Peninsular Medal Roll?

[bredaryan57]

Dear Ken

Thanks sincerely for your reply and explanation.  I really appreciated that you look up Isaac Onions for me.
As far as I can understand he was stationed in Tralee Co. Kerry Ireland with the 39th Reg. Foot, where he married and must have moved on to fight in these wars.  I hope I have the right man!!  Thanks again for your help.


Breda Ryan

[charlotteCH]

Hi Breda

Isaac Onions is listed on the roll for the Military General Service medal with a single clasp for Albuhera. The roll is for battles during the Peninsular War against the French and for the war of 1812 against the US and France. The medal was not introduced until 1847, and men had to be alive then (and apply) in order to receive it.
http://www.2ndqueens.com/albuera.htm

Ken

Ken, may I ask for clarification  on a point please?

The Roll is only of men who applied in 1847 for the medal?

There is no separate list of those who fought in The Pen war & 1812 but had died by 1847?
Thanks
charlotte

[km1971]

Hi Charlotte

The Muster Books (and Pay Lists) are in Kew as original documents - mainly WO 10 to 12 for this period. These tell you where each man was for the monthly 'muster'. It was Horse Guards way of ensuring they were only paying for men who existed. They introduced regimental numbers in the 1820s as another check.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=16&j=1

The Waterloo meal was issued at the time, and also for men who died. Medals were not generally given to Other Ranks until Queen Victoria's reign. It is said that Prince Albert persuaded Queen Victoria to issued the MGS, but only to men still alive, and they had to claim it.

Ken

[charlotteCH]

Thanks... my RSM Jonas Hargreaves died in 1846 ... so he couldn't apply.  He'd missed Waterloo as the 82nd Foot arrived back from canada three days after the battle.

So no medal for Jonas unfortunately.

thanks for your help

charlotte

[km1971]

Hi Breda

The 1st Battalion of the 39th Foot were overseas from 1805 to 1815. They would have kept a Depot in the UK for recruiting new men. They also had a 2nd Battalion from 1803 to 1815 who were in Ireland 1806-8. They also fought in Spain.

As Onions only received the Albuhera clasp he must have been sent back to the UK after that battle, and probably before Vittoria (another of the 39F's battle honours).

Ken

[bredaryan57]

Ken

Thanks so much for all your help and amazing info.

Breda

[bredaryan57]

Ken Breda here again!
Does the muster list give details of where the person was stationed at the time and if they were married or single?

[charlotteCH]

ken, from what i was told by the kind person who did the lookup for me of th 1st WRY muster rolls, NO is the answer to your question.

Mind you, that was the 1780 militia muster, so later ciuld be different.

charlotte

[km1971]

Hi Breda

The married roll was added to the muster books c1870

Ken