where can i find pension records when date of death is 1915

[AskAnExpert]

Meathmitchell,

You may be looking at a less detailed obituary. According to the one in The Irish Times, 7 June, 1915, his Army pension, if that’s what it was, wasn’t awarded until about ten years prior to his death.

It says that he’s described on the death certificate as an Army pensioner, and that he served as a Private in the old 41st Foot, and passed through the battles of Alma, Inkerman, and other engagements in the Crimean War unscathed. Soon after the Crimean War he retired from the Army after 6 years service. Ten years ago people interested in him took up his case and the old man was awarded a pension of 10s. 6d. per week.

Askan

[meathmitchell]

wow i never saw that article, the one i saw was in the meath chronicle, i didn't think it would have made it to a national paper!. thank you!

[AskAnExpert]

Meathmitchell,

Seeing you haven’t seen it here’s my transcription of the full article from The Irish Times, 7 June, 1915.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
NAVAN, SATURDAY.
The death took place in the Navan Workhouse Hospital to-day of John Mitchell at the age of 107 years. He is described on the death certificate as Army pensioner, and widower. He was transferred from the Dunshaughlin Workhouse on the 14th May last. He was born on the Hill of Lloyd, near Kells, in the year 1808, and shortly before his death, in an interview, stated that he remembered the battle of Waterloo and the excitement created by the news of that historic event. He was resident in the Dunshaughlin Union, and a few months ago, owing to an ailment in one of his feet, had to enter the Dunshaughlin Workhouse. He served as a private in the old 41st Foot, and passed through the battles of Alma, Inkerman, and other engagements in the Crimean War unscathed. Soon after the Crimean War he retired from the Army, after six years' service. Ten years ago people interested in him took up his case, and the old man was awarded a pension of 10s. 6d. per week. The primary cause of death is set out as "senile decay," secondary cause, "gangrene of the foot."

Askan

[meathmitchell]

must search the meath chronicle, drogheda independent and meath herald from 1905 to see if the campaign made the headlines. If he only served 6 years i wonder does that narrow the search for his military records now?

[km1971]

If he was discharged without a pension they will not have kept his records. The Sevastopol clasp was awarded for being in the trenches during the siege any time between September 11th, 1854 and September 9th, 1855. So it was awarded to men who had left the Crimea even before the first assault in June 1855.

The OAP was introduced to people over 70 in c1908. I am wondering if that was the pension referred to.

Ken

[meathmitchell]

If it is the 1908 pension the article is talking about, then his green papers might be in the national library. These give names of parents and siblings and information from the 1841 census on them as well.
I did a quick search in the local paper and their was no mention of a campaign to give him a militery pension or otherwise circa 1905.  If people had petitioned the government to do so, who would it have went to i wonder?

[Soldier Smyth]

wow i never saw that article, the one i saw was in the meath chronicle, i didn't think it would have made it to a national paper!. thank you!

We are related as John Mitchell who died on the 7th of June 1915 was my Great Great Grand-Father. One of his daughters Bridget Mitchell Smyth was my Great Grand-Mother. She had children, but I'm not sure exactly how many, but I do know 2 served in the First World War L. Corporal Nicholas Smyth served with the first battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was killed in Action at Gallopoli 11 th of May 1915 and the other Christopher Smyth served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was wounded at Ypres, Belgium, 1915. He survived the war and died the 10th of September 1969. He was born on the 13th of May 1893. Christopher was my Grand-Father. Christopher had 5 sons and 4 daughters. His second son Edward born the 14th of February 1924 was my Father and sadly passed away the 31st of July 2002 at the age of 78.


Edward Smyth, My Father served 32 years with the Irish Army. I myself served 32 years with the Irish Army. 2 of my brothers Christopher and Edward served to pension and My sister Ann also. To date through Family history, John Mitchell would have 9 Great, Great, Great Grand-Sons serving as permanent soldiers in the Irish Army. Their names are Edward, James, Shane, Liam, Michael, Jason Smyth and also Bernard Lynch, Richard Jenkins and Sean King. Soldiering is still in the blood!!

Regards

Soldier Smyth