first born son with her. My Great-Grandfather was not with them. We know he served in the Boer War.

So, I'm looking for a regiment that was at Curragh Barracks in 1898, abroad (Africa) in 1901 and in Shorncliffe in 1908.

I'm forming the opinion that he was with the 11th pre-war, retired between 1908 and 1914, then rejoined the regiment, and given his age and experience, was made Lt Quartermaster, a position given senior NCO's.

Have I talked myself into a solution?! Can anyone confirm my guess work? Does someone have detailed records of NCO's serving in the 11th (the Regimental museum doesn't).

Thanks very much indeed.