Hospital sargeant

[Tiki1962]

I was wondering if anyone can help? My ancestor is listed as a hospital sargeant whilst serving in the 70th regiment in India. Can anyone tell me what this is? Thank you

[km1971]

If there were no trained men of the Army Hospital Corps available they would second enlisted men to fill the role of hospital orderlies. If you list his name, place and date of birth we may be able to find his record online. This may tell you more.

Ken

[Tiki1962]

Thanks Ken. It is George Thomas, born in Donaghadee Ireland in 1826. He served in India and New Zealand. He was in the 70th Regiment of Foot.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tiki

[t mo]

hi tiki
pension record for a george thomas born 1826 parish donaghadee tyrone
att date 31 may 1843 age at att 17yrs 10 mos   [ att, means when he joined up ]
dischare rank sgt  soldier no 1989
served in india 12 yrs  and new zealand 2 yrs 4 mos
service /
private 31 may 1843 - 30 july 1843  under age
att age of 18 , 31 july 1843  - 28 aug 1848
promoted corporal 29 aug 1848 - 10 nov 1852
promoted sgt 11 nov 1852  - 30 nov 1852
appointed hospital sgt 1 dec 1852  - 7june 1861
sgt 8 june 1861 - 21 sep 1863
granted good conduct pay 1 penny on 1 jan 1857
further service 22 sep 1863  -  2 feb 1864

medical detail
epilepsy , did not have it prior to enlistment  and though subject to epileptic fits he is not incapable of contributing towards a livelyhood

occupation groom

thats all the relevant detail on the record
regards
trevor

[Tiki1962]

Thank you so much Trevor. I am trying to now find him in New Zealand as a resident. Is there any way of knowing how long a pension was paid for? And where to? Did the pension stop on his death? This is my first military ancestor so it's all new information for me.
Cheers Tiki

[km1971]

Hi Tiki

Pensions were paid for life, and there was no widow's pension for Other Ranks until c1902.

For the second half of the 19th Century they employed Staff Officers of Pensioners, who were usually semi-retired officers on half-pay. In 1861 there was one based in Onehunga. None is listed for 1884, so maybe they had to go to Auckland. If he could not go himself the pensioner had to supply a Life Certificate signed (usually) by the local church minister to prove his was still alive.

Later the pensioner probably went to the nearest Post Office. By this time it would have changed to weekly or fortnightly payments. Staff Officer of Pensioners are mentioned in the London Gazette from 1847 to 1893.

Ken

[barryd]

There was a George Thomas with a wife Leonora Elizabeth in India in 1857. Given that his name is fairly common is this him?

[Tiki1962]

Thanks Ken. Are there lists of who the staff officers of pensioners were?Are there any records of who got paid and where they lived? If so I can find out where they lived in New Zealand.
Thanks Barry but he was in the 70th Regiment and his wife was Catherine who he married in 1854. They were both listed as widowed. They travelled to New Zealand in 1861. George's step son was my great great grandfather.
Thanks again for all your help.
Tiki

[Tiki1962]

Hi all. Is there any way of knowing when the pension ceased? Ie when the soldier died, as that would help me to track the family. Thank you if you can help.