Enlistment into the 7th Fusiliers

[helenna]

It would seem my grandfather , Henry Montagu, enlisted into the 7th Fusiliers in 1855/6 when he was 17yrs old and served in the Crimean war, this then changed into the old 13th Somerset Reg.  As I am unable to trace any info on his life before this date I wonder if anyone could tell me where he would have enlisted, also if it would be possible for me to get details of this. Maybe his family details???
Many thanks
Helenna

[km1971]

Hi Helenna

By 'this changed into the old 13th Somerset Reg' do you mean that he transferred? In the medal roll for the Indian Mutiny there is a 233 Corporal Henry Montague in the 13th Foot. He was discharged 30 November 1860.

If you have his papers can you summarise his service. Being a Corporal a few years after he enlisted would be quite an achievement, and a discharge date of 1860 would fit in with an enlistment of 1846/7 for a 17 year old, or 1845/6 if he was abroad when his 'twelve' were up.

His papers should say where he was born and where he enlisted. If not you will have to look in the Muster Books and Pay Lists (WO12).

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step4.htm

Ken

[helenna]

Hi Ken,
Many thanks for your reply which is much appreciated.. I will certainly follow up on the info you have given.
However we havent had much luck yet in finding his papers regarding his family etc. Which is why I wondered if we could find out where he enlisted we might find this very important info.
Best Wishes
helenna

[km1971]

By 'papers' I mean his army service record in Kew.

Ken

[helenna]

Hi
Thanks.  But we dont have any papers or any record of his life before he was 17.
Margaret