Royal military asylum schools

[nic42]

I have an ancestor who attended a Royal Military Asylum School and the Royal Military Hibernian School which I believe we're for children of soldiers. Are there any online records for these schools and is there likely to be a connection between the child's army career and the fathers. Are they both likely to be in the same regiment
Nic

[km1971]

Records are not online. But if you post details of who you are looking for you may be saved a trip to Kew. Boys would leave when they reached 14. Many joined their father's regiment. But it was not a requirement.

Ken

[alanmack]

They were both on-line at one time, the Royal Hibernian Military School more recently. Why they have disappeared is open to question. I think we can guess the answer however?

I too have a relation who attended RHMS, Dublin from the age of 9. He joined his late father's corps, the Royal Artillery at 14 and served out his time until he was thirty.

I have PM'd you nic42

alanmack

[nic42]

Thanks to Alan and Ken. Sorry about the delay, I have been away. The man I am looking for information on is Joseph Burke, born c1876 in Birr Co Offlay. Father John, siblings Margaret and possibly John. Joseph joined the Royal Artillery 1889 in Yarmouth No 75431 and married Edith Young and then Terisa Spooner. My interest is his father as he would be my great great grandfather. I am hoping he has a military record
Nic

[km1971]

Hi Nic

Neither Joseph, Margaret or John appear to have attended Chelsea RMA. I cannot speak for Hibernian. A pity more of Joseph's record has not survived as it has a section for Boys to state if they attended one or other of the asylums.

On the first page it states that Joseph was living with his uncle a Battery Sgt Major with the Norfolk Artillery. So maybe he was not at Hibernian either. As it looks as if his father was dead they would not have kept his service record.

However, as Joseph was born in 1876 you should be able to order his birth certificate from the Irish GRO. You can buy it on plain paper for four Euros last time I looked. This will give John's occupation; and from the mother's name you should get his parents.

You need to use Kings County. Offlay just confuses people.

Ken

[nic42]

Hi Ken,
I am amazed what a new pair of eyes can pick up. I have been looking at
Joseph's military record and never noticed the comment about his uncle. A new line of search.
According to Joesephs military record attendance at both schools had been ticked which is what started me down this route. I will try the Irish GRO, but I am not sure that there is enough information to accurately pin him down.
Regards Nic

[ShaunJ]

The Chelsea RMA and Hibernian records are on FindMyPast these days http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-army-schoolchildren-and-schoolmasters-1803-1932

I don't see anything there for a Joseph Burke born around 1876

[km1971]

I found the other part of his record, I believe a tick in those days means 'not applying'. Normally if he had attended they would put the dates.

I think the BSM was called Ross. So he will be Alexander McKenzie Ross, born Nova Scotia c1855 - married to Margaret, born Kings County c1862. They had twin daughters Kathleen and Anna Jane, born Gt Yarmouth 1891. FreeBMD call them Kathleen Ester and Jane Anna

A Margaret Burke and Alexander Ross married in Poplar in June (qtr) 1884. If them the certificate should give John's father.

A family tree on Ancestry says Alexander died in Tottenham in 1923.

In 1901 they are in Plumstead with Margaret's sister Edie Burke, and nephew John (aged 1). Joseph was in South Africa according to his WW1 record. It confirms John's place of birth as Dover.

Ken

[nic42]

Hi Ken,
The record certainly shows ticks and there is no sign of him in the school records so it looks as though you are right. Alexander Ross was his brother in law, my grt grandfather, married to Joseph's sister Margaret. Alexander was in the Royal Artillery and was stationed in Yarmouth in 1881, but I cannot find his army record pre 1915, although he was in the Yeoman of the Guard around 1906 1908 and censuses show him in RGA. I know Joseph's father was called John, but that's it. I will try the Irish GRO
Nic