Foot Guards Detachment, North Camp Aldershot

[coley62]

Like many others I have an ancestor who is found in the 1861 census listed as Foot Guards Detachment, North Camp Aldershot
Is there any way of finding out if the regiment is definitely the Coldstream Guards before parting with a search fee?

[gortonboy]

hi,,you could look at the census for the officers,,,then try and match them with regiments,,,?

[John915]

Good evening,

In 1861 the foot guards consisted of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards, each with 3 battalions. The detachment could have been from any or all of these.

The Guards museum most probably has all the rolls from this era so worth trying them or paying a visit.

John915

Added; http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/Family-Research

Apparently all records of that type are held by the different RHQs. All at Wellington barracks and you need to phone.

[km1971]

Is an officer present?

Or can you provide the link to the entry. One of his colleagues may be on Findmypast.

Ken

[pnewman]

Hello,

I too have a relative on this census return, Robert Berry, who was a Valet (I guess to an officer).  I have contacted both the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards who unfortunately can find no record of his service with them.

I was wondering whether as a Valet, whether Robert would have seen active service and if not if that is why his service record does not exist?  He is listed as a Soldier, so I guess he probably did?

I had a look at the officers names on the beginning of the census return, and the majority seem to be from the Coldstream Guards, though one may also have been with the Scots Guards, so I am still not entirely clear.

Have you been able to get any further with your query?

Thanks,

Philip

[km1971]

...and the majority seem to be from the Coldstream Guards, though one may also have been with the Scots Guards,

Hi Phillip

The officers are:
= Grenardiers 10
= Scots (Fusilier) Guards 8
= Coldstream Guards 7

The other ranks appear to be recorded by company. So if you find a service record for a man either side of Berry, that should be his regiment.

Ken

[pnewman]

Hi Ken,

many thanks for your reply.  Looking at the census, it seems that all the officers are at the beginning on the census, followed by the soldiers with corporals and sergeants.  Nevertheless, I shall try to find out information about those either side of Robert Berry.

Would Robert have had a service record even if only a soldier / valet or servant?

Thanks,
Philip

[pnewman]

Hello,

a quick update.  I've had a look at the census return for a Corporal immediately 'above' Robert Berry in the census, and a Sergeant immediately 'below' Robert in the census.  According to the Chelsea pensioner records on findmypast, the Corporal was in the Grenadier Guards, and the Sergeant was in the Coldstream Guards!

The list of names is

Corporal (Giles Lewis), Grenadier Guards
Wife
Visitor
Robert Berry Soldier (occupation, Servant)
Sergeant (Stephen Darling), Coldstream Guards
Sergeant, Coldstream Guards
Sergeant
Corporal etc, Coldstream Guards
Private etc

Which may indicate that he belonged to the Corporal or above, in the Grenadier Guards?

[km1971]

They would only have kept his service record if he earned a pension. Then it was after two times ten year enlistments. Or a temporary one if he was invalided out. Have you found him in a later census?

I will check the records of the men around him.

Ken