formation of ASC 1875/100th regiment of foot

[clovis]

My ancestor George Schofield was shown as member of 100th regiment of foot in 1871 census  based in Bury, Lancs - then in 1875, he is shown on birth certificate as a member of ASC in Aldershot.  I understand that the ASC started in 1875 - would george have been arbitarily tranferred to new formation by dint of his specialisation in 100th regiment of foot (stores or transport) or would it have asked for volunteers from existing regiments?  Any info on start up of ASC or on the wherabouts of 100th regiment of foot 1871-1875 gratefully received!

[km1971]

Hi Clovis

Here is a link to the founding of the ASC - http://waggoners.co.uk/wbsitepages/hist/ascevol.htm. They were a result of emerging of other supply-type departments. Men would not be transferred to the ASC without their agreement. And an infantry regiment would not go out of its way to help a different corps. So the onus would have been on George to request a transfer. Maybe the 100th Foot were moving away and he saw this as a chance of staying in a particular place. Unfortunately records do not tell you why people do things.

If you can get to Kew you can check to see if his record survives - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/army/step4.htm. If he was discharged 1873 to 1882 the ASC have their own boxes. If between 1883 and 1900 men from all units are together in alphabetical order. Findmypast will be putting these online by 2011.

If his papers have not survived you can look in the Muster Books and Pay Lists (WO12 and 16). I dont know how the ASC's are organised, but you could start with the one for the 100th Regiment for 1871-72, and work forwards and backwards. Musters from this period should show details of wives and children if he was on the married roll, which you will probably not get from his papers.

Ken

[clovis]

Thanks for your help.  Will go to Nat Archives to see what I can find.

[km1971]

The 100th Regiment were in Aldershot from June 1871 until August 1872. So that may be when he decided to transfer. He wanted to stay in Aldershot!

I have a ASC tunic and will post a photograph when I can.

Ken

[clovis]

Fantastic piece of info - George married in Salford on 4 Jun 1871 which I now suspect is due to his imminent posting to Aldershot (in my experience, many military marriages are precipitated by a move!). 

On a separate note, any idea when 100th Reg of Foot moved to the barracks at Elton in Bury and where they were beforehand?

Looking forward to seeing the tunic photo.

[km1971]

They returned from Canada at the end of 1868. Spent less that a year in Glasgow. Moved to Manchester September 1869 and Bury October 1870.

While they were in Canada they would have left a Depot in the UK.

Ken

[clovis]

Thanks - best I get down to the NA to find out when he joined up and when he was discharged(census shows him as a labourer in 1861 and by 1881, he's back doing manual work in Bury again).

[km1971]

Men enlisted for 12 years. You could either do 6 years in uniform and 6 years in the Army Reserve; or all 12 years in uniform. Men in the AR rarely recorded the fact on BMDs or the census etc. They just recorded their day job. The 'discharge' took place after the 12 years, not when they transferred to the Army Reserve. Service before the age of 18 did not count. So most men were discharged between the age of 30 and 35.

If a man was overseas when his 6 years were up, the army could keep him for up to another year, before allowing him to transfer to the Army Reserve to complete the rest of his 12 years.

Ken

[clovis]

thanks!