Enlistment record of William knight, 1st foot regiment 2nd battalion, regimental

[rovert]

Morning all,  is there someone on here who can help us with enlistment papers.  My man is William knight, regimental number 472.    We have his discharge records  and service record giving us the regiment 1st foot battalion.  He joined around 1859/1860.   He as born in Deane , overton Hampshire,  disc1st battalion sign up record ofarged 1874 in Middlesex   we can't find him on 1881 census.
 Thankyou in advance   .  Rovert

[MaxD]

It is the norm to find only a discharge record for that period.  As you have seen, that tells you he served from October 1859 to July 1874 and that he was 21 when he enlisted.  He intended to live in Overton when he was discharged.

MaxD

[rovert]

So if we can't find his enlistment,  how can we double check that this is our man.  Blonde moment!!!! I thought his father or family member would have signed the concent .  Thankyou for your time.

[MaxD]

Joining the dots - you've seen that his discharge papers say he was born in the parish of Deane near Overton and that was his intended place of residence after discharge.  Can't be many William Knights born approx 1838 in Deane?  He gave his age as 21 when he signed on in 1859 and the army wouldn't check unless it was obvious a fib, so consent doesn't come into it, that was only required up to the age of 16.

MaxD

PS FreeBMD has a birth in Q 4 1838 in Basingstoke reg district (which includes Deane)

[steviebyday]

 think he was in Hong Kong 1861,
 then Birr (Ireland I think,)
 then April/May/June 1871 Ranikhet, India.

[rovert]

Omgoodness, thankyou so much,   we very much appreciate your time.   

Rovert