Hi Everyone
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my story, and for all the help and advice which have proved invaluable.
Just to let you know what I have found - last week I visited the National Archives in Kew - I was lucky and found My GG GF Philip Young's army records.
He enlisted in the British Army, 96th Regiment on the 19/02/1859, in Warwick, England, he listed his place of birth as Chippin Norton, Oxfordshire, England - under distinctive marks was written "none - speaks broken english". !!!! He was 23 years old, 5 feet 6 and a quarter inch tall, with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a sallow complexion.
He married Anne Maria Hoffield (Hoffeld) on the 10th May 1865, in Grahams Town, South Africa, where he was stationed between 1863 and 1865.
He landed in India on 01/01/1866, he transferred to 40th of Foot Regiment on 01/09/1873, where he was stationed until 1883. When he then returned to england and was discharged on 13/02/1883.
So far I have found a possible nine children - 7 born in India and 2 born in Cardiff, Wales.
It looks like he never became a british subject legally - as he lied on his enlistment.
My only question now is his wife - ANNE MARIA HOFFELD (Hoffield) - was she actually German and living in South Africa or was she South African?
Thanks again for all of you help.
Mandy