2nd Battalion - 18th Regiment of Foot

[siws968]

Where can I obtain information about the army service record of Samuel Carter who served with the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Regiment of Foot -  in the 1861 Census he was with the battalion at Camp Shorncliffe, Kent.  I do not know the date he left the army or when he joined.  In the 1871 Census he is shown as married and working as a Post Office Stamper.  Samuel Carter was born 1842 in Yarmouth, Norfolk

Any help would be appreciated  -  Thank you

Siwsan

[km1971]

Welcome to the Forum.

Men would enlist for 12 years in order to qualify for a pension, either 12 years in uniform or six, followed by six in the Army Reserve. Later in the 19th Century it changed to 7 plus 5.

If he had served 12 years in 1871 he would normally called himself an army (or Chelsea) pensioner plus his other job. This had to be after the age of 18 as well. So I suspect he was an army reservist in 1871 and he did not mention it. Here is a link to researching soldiers in Kew - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step4.htm

The discharge papers for men discharged before the end of 1872 have been microfilmed and if you cannot get to Kew you can ask for a copy of the film to be sent to your local FH Centre. The records from 1855 to 1872 have not been indexed so I doubt they will search the whole film looking for him, without them charging a lot of money.

If you can get to Kew you can search the Description Book which will give you age and occupation on enlisting, plus detailed description. The Muster and Pay Lists also give detailed information money by.  I doubt if you will get any family information from any source in Kew, as they just did not record it.

Ken

[neil1821]

He'd be age 18 or 19 in that 1861 census.
He can't have joined very long before that, so let's say he enlisted sometime between 1858 and 1861.

The 2nd Battalion, 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment was re-formed in Ireland in 1858. They were in the UK (I don't have anything more specific) until 1863 when they were deployed to New Zealand, where they stayed until 1870. While there, they were involved in the 3rd Maori War (1863-66)

I have the battalion's medal roll for New Zealand but I don't see Samuel Carter listed. 
I can only think at some point he transferred battalion or regiment. This could be before they embarked for New Zealand or indeed over there (in which case he may appear on the medal roll for some other regiment).

[petemcbride]

I am interested in your NZ War Medal list with respect to my relative Patrick McBride (enlisted in 2/18th Royal Irish Regiment in Omagh 1858, and left in Australia in 1870). We have no history of such a medal for Patrick, and also John McBride (maybe a brother or cousin) who left the unit in NZ in 1869. I have researched the muster rolls at THE PRO in UK, but would dearly love to get more information.

Patrick also had 4-5 children whist enlisted, with wife & family on establishment, where might one find information of those births as they do not make it into local BDM records.

Many thanks in advance

Pete McB

[km1971]

Hi Pete

Was he 476 Private Patrick McBride? He was awarded the NZ medal for service during 1863 - http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/sale_boer_pre_1914/pics/v2200.htm

His medal would have had the date 1863 in the centre. In the remarks is a note that he deserted 17 August 1870. They were about to leave NSW for the UK then.

As you have researched the muster books you should have the ages of the children in years and months. So you need to calculate when they were born – including the months (most musters were at the end of the month recorded) - and then compare it to where he was at the time. If you do not have a copy of all rolls you should post the dates (including months). You can also look on the regimental/overseas BMDs on sites such as Findmypast. They should be indexed ‘18F’.

He was a bit cheeky carrying on with his given name. Most un-captured deserters are a brickwall as they usually changed their names.

Does the married roll give the date he went on the list?

Ken

[petemcbride]

Hi Ken,

Thanks so much for the reply. I have already found some hits on Findmypast as you suggested. I heard through a NZ genealogy forum, that Patrick would not be awarded the medal, as he deserted the unit in Australia (with his family) on their return to the UK. I saw in the rolls that he re-enlisted in 1868 (at 10 years), and would have been a member of the unit a full 12 years on his departure. Would this have made him eligible for pension etc. How would one track down Patrick's NZ Medal after all of these years.
Also regarding John McBride (#969) in the same unit, he transfered into 2/18th in 1858, and deserted in NZ in 1869. I discovered he applied for a land grant for his service & was denied, although it looked like the govt could have confused him with another member who deserted much earlier.
As you noted, surprise that they both kept their given names through all of it. I will continue with your suggested searches, and check my dusty notes from the PRO.
Many thanks again.
Pete McB

[Caro]

I am also searching for info about a soldier from this regiment:

1861: 2nd Battalion 18 Royal Irish Regiment of Foot Camp Shorncliff, Cheriton, Kent
Martin HANNALLY age 22 b. Roscommon, Ireland - Quartered In Shorncliffe (Private Soldier)

Finding no other, and with a family tradition of modification of the name from HANNALLY or HENNELEY, he MAY have become Martin HENLEY. For two generations descendants have been trying to find Martin HENLEY's Irish roots, the PRs of all places mentioned by Martin's generation having no trace of his family! Two aunts went twice to Ireland searching for them.

"Marriage solemnized in St. Mary's Chapel, Holly Place, in the District of Hampstead in the County of Middlesex
25th November 1866, Martin HENLEY, age 29 years, Bachelor, Bricklayer, of 21 Grosvenor Road, Hampstead, father Michael HENLEY, Ploughman & Ann OWENS in the certificate described Ann OWEN, age 23 years, Spinster of 19 Belsize Park, Hampstead, father Samuel OWENS, Tailor
Married in the St. Mary's Chapel according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church by me, Vincent St. EYRE
This Marriage was solemnized between us, x The mark of Martin HENLEY; Ann OWENS
in the Presence of us, John HENLEY, Mary Ann McEVOY
A. F. COUTES, Registrar"

Martin had a brother John b. c.1843, in 1871 both bricklayers living in Hampstead, London, and giving their pob as Ireland.

Anne (Diana) OWENS was from Rhayader, Wales.

Findmypast doesn't list a soldier's record for Martin - any idea where I could discover more?

Advice, help, much appreciated,
Caroline

[EdithCulnane]

I have just found the response of Neil1821 to a query about the 2nd 18th Battalion in New Zealand.  Do you have any record of William or Edward Keleher in your record of medals?

Both served there, and I have found more information on Edward Keleher because he had to produce Chelsea Pensioner records when he was admitted to Newtown Benevolent Home in Tasmania.

I have been able to trace William Keleher's movements because he had children born off the Isle of Wight, in Wanganui (1866-67) and Auckland 1869.  He returned to Australia (Melbourne) in 1870.

Any help you can offer would be much appreciated.

[km1971]

Neil has not been on for a year. You can find the medal roll on Ancestry.

Ken