Census for soldiers serving abroad

[trachelospermum]

Hi, I've been helping a friend with his tree and we've been unable to find his Great great grandfather in the 1901 or 1911 censuses (censi?). It appears that he was serving with the 2nd batt. Irish Fusiliers abroad (India) for both these censuses according to the movements of the battalion. Were army personel stationed abroad covered by censuses? We have no idea where he was born though we believe it was around 1881 as he was killed in 1917 aged 36. His name was Charles Alexander Burleigh Robson.

[stanmapstone]

The 1911 Census was the first one to have a full enumeration carried out of the British Army serving overseas, including details of wives and families. In earlier censuses the military authorities only provided the Census Office  with the numbers of officers, other ranks, wives and children, either by place or by regiment. Those serving at home have always been enumerated

Stan

[trachelospermum]

Thanks, how would I go about finding the 1911 army census? I've had a go with the 'official' 1911 census but all the people that show up are in the wrong regiment and listed as single when our man was married 

[stanmapstone]

There is only one 1911 Census. Ancestry have a free search of the 1911 Census index. In the list of counties is "Military" clicking on this brings up the enumeration districts


    Arabia, Cyprus, and Gibraltar
    Bermuda and Jamaica
    Burma and Andaman Islands
    Ceylon and India
    Channel Islands
    China and Hong Kong
    Egypt
    Egypt, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Sudan
    India
    India and Singapore
    Malta
    Mauritius and South Africa
    South Africa

Stan

[trachelospermum]

I'll try ancestry again. It's been a few years since I last used it and I find the 'new' layout and search difficult to use... I always hated the ranked results and don't seem to be able to find what I want anymore!

[andycand]

Hi

On Ancestry use the Old Search and make sure you tick the box that says exact matches only

Andy.

[stanmapstone]

In the top right click "Go to Old Search"

Stan

[trachelospermum]

I can't see anything that lets me go to the old search :-( the bit in your screenshot isn't there on mine, maybe it's because I'm using PAYG at the moment?

[danuslave]

Use 'exact matches' with care!

If the entry isn't (literally) exactly what you search for, it won't find it.  And we all know about transcription errors don't we?

the bit in your screenshot isn't there on mine

Click on
Search
Search All Records

It should be on that screen

(I always forget where to look!)

Linda