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Author Topic: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea  (Read 4282 times)

Offline chelsen

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Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« on: Sunday 13 November 05 22:24 GMT (UK) »
My Gt Gt Grandfather James Magee served in India. He was married in Secunderabad in 1864 and his daughter Annie was born in 1868 or 1869. I think he died in 1868, possibly before she was born.
On his daughter's marriage certificate he is described as being a Quarter Master Sergeant in the RHA. I am trying to find out whether he could have served with the RHA in the Crimea as he doesn't seem to appear on 1851 or 1861 censuses.
Could anyone tell me if the RHA saw active service in the Crimea and if so how can I found out if my ancester served with them there.
I would be grateful for any help.
Panton, Webley, Hinton, O'Connell, Magee, White, Huish, Meek, Wootten and Parslow amongst others

Offline liverpool annie

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 13 November 05 22:43 GMT (UK) »

Hi Chelsen!!

Do you happen to know which Battalion or brigade he was in?  as you can see - theres quite a few!! I would think he would probably be involved with the Indian Mutiny

Quote
In 1859 the companies ceased to be organised into battalions, and were brigaded instead, at the same time being referred to as batteries instead of companies. In 1861 after the Indian Mutiny the Royal Artillery received the addition of 21 troops of Horse Artillery and 48 batteries from the three Indian Presidencies, and so now comprised 29 RHA batteries, 73 field batteries, and 88 garrison batteries.

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Offline behindthefrogs

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 13 November 05 22:51 GMT (UK) »
C-Battery of the RHA supported the successful charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava in the Crimean War and claims to have been influencial in that success.  (As distinct from the fatal charge of the light brigade)  Do you know which battery your g.g.grandfather served in?

David
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Offline MarMnkly

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 13 November 05 23:02 GMT (UK) »
I found the the following 'James Magee' but he is a 'gunner and driver' in the Royal Artillery ?

The Times, Monday, Aug 25, 1856; pg. 7; Issue 22455; col A
The French Military Medal.
Category: Official Appointments and Notices

"The Moniteur of yesterday publishes the subjoined list of English soldiers upon whom the French military medal has been conferred for distinguished service in the Crimea;-
.......
Royal Artillery
............
James Magee, gunner and driver
................

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Offline chelsen

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #4 on: Monday 14 November 05 14:35 GMT (UK) »
Many thanks to all those who have replied to my query about James Magee, RHA.
To answer Annie and David I have the original marriage certificate on which is written his details.  It is very delapidated and someone has stuck it together with very old (pre-selotape era) sticky tape, making it very difficult read.  It definitely says Quarter Master Sergeant - then it looks like B P, then what could be an S, or J, or even C then Bt, followed by R H A.

Thanks to Margaret for the French Military Medal info. It is possibly he was promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant after arriving in India and may well have been a gunner & driver whilst serving in the Crimea. What would he be driving? Perhaps a horsedrawn gun carriage?
I have no idea where he was born, possibly in Northern Ireland but there are a lot of Magee's in the North East of England.  I think the only way I am going to find these details is at the British Library. I would love to know if he was killed in action or died of natural causes - again I expect these details will have to be researched at the BL.

If anyone can make sense of the lettering on the marriage certificate I would be grateful.

Carole
Panton, Webley, Hinton, O'Connell, Magee, White, Huish, Meek, Wootten and Parslow amongst others

Offline manmack

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #5 on: Monday 14 November 05 15:03 GMT (UK) »
chelsen,most of the batts/regts that served in the crimea were sent to india to reinforce the army during the indian mutiny,the james magee that margaret found could be him,its possible he may have been promoted later and went on to serve in the RHA,there are crimean war medal rolls that will confirm if he was there and there are the indian general service medal rolls,plus the indian mutiny medal rolls,all these are available from the inter library loan scheme,and they can be found at the N/A,mack
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Offline chelsen

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #6 on: Monday 14 November 05 15:44 GMT (UK) »
Thanks Mack, I live quite near the NA, so will try to get there soon.
Panton, Webley, Hinton, O'Connell, Magee, White, Huish, Meek, Wootten and Parslow amongst others

Offline yachty

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #7 on: Friday 01 December 06 10:05 GMT (UK) »
Hi Chelsen
The James Magee which MarMnkly found mentioned in the French Military Medal list from the Crimean War is my gr.grandfather. He married Mary Anne Shee in 1858. They came to New Zealand in 1861 with the Royal Artillery to fight in the Land Wars. After his discharge in 1866 he settled in New Zealand.

Offline chelsen

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Re: Royal Horse Artillery, Crimea
« Reply #8 on: Friday 01 December 06 14:36 GMT (UK) »
Dear Yachty

Thank you for that clarification.  It is obviously not my James Magee as he was killed (or died) in India in about 1868.  At least I now know I was "barking up the wrong tree" as they say and won't waste any more time pursuing the James Magee.

Carole
Panton, Webley, Hinton, O'Connell, Magee, White, Huish, Meek, Wootten and Parslow amongst others
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