Irish 5th Fusiliers - circa 1846 - files

[Yenram]

Please forgive my ignorance - I just don't know where to look or how to start searching English/Irish documents from Australia 

I have been tracing my 5 x Grandfather Michael Dooley and historical paperwork from the Police Musuem in Victoria Australia has his application papers recording he served in the 5th Fusiliers Army for 7years.  Working backwards from the papers work he would have been in the Army circa 1846.

the paperwork also says he was in Mauritius prior to coming to Hobart Town Australia around 1853.  Did the Fusiliers go to Mauritius??

Michael Dooley was born 1824 in Galway ( I know this from his death certificate ). 

I would be grateful for any help on how to proceed from here .   

[km1971]

The 5th Regiment were not Irish. If they had a geographical linkage before 1873 it would be as the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers. Before 1873 there were no permanent depots and regiments picked up recruits as they moved around the British Isles.

The 5th were in Mauritius from July 1847 to May 1857. While they were overseas they would have kept a Depot in the UK for finding and training recruits. I do not have details to hand of where the Depot was in the 1840s.

He would have enlisted for unlimited service - ie for life. But after about 21 years they would have a medical and most men were discharged to pension then. He may have been discharged early as unfit. But it is also likely that there was a reduction in the army as nothing much had happened since 1815. Your local record office may be able to tell you more. He would have been given free passage to Tasmania and (say) a year's pay in lieu of pension as part of a colonization project.

Ken

[Yenram]

Hello Ken. Thank you for helping me.  Where can I find the information you have?  The years you gave for Mauritian involvement  are spot on for my man.   You said I could go to my local office for further info?? Which local office do you mean?   Is there a site I could search for Michael Dooley's Army file?   

[km1971]

... You said I could go to my local office for further info?? Which local office do you mean?   

I meant to discover if there was planned migration of former soldiers as colonists. So looking for local histories.

Is there a site I could search for Michael Dooley's Army file?

Findmypast have all surviving files. And he is not listed. There was no reason to keep it. He can also employ a researcher and search the muster books in the National Archives which will tell you where he was each month, his pay, promotions, etc and his first and last entry should confirm his place of birth and age. They will not give you any details of his family. His last entry will tell you the terms of his discharge.

FindMyPast also have regimental BMDs but there are no relevant entries.

Ken

[Yenram]

Good morning Ken!  I'm VERY grateful for all the information u have sourced for me.  I have learned do much from your reply