John Jas. Styles -what Regiment?

[nedroma]

John James Stiles (correct spelling); Born Poplar 1868

In the 1891 Census at Guildford  he appears  as "Soldier Private Infantry" in the 2nd Regimental District. [RG12/560 folio 194 page 9]

Is there a simple way I can find out what Regiment he was in and any other detail about his military career.

Would Guildford be a main barracks or was he in transit somewhere?

Sadly in the 1901 Census he is back home in Bromley, London [RG13/346 folio 133 page 45] as a Road Sweeper aged 33; does that mean he was possibly invalided out of the Army

[CatOne]

On the "description" page, its says "Depot The Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment", Stoughton, Guildford, if you google this regiment, the page it goes straight to (an official army page) gives details from 1914 onwards,  haven't found any further back yet although one of experts should be able to tell you about regiment

Cat 

[jorose]

If he was discharged from the army between 1891 and 1901 his discharge record would be at the National Archives, and should be indexed by name:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=14

Did he have any children who may have been born while he was still in the army?

[nedroma]

Hello JoRose and thank you for taking an interest

Thank you also for the link to the National Archives - I presume that such records are only viewable by personal visit to Kew.

JJS is married in 1895 in Poplar which is his birthplace and also that of his wife Elizabeth; I await a marriage cert from the GRO

Two children are born Elizabeth in 1897 in Limehouse and John S Styles in 1899 in Mile End.

Dont know when he was dischaged  so can't comment re the children. I guess that his marriage cert will tell me whether he was still in the army in 1895.

Alan

[scrimnet]

And the Regt records are held at the Surrey Family History Centre in Woking...

[nedroma]

I now have an 1895 marriage certificate for JJS in which he gives his rank as "Conductor" - so by by 1895 he is out of the Army.

Being born in 1868, I guess that he would not have joined the Army much before about 1883, so it looks like his Army career lasted 12 years at the most

Having signed on what would be a typical period to sign on for?

Does service of less than 12 years suggest that he was discharged or invalided out?

Would the West Surreys have been posted abroad period 1883 -1895?

[scrimnet]

No it doesnt!

Six years with the colours ie Regs and then option for six yrs on the reserve was quite the norm...

BTW

"Conductor" is also an army rank within the Royal Army Ordnance Corps / Royal Logistic Corps as is now...

[Conductor Mike]

Hope this gets back to Nedroma!  The term 'Conductor' is a an appointment in the British and some colonial Armies.  its the most senior non-commissioned officer appointment in the British Army.  This guy was a very senior sort!  You can get more from:  www.rlc-conductor.info.  Also there is no reason to assume he left the army when he got married. He's more likely to have had a full career. If he was British Army you might track him down at:  http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html or the National Archive at Kew or online

If in the Indian Army you might find something at the British Library Ref: L/MIL: India Office: Military Department Records 1708-1959.  Very best of luck.  Mike