finding a regiment

[enaid]

My great grandfather, John Grimster (b. 1839 in Somerset) was in the army and in 1871 was stationed at Verne Citadel Barracks, Portland, Dorset.
He was posted to India and had 3 children who were born there. He was back in
England by 1880.
His Medal Rolls Index Card shows:-
Royal Field Artillery  (Regtl. No. 87049)
and Royal Engineers, Cpl.  (Regtl. No. 37037)
Under 'Victory', I can't quite decipher, but looks like
'Roll'  RE/101 'Page' 3073

How can I find his Regiment, as I would like to know where in India and when he was posted as I am trying to trace his marriage and his children's births. I don't know his wife's maiden name although she was b. in Ireland.  I have the dates of birth of their children in India but no other information.

[ScouseBoy]

Have you done any searches on www.findmypast.co.uk  yet?    Have you got the full names of any of the children?

[ScouseBoy]

I suggest that you search for the family on the 1881 Census on www.findmypast.co.uk

[apwright]

The Medal Index Cards are for men who served overseas during the First World War.
Your John Grimster would have been 75 or so in 1914, so would not have been sent overseas even if he was still in the army (doubtful!)
I would hazard that the MIC belongs to a different man with the same name...

FindMyPast has a 5-page service record of a John Grimster, born Ilminster circa November 1838, who served in 2nd Battalion 7th Foot (Royal Fusiliers) from Oct 1857 until May 1879, rising from Private to Serjeant. There aren't too many details of his service, but he served in Gibraltar, Malta, America (including Canada in 1866) and over 5 years in the East Indies.

Adrian

[neil1821]

Yes, as Adrian says, ignore the medal index card. That relates to WW1 and can't be your man who would have been in his late 70s.

Following Adrian's lead, 19 Pte John Grimster, 2/7th Fusiliers appears on the CGSM medal roll for the Fenian Raid of 1866,
http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/canada_general_service_medal.htm

The 2nd battalion was formed in Oct 1857 (when he joined them) then served as follows:
1858-63 Gibraltar
1863-65 Malta
1865-67 Canada
1867-72 England
1872-74 Ireland
1874-89 India

Perhaps Scrimnet (our mod) can move this to the main Armed Forces board for you since it's not WW1 related

[neil1821]

If you check the army and regimental births on FindMyPast you should find his children's birth's in India. SHould tell you a more specific place of birth. Also you can then order death certificates should you wish.

[enaid]

Thank you all so much.  I was dumb.  Obviously his time was before WW1.
I have the names and dates of birth of the children b. in India, from 1881 census but didn't know how to go about getting their birth certificates.
I had looked through 'Find My Past' a few years ago and got nowhere.  I suspect their records weren't as extensive as they are now.  My subscription has since expired so I will have to renew it. I have been relying on Ancestry but have drawn a blank.
Many thanks again for your help and pointing out how dumb I was - I can't believe I missed that.