COMPLETE: 1921 Census Records of Family of Serving Soldier in India

[Tony Freeman]

I have located my grandfather serving with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers in India based in Risalpur.
He was accompanied by his wife and two children.

However, the 1921 Census only records the serving soldiers, the first Census to record military personnel abroad.

Does anyone know if the families are recorded on another document?

All help is appreciated.

[nanny jan]

However, the 1921 Census only records the serving soldiers, the first Census to record military personnel abroad.

I have a distant cousin recorded on 1911 census serving with his regiment in India!

[Kiltaglassan]

However, the 1921 Census only records the serving soldiers, the first Census to record military personnel abroad.

My OH has a great uncle on the 1911 census who was serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles in Burma.

[Ashtone]

He was accompanied by his wife and two children.

Are you certain his family were with him in India? One of my great-uncles was serving overseas in 1921, but his wife and children remained in England.

ADDED: There is no 1921 census for Ireland. One of my great-aunts was with her Irish soldier husband in Dublin circa 1921, but I only know this because there is a RC adult baptism record for her at the time.

[Tony Freeman]

He was accompanied by his wife and two children.

Are you certain his family were with him in India? One of my great-uncles was serving overseas in 1921, but his wife and children remained in England.

ADDED: There is no 1921 census for Ireland. One of my great-aunts was with her Irish soldier husband in Dublin circa 1921, but I only know this because there is a RC adult baptism record for her at the time.

Yes, we have photos of the family in India.

[ShaunJ]

Does anyone know if the families are recorded on another document?

No, they were not included in the 1921 census.

[Tony Freeman]

Does anyone know if the families are recorded on another document?

No, they were not included in the 1921 census.

Thanks for your confirmation :-)

[Jon_ni]

the first Census to record military personnel abroad

The 1911 Census was the first one to have a full enumeration carried out of the British Army serving overseas, including details of wives and families. In earlier censuses the military authorities only provided the Census Office with the numbers of officers, other ranks, wives and children, either by place or by regiment.

I have found wives and children living officially in the barracks abroad 1911 in India, but seperately and a few pages later from their serving husband/father.
Similarly for the 1921 according to FindMyPast "All armed forces establishments are included [apart from those stationed in Scotland]. This includes temporary camps, training sites, military hospitals, detention barracks and married quarters."

"The armed forces had special census returns which carry the code NM...There are several page types within each NM form. The main part of the return deals, of course, with serving officers and other ranks or ratings. However, there is often a section headed the “Return of all persons OTHER than serving officers and other ranks or ratings” – in other words, civilians, including wives and family. Note that the wives and children are therefore on different pages and not linked to the servicemen to whom they are related."

see Armed forces under https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/1921-census-of-england-and-wales#search-tips

For 1911 see Searching military establishments and royal navy ships overseas https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/1911-census-for-england-and-wales
and eg https://www.britisharmyancestors.co.uk/blog/the-british-army-in-the-1911-census/ and this complaind about Ancestry splitting the cover pages https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/196781-1911-census-for-military-overseas/ which likely does not apply to FindMyPast.

[Genghissian]

I have just been looking at this issue in relation to a soldier serving with the Royal Irish Lancers in Risalpur in 1921 so amazed to find your post when Googling.

I found my man, George Gillingham, Corporal 5th Irish Lancers in the army schedules of the 1921 Census at Risalpur, said to be the father of 4 children - I only knew of 2 so wondered where the rest were.
There are civil registration details in the army and overseas registers for a Frances E Gillingham born at Risulpur in 1921.  From the 1939 census she seems to be Evelyn Frances or Frances Evelyn born 17 Feb 1921 (no England\Wales registration found).  I'm still missing the other child.

Would be amazing if you were looking for the same people but if not, it seems families are not enumerated so try the army birth registrations (I found Frances on FindMyPast but not Ancestry so you may need to try both).

Hope this is helpful,