Genealogy Chat

Looking for an army file for my great-grandfather John Edward (or Edward John) Bennett. According to the 1871 census he was born in 1837 in Strand, Gloucestershire and he was a soldier (the census was taken in Colewort Barracks, Portsmouth). On his marriage certificate in 1898 my grandfather listed him as deceased and his occupation as Sergeant, Army Service Corps. He was either stationed in Ireland for an extended period or his family lived there while he served abroad – his wife was Irish. In one of my earlier requests for assistance concerning his son someone posted that he might have died in Argentina some time between 1871 and 1875:

Armed Forces Deaths 1796-2005
Name Edward John Bennett
Soldier No.
Unit
Service
Rank
Place Buenos Aires
Country Argentina
Year 1871 - 1875
Volume 5
Page 12
Record Source Gro Consular Death Indices (1849 To 1965)

I use pay as you go credits on FMP and am hoping someone can help me so I don’t burn through all my credits looking for likely matches. I am not sure if a file on him exists and if it would provide any information regarding his ancestors but I am hopeful.

Have you tried the national archives web site

Roy

When I go to that site and click what I think is the appropriate link, it takes me to FMP where there so many possible matches that I thought I'd try this board first..

Try this link

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierupto1913.htm

Roy

That's what I tried - and when I click on "What records can I see online?" it takes me to FMP.

You need to read the info that is relevant in order to search the relevant catalogue number to find the record you are after these catalogues are all referenced as WO (war office) with the relevant number

it can be difficult to find the correct one but if you want the record i don't see an easy alternative

when you find the correct record you will not see it online but you can sometimes download it at a cost, not all records have been digitised yet

Roy

If only I knew the 3 "relevants" you mentioned.

1st read the info that is relevant to searching the national archives web site

2nd the relevant records that can be found at The National Archives

3rd Guidance notes on the national archives for researching army personnel before 1913 in order to search the relevant catalogues number for the person you are researching

these records are not transcribes and digitised as with more resent records where you only need to enter a name and click search for the search engine to do the work for you so I'm afraid its a case of researching how it was done several years ago

Also I thought fmp has some British Army Service Records 1760-1915

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/army-service-records/all

Roy

The place to look for any records for him is FMP. You won't find him indexed by name in the National Archives Catalogue.

However, if he died in service it's extremely unlikely that there will be any papers for him on FMP. The Research guides on the National Archives site mentioned by Porkie Pie will tell you what other records might be available - Muster Rolls for his regiment, for example. None of this is searchable online, though. You'd have to go to the National Archives or get someone to go for you.

Thanks - live in Canada so a personal visit to the archives is out of the question.

Army records may still survive if the person came out on a pension. I have grt x 5 grandfathers ,from the National Archives, He went in in 1825 and came out as a Chelsea pensioner,out, !! in 1849 so his papers have been kept

The summary for the death of EJ Bennett listed in my original post does not include soldier number or unit. If this is my great grandfather, and I order a record, is it likely to include the missing info? Also, how does one order the source information - it says Vol 5, Page 12 - would this be a summary page and refer to another source or is it likely to have details about the death?

Hope I can resurrect this thread Edward John Bennett.

Here is what I have done but am still at a dead end.

I know for sure that he was at the Curragh camp in 1860 as a member of the Army service Corps. based on the birth info of my Great Uncle.

Here is the info on the birth of my great uncle:

Name: BENNETT, Henry J
Mother's maiden name: Not available before 1966
Regiment: Army Service Corps - Commissariat & Transport Corp
Place: Curragh
Country: Ireland
Year: 1860
Volume: 639
Page: 26
Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924)

However, when I search on FMP I cannot find a corresponding soldier in the 1861 Worldwide Army Index or by searching all military records. I also can't find him doing a search of members of the Army Service Corps.

So I know he was at Curragh Camp in 1860 and Colewort Barracks in 1871 but I can't seem to find anything else.

Any suggestions?

I ddin't think it became the ASC until around 1870. Before that, I believe it was called the Military Train. As I said before, if he died in service it's unlikely there will be papers for him on FMP. There are lots of records missing in that series, anyway, even if he didn't die in service. What do you actually want to find out about?

You could ask on the board if anyone is going to the national archives at Kew and see if they would have a look for you,

or you can contact them, they do have independent researchers that will look for you at a price

The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/irlist/

Roy

National Archives won't search. You'd have to get a researcher to do it.

Ann, TNA do have a list of independent researcher as per my post and the link i posted to the relevant page

the clue was in the word " independent " :-D

Roy

Sorry - I thought you'd suggested that the staff at Kew would search as well as offering the option for a researcher.

Thanks - I want to find out anything I can about his life as a soldier and his death.