Author Topic: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson  (Read 6918 times)

Offline liscoole

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 575
  • Mary Hall nee Nevins 28-9-1914 - 16-3-2011
    • View Profile
2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« on: Saturday 26 June 10 15:49 BST (UK) »
Hi

I am researching my husbands family tree and we have traced back to his great great grandfather James Wilkinson who served in the 2nd Battalion of the Dorset Regiment.

We found him on the 1901 census of Ireland living in the Military barracks at Charles Fort, Kinsale, Co Cork. The details on the return suggest that he was born in 1870/71 in England and was a collier before joining up.

We also know that the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment was stationed in Belfast around 1893-1895, which is when and where he met his wife and they married in Belfast in 1895. They had one son James Henry b 1895 and one daughter Adeline, who was born in Malta in 1897/8. This all ties in very neatly with the movements of the 2nd Battalion of the Dorset Regiment.

However, by 1911 James had died. I am trying to find out where he came from and when and where he died.

I managed to find his marriage record which states his residence as Victoria Barracks, no age given-  parents James and Ann Wilkinson. It doesnt mention that he came from England.

I wonder if anyone could help me find out more about him and his regiment?  Could anyone join the Dorset Regiment or only people from that area? I would be very grateful for any help.

Many thanks

MAGEE (Dungannon Tyrone to Shankill Belfast, to Whitehouse Co Antrim,) HALL (Lisnaskea, Fermanagh to Yan Yean, Melbourne Australia) McIVOR (Whitehouse, Co Antrim), McCULLOUGH (Markethill, Armagh), DEMPSTER (Ballymena, Co Antrim to Belfast), CUMMING (Glasgow), EVANS (Llandysill, Montgomeryshire to Belfast), NEVIN/ NEVINS (Ballynahinch, Co Down to Belfast), EMMS (Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey), HURREY (Yan Yean, Whittlesea, Melbourne), FINLAY- Jane, of Co Down, m James McIvor 1867. HOBSON Tyrone

Offline jds1949

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,357
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 26 June 10 17:06 BST (UK) »
If your man died whilst he was still a serving soldier then I'm afraid that his service papers will have been destroyed. If, on the other hand, he had left the army before he died then his papers might still survive and will be held at the National Archives at Kew. This is the link to find out more:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/leaflets/ri2005.htm&lBack=-1

Just because he was in the Dorset Regiment does not mean that he was from Dorset; regiments recruited from all over the UK in the Victorian period.

jds1949
Swarbrick - all and any - specially interested in all who served in WW1

Offline liscoole

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 575
  • Mary Hall nee Nevins 28-9-1914 - 16-3-2011
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 26 June 10 17:59 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much for your reply, I will check out the national archives.

Thanks again
MAGEE (Dungannon Tyrone to Shankill Belfast, to Whitehouse Co Antrim,) HALL (Lisnaskea, Fermanagh to Yan Yean, Melbourne Australia) McIVOR (Whitehouse, Co Antrim), McCULLOUGH (Markethill, Armagh), DEMPSTER (Ballymena, Co Antrim to Belfast), CUMMING (Glasgow), EVANS (Llandysill, Montgomeryshire to Belfast), NEVIN/ NEVINS (Ballynahinch, Co Down to Belfast), EMMS (Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey), HURREY (Yan Yean, Whittlesea, Melbourne), FINLAY- Jane, of Co Down, m James McIvor 1867. HOBSON Tyrone

Offline crimea1854

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,003
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 27 June 10 12:18 BST (UK) »
Hi

I did a search of the 1881 census and came up with the following hit:

Wolstanton - Knutton

James Wilkinson, 50, Ironstone Miner - Staffordshire, Kidsgrove
Ann Wilkinson, 48 - Cheshire, Scholars Green (?)
James Wilkinson, 14, Coal Miner - Staffordshire, Silverdale

There were other members of the same family on the census.

On the Malta Family History site there is the following baptism entry:

WILKINSON, Adelaide J.A. 1897 39th/54th Regiment

The 39/54th Regt were the Dorset Regiment.

Martin


Offline liscoole

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 575
  • Mary Hall nee Nevins 28-9-1914 - 16-3-2011
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 27 June 10 19:20 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much Martin!

That could well be him! And you are spot on with the birth info for Adeline (though they have recorded her name wrongly).

Thank you once again for this information, I will see where I can go from here.
MAGEE (Dungannon Tyrone to Shankill Belfast, to Whitehouse Co Antrim,) HALL (Lisnaskea, Fermanagh to Yan Yean, Melbourne Australia) McIVOR (Whitehouse, Co Antrim), McCULLOUGH (Markethill, Armagh), DEMPSTER (Ballymena, Co Antrim to Belfast), CUMMING (Glasgow), EVANS (Llandysill, Montgomeryshire to Belfast), NEVIN/ NEVINS (Ballynahinch, Co Down to Belfast), EMMS (Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey), HURREY (Yan Yean, Whittlesea, Melbourne), FINLAY- Jane, of Co Down, m James McIvor 1867. HOBSON Tyrone

Offline camdave

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 5
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 24 July 10 17:53 BST (UK) »
Hi liscoole

I too have a relation who served in the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment; from 1883 to 1902. I had assumed that he would have still been in South Africa at the time of the 1901 census but maybe he was in Kinsale.

I had a look at the Irish 1901 Census but I can't find the fort on the list of roads etc. Can you tell me how you 'drilled down' to the military barracks?

I know Kinsale and the fort well so it is even more frustrating having spent many great holidays there.

David
Sansom and Channon (Bristol and Devon/Somerset)
Pack and Wedd (Cambs/Herts)
Peacock (Mansfield)

Offline km1971

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,343
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 24 July 10 18:47 BST (UK) »
Can you post the link to the 1901 Irish census for james snr? I have found his wife and two children. It says husband is on Form H but I cannot find it. I have found it - http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000539351/

I have the 1st Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment in India, and the 2nd Bn in South Africa.

Ken

Offline camdave

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 5
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 24 July 10 19:42 BST (UK) »
Ken

I'm probably being a little dense tonight but can you tell me how you found the correct page; I need to look up a different name and as they don't seem to be alphabetical I can't just go backward and forward.

I wonder if just some of the battalion returned to Ireland from South Africa?

Thanks
David
Sansom and Channon (Bristol and Devon/Somerset)
Pack and Wedd (Cambs/Herts)
Peacock (Mansfield)

Offline km1971

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 9,343
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment- James Wilkinson
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 25 July 10 08:25 BST (UK) »
Hi David

Sorry I cannot find it again. If you search for James Wilkinson (aged 3) you get to the general area. The chances of him being in Ireland are very slim. The battalions were overseas for the 1901 census. The Depot was in Dorcester. According to the 1902 Army List they only had a detail in Buttevant which is also in Co Cork. So it likely to be the same one that was in Kinsale a year earlier.

So your man is much more likely to be in India, SA or Dorcester in 1901. If you wait a few days/weeks FindMyPast will be publishing 1900-1913 papers. If you cannot find him you will have to see if he was in the battalion in South Africa by researching the medal rolls in Kew. If not he was probably in India.

Ken