Battle of Waterloo

[Su]

Hi Mack
Thanks for the reply.

Thomas Holding's son William was born in Hatton (Warrington area) in 1815.  I think there was a Barracks there at some time, but don't know if Thomas was billeted there or perhaps Chester?  I need to find out if the Royal Artillery were billeted at Warrington or Chester, and which one he was at.

His son John was born at Woolwich 1819, so did he go abroad to war during the missing four years?  If so where to?

He had another son Elias who emigrated to America, so wonder if that had anything to do with his father fighting there.

Any information would be a great help in tracing Thomas's
military career.

Many thanks
Su

[Valda]

This is the page with the search for Thomas Holding's attestation papers held at the National Archives
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=thomas+holding&txtfirstdate=&txtlastdate=&txtrestriction=&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=30&image1.y=7

Soldiers who served sufficient time to gain a pension (and therefore their attestation papers survive) have been indexed up to 1854 and can be found in the National Archives catalogue. If you cannot get to the National Archives at Kew yourself you can email them and see if they will photocopy Thomas' papers. His career can also be followed through the muster or quarterly pay lists, so you would know exactly where he was stationed each quarter of his career. You could only access these books yourself at Kew or pay a researcher to do it for you. Thomas' attestation papers will give you an overview of where he was throughout his career.

This is the page for the National Archives research guides
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researchguidesindex.asp

you will find some useful information on researching soldiers under British army.
The reference to Thomas Holding's attestation papers seems to indicate he was discharged from the army in 1818. As he was only 29 it is very possible he was invalided out of the service.
Regards
Valda

[Su]

Valda
Thank you so much for all your invaluable information.  I shall certainly follow it through.

Thank you for taking the time to find this information for me.

Kind regards
Su