18 Irish Regiment

[KDrive]

Hi there
I'm trying to track down an ancestor - John Watson -who was in the 18th Irish Regiment in the 1861 census but I can't track his war records down via the forces-war website, or even find any mention of the regiment on that site
Does anyone know another option on how to access military records?
Many thanks
Alan

[gortonboy]

Hi,,when and where was he born? 

[KDrive]

Hi
He was born in County Tyronne in 1837 and was 24 in the 1861 census, stationed at Shorncliffe Army camp/barracks with the 18th Irish Regiment
Thanks for any help
Cheers
Alan

[GrahamSimons]

One born Ardstrow, Co Tyrone, comes up on Find My Past but no b date stated.

The 18th became the Royal Irish Regt.

Their Muster Rolls are at the National Archives: search in the Catalogue for "18th Foot" in series WO12. I have searched these Rolls for a different Regiment and it is time-consuming with lots to check, but at least you get to see and handle the original document written by the officer concerned.

[KDrive]

Thanks Graham
As I live in New Zealand I'll try and see what I can find on-line - otherwise a bit expensive coming over just for this, my wife may get a bit annoyed!
Cheers
Alan

[Tyrannosaurus]

It was the 2nd battalion of the 18th Foot that was at Shorncliffe in 1861. In case it helps here are the Headquarters locations of the battalion.

From regiments.org
1857.09.18    2nd Battalion, 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment
re-formed in Ireland from volunteers of Irish Militia regiments
1858    UK    
1863    New Zealand - last battalion to leave NZ

From ‘Stations of the British Army’.
From Jun 1858 – Enniskillen
Sep 58 – Castlebar
Oct 58 – Londonderry
Apr 59 – Curragh
Nov 59 – Aldershot
Sep 60 – Shorncliffe
Sep 61 – Portsmouth
Jun 62 – Jersey
Mar 63 – Parkhurst
May 63 – Passage to N.Z.

Rex

[KDrive]

Thanks Rex, that'll come in handy, one more step down the road to finding what I want!
Thanks again, much appreciated
Alan

[meekhcs]

Hello
I also have an elusive ancestor who served in the 18th Irish Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Stationed at Shorncliffe in the 1861 census. From Ancestry I have discovered he served in the Maori Wars 1863-66 and was discharged in Feb 1870. As the 2nd Battalion left NZ in Jan 1870 for Australia I am assuming he was discharged in Australia. The trail goes cold after this. I presume he either stayed in Australia or returned to NZ. His name was Charles Parmiter.
Charles Parmiter was born in East Stoke, Dorset in 1830. In 1851 he was an apprentice ironmonger to a Mr Tandy in Worcester. I do not know how he made it from there to the 18th. He was unmarried.
 I haven't been able to get to Kew to view the Muster Rolls. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you   
Sally

[km1971]

Hi Sally

I have information obtained from the National Archives, that the 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment left NZ in February 1870. But like all information regarding a regiment's 'station' and movements this usually relates to the commanding officer. Being overseas they would have fewer ships to call upon, so it would not surprise me if they were actually transported over the course of a number of months.

A book was published about 20 years ago on men taking their discharge in NZ, I would ask on the NZ board in the hope that someone has a copy.

Ken