discharge Papers

[angela woolhouse]

John Connell O'Brien.
Was my g.grandfather,born 1873 in Islington. He joined The East Kent Regiment in 1890 for 14years. I have a copy of his signing up papers. I know he was in Ireland,he married in 1894 and had three children. I can not find him on 1901 census for either England or Ireland. He "disappeared".
How can I find his discharge papers or evidence of his life and death ? I have been told he is not on a deserters list,as was believed by his family.

[candleflame]

Hi , you say you can't locate him on the 1901 - have you managed to  locate his wife and children on the 1901 and if so does it say she is married or widowed or anything or are they missing as well? Have you tracked them down on the 1911 as well?

[angela woolhouse]

Thanks for asking, 1901 Irish census has John's wife and three children,Mary states she is married.BUT she came to England and was married declaring herself a widow in 1905.

[candleflame]

Sorry to ask something else but does the fact that you put she declared herself a widow in 1905 mean you think that isn't true or am I misreading it. My thinking is running like this - So you have found the wife and children in 1901 in Ireland but you know somehow that she was in England by 1905. How do you know she and the children were in England in 1905. If she was widowed by 1905 but had shown herself as married in 1901, could John have died between 1901 and 1905 ( assuming that to be true

[candleflame]

Am no military expert but what about the Boer war - any likelihood oh military folks??

[mmm45]

Have you checked Boer War Casualties or overseas miltary deaths?

Ady

[millymcb]

Hi

Looking at his papers it says he was in the 3rd Battalion East Kent Regt - (no 3548)


And it appears the 3rd Battalion were in South Africa for the 2nd Boer War. He enlisted for 14 years in 1890  so presuming he was still alive and still serving he would probably have been there (and not at home for the 1901 census)

There are a few references on the net such as this one
http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/buffs_royal_east_kent_regiment.htm

Milly

[psusennes]

Hi! you say he was in the army for 14years well i had the same problem but it is easily solved. Between 1899 & 1902 the Boer war was raging in South Africa so he was probably there. Try checking military records.

psusennes

[millymcb]

Angela - what else do you know about this chap?  And where did you get his attestation papers? 

There is something a bit odd about it..as he seems to have enlisted twice. Once aged 17 (born 1873) in October 1890 - and then again aged 20 (born 1870) in December 1890.

Slightly different occupations and place of residence - but he is given the same army service number so is presumably the same boy.  (see below)

Did you know this - and have you taken into account the possible earlier (presumably false) birth when searching for his death?
Do you know what made the family think he had deserted?

Also - I agree with candleflame - how do you know about his wife in 1905 being a widow?



John Connell O'BRIEN
Born 1873    Islington, London
Age at attestation: 17 years 10 months
Attestation date: 20 October 1890
Attestation corps:3RD BATTALION EAST KENT REGIMENT   
Number: 3548 
Address 40 Plumstead Road, Woolwich
Occupation Painter and Paper Hanger
(Employer/Master .. Mr J Bush)



John O' Brien 
Born 1870   St Albans, Deptford, Kent
Age at attestation: 20 years 6 months
Attestation date: 9 December 1890
Attestation corps: 3RD BATTALION EAST KENT REGIMENT   
Number:3584
Address 69 Hail Street Deptford
Occupation: Plasterer
(Employer/Master.. Mr J Emmett)


Milly