Royal Engineers - 1922 - Peking - Mudken Railway

[cazza59]

Hi All

I've recently discovered that a relative, a Sergeant Major William Henry Foster was in the Royal Engineers and was killed in an accident in 1922 while working on the Peking - Mudken Railway.  In a newspaper clipping we found about his death, it states that he "drove the train that took Marshal Joffre from Mudken to Shanghaikwan". 

Can anyone give me some more information about the Royal Engineers, e.g. how it would have come about that he ended up in China,  in fact anything at all that I can use as background information or how I can go about researching his background.

Prior to being in China, he was in India arriving sometime between 1906 and 1911, if that helps. 

Fingerscrossed!

Kind regards
Caroline

[km1971]

Hi Caroline

If you know his army number you can apply to the MOD for his service record. As he died while serving you do not have to supply a copy of his death certificate. If you do not have this it may be better to contact the Royal Engineers museum. As they may have something on a senior NCO.

Like all major powers, the UK had troops in China until the communist revolution. This increased after the Boxer rebellion so foreign powers could protect their legations in Peking. The British North China Command was in Tientsin, a city with 6-7 foreign concessions. Nearby Weihaiwei was a British colony from 1898 to 1930.

Ken

[cazza59]

Hi Ken

Thank you for responding.  We actually just got his death certificate, but up until a couple of days ago, had no idea he was in the army, so unfortunately we don't have his army number. I will try and contact the RE museum as you suggest. 

I'm going through Ancestry records at the moment to see if his service record is there but no luck so far.

Thank you for your assistance, very much appreciated!

Kind regards
Caroline

[km1971]

I'm going through Ancestry records at the moment to see if his service record is there but no luck so far.

Hi Caroline

Ancestry may have a record for medal(s) for WW1 and/or India. But it will not have his service record, as they only have them for men discharged 1914 to 1920. If he was serving in 1911 they will also have him in the census of that year, even if he was serving overseas. The one exception is Ireland which are online separately. One problem with the 1911 Irish census is that men in institutions, including the army, are only recorded by their initials. Wives and children of soldiers are however recorded separately in full.

Ken

[cazza59]

Pardon my stupidity, but to you mean he will  be on the English 1911 census because we've searched high and low, or do you mean on the Indian 1911 census?

Two of his daughters were sent back to England from India in 1912, while his wife returned to England from India in 1914 presumably because she was pregnant and of course, WWI starting.  I think it's possible he may have returned to the UK by 1916 and then went out to China.  According to the newspaper snippet, his wife and two youngest children had only just joined him in China shortly before he was killed (1921/22) in an "accident" with no further details.   Even his death certificate simply states "accident" which seems a bit odd to me and would have expected some sort of description e.g. killed by landslide; hit by train but no, so I'm really keen to get his service record as hopefully it will contain further details.

Once again, thank you for your interest!

Caroline

[km1971]

All overseas military census for 1911 comes under England as the county of 'Military'. However any search would include this, so you should have found him or his family.

What were names/ages of his wife and children in 1911?

Ken

[PDoddie]

Hi Caz, I know you posted a long time ago, but I have relatives with those names, are you also relations? Re

[cazza59]

Hi PDoddle


I just responded to you on the other post before reading this one!!  Just to reaffirm, I am connected to William Henry Foster who was married to Annie Wilkinson, children Rose, Naomi and Harry all born in Brighton.

Fingerscrossed we have a connection!

Caz

[cazza59]

All overseas military census for 1911 comes under England as the county of 'Military'. However any search would include this, so you should have found him or his family.

What were names/ages of his wife and children in 1911?

Ken

I am so sorry Ken, I don't know how I missed your last post, but I do apologise for overlooking your comment!   I am very appreciative of you taking the time to search and respond on my behalf so  please accept my apologies for the oversight!   

Caz