Royal Artillery

[Pandabean]

Hey All,

I was wondering if anyone out there knows of any good resources on looking into the Royal Artillery, from 1870s-1890s in India.

i recently found a relations record on Find My Past and he served in the Royal Artillery from 1878 to 1888/90, of which his 10 years main service was in India where he was mainly a driver.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Andy

[Currie]

Hello Andy,

Getting together information about particular segments of the Royal Artillery, and finding out what they were up to at any particular time, doesn’t appear to be as straight forward as it is with the numbered regiments.

There’s some stuff in Google Books that may be useful, but most of the post 1860’s results wont be accessible outside the U.S.A. because of doubts about copyright. Try a search like this one http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&t ... =&gs_rfai=

You can access the later U.S.A. ones using a proxy, but I wouldn’t recommend using the free ones with any variety of Windows. If you see anything good in Google Books, that you can’t get to, check to see if the Internet Archive has it.

For example, here’s a comprehensive and downloadable book on R.A. uniforms that was published 1899.
http://www.archive.org/details/cihm_09270

Hope that’s useful,
Alan

[Pandabean]

Thanks Alan, but it wouldn't let me access any of the books.

I was hoping there may be some photographs or at least an idea of what people were upto over in India. Obviously it would be very very rare to get a photo of the soldier in question.

[Currie]

Hello Andy,

There are some very nice Artillery/India photos here. http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/.sear ... ame=Search

Would there be anything of use to you in the sites mentioned here viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5819 or in this one http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx

I’m not particularly cluey when it comes to the movements of the R.A. Did it say anywhere in the FMP records about what Battery, Company, or whatever, he was attached to, for what period of years, and locations etc in India. Maybe there’s something in the 19C newspapers about their exploits.

If you don’t get anywhere here you could try the Victorian Wars Forum http://www.victorianwars.com/index.php? ... 4aa6c1d65e

Alan

[garibaldired]

Andy,

Quite by chance (when looking for someone else) I found a relative's record of his army service in India from 1880 -1891 on ancestry; it was contained in WO97. He was 55 at the start of WW1 but there were attestation papers for his (prposed)enlistment in the Territorial Force which gave me details of his previous army service. It was a real bonus!

Your chap might have been too old?

Best wishes,
Meg

[Pandabean]

Thanks Alan, I did find the Fibis site the other day and one of my early rellies, William Greenlees pops up in the 1804 Muster Roll. Whether it is my William is another long trail, as the only piece of evidence I have is his son's second marriage certificate which states he was in the Royal Artillery, which could be a big white lie.

I am hoping the new records on FMP may help, but other than that I have no ideas where to look for him. Any ideas?

The photos are pretty interesting on that first site you linked.

You have just got to think if all these photos survived it would be a gold mine to one of us, especially if they all had names on the back:
http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/page3 ... sBunk.html

[Pandabean]

Hi Meg,

Just posted my reply when you did yours.

Yes I have got his record from WO97, from find my past, which is where all this interest is coming from at the moment. I have checked the records on ancestry for records but none have survived for the person I am looking for. Although I would have thought that if you re-enlisted your papers would have been put in with the WW1 records?

The earlier person I am looking for, William Greenlees would have been between 1804-1814. The person whose record I do have is his Grandson. I will see if I can get a brigade number off the papers, but it is quite hard to make out as there are numbers all over, crossed out and new ones above it.

Cheers,
Andy

Andy,

Quite by chance (when looking for someone else) I found a relative's record of his army service in India from 1880 -1891 on ancestry; it was contained in WO97. He was 55 at the start of WW1 but there were attestation papers for his (prposed)enlistment in the Territorial Force which gave me details of his previous army service. It was a real bonus!

Your chap might have been too old?

Best wishes,
Meg

[JB]

I have had some limited success in getting details about one of my ancestor's service in the RA in the period 1798-1803 by consulting the muster rolls at the National Archive at Kew. Perhaps my approach may also work for the period you are interested in.

Before heading off to Kew, a primary source is the book referred to as Laws Tables. If you know the battalion(s) then you should be able to track down which company / detachment your relative served in and then establish where the company was located for specific years and months in India. The tables are essential as the companies were identified by the name of the commanding officer rather than by a number. (Battery records of the Royal Artillery / compiled by M.E.S. Laws)

A copy of the book (two large volumes I think) is available at the National Library Scotland.

The book also gives WO10 references which help home in when searching the extensive Kew index (not yet on line) for the specific RA muster rolls.

I also managed to find my relative's recruitment record at Kew which gave a description of him - age, height, colour of eyes, place of birth, occupation, read & write etc – File series WO54 Description Books.

Best wishes

John

[Pandabean]

Hi John,

Just noticed your post and thanks for the advice. Sadly it will be quite a while before I venture to Kew and I dont see the point of going to London for one or two records (one I have noted exist there so far). However I shall keep it in mind if I ever do visit.

The person I was looking for I have managed to get his service record from FMP. But his grandfather is still a msytery although he does appear on the 1804 India muster roll. I will wait and see what FMP comes up with.

Thanks,
Andy