Genealogy Chat

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Hi All Now this may seem a bit thick, but this is the first time I have needed to look for anything military at all - my lot weren't too great at fighting for 'King and country' for some reason, so hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. Yesterday whilst searching for something totally unrelated, found a letter written by my 2xgreat grandfather relating his time in the Crimea and at Sebastapol, stating that he joined the 28th Regt (believe the Glorious Glosters) in 1854 and was with them for '10 years and 98 days'. Now, my question is, where on earth do I look for any records for him, and as I have never been able to find him on the 1861 - now believe he would have been in the Crimea - would there have been a census of the soldiers taken at the time? Anyone with any help will be greatly appreciated. many thanks Looby Loo

You do have a regiment and armed with that infomation you should find your soldiers attestation papers at The National Archives at Kew. You can try online first of all but I would be surprised if these records are online. Otherwise it is a trip to Kew to find his attestation papers first of all, and then his muster records in the books provided and if you are lucky his pension records. Pension records are hit and miss. I have all my grt g father's Crimean War Records researched from TNA and also all his muster records. Those that were in the Crimea, if fit, went on to India in the late 1850's and early 1860's and 'helped' put down the Indian Mutiny or just stayed around in case of trouble so you may not find him in 1861 Census if he was overseas. Many also went on to Mauritius/Ireland and other places. My ancestor went to Mauritius, India and Ireland. The Army Museum at Chelsea will supply you with much background on the Crimean War but you can also google for information on Crimean War. There are many books written and I have several indepth books on the Crimea. Be prepared of change of regiment, mine changed regiments 3 times and that is the benefit of going through the Muster Books which will give you this information. I was not able to find any pension details but they are there if you can hook into them. Janet

Janet Unfortunately a trip to Kew is not feasible at the moment, so looks like he might have to remain a mystery for a bit longer. thanks Looby

There is a chap who had some records re the Crimean War and has a site where you can search. I cannot think what it is called. Try Google and you may get lucky. Irene

thanks Irene will take a look

Try Googling the regiment you have - some of the regiments have websites with lots of info on.

Most regiments have a museum and although they do not hold papers for individual soldiers they do have a lot of information. I contacted the museum related to the regiment one of my ancestors served with and they sent me a photocopy from the regimental history concerning the Crimean war, the little bit of info they had about my ancestor who was killed in action, but most importantly for me, the information that his younger brother also served with the same regiment. I had lost all trace of the younger brother and had thought that he must have died young. In return I sent a small donation, the information though was priceless.