Royal North Down Rifles

[stlowrey1]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has had luck researching members of
the Royal North Down Rifles?
 As far as i know the Rifles were a volunteer Militia, made up mostly
of weavers, farmhands. Up until 1878 it was mostly made up of men from Newtownards.
 I have two relatives who were members of this militia before joining
the British Army in 1874. Did these records survive?

All help is much appreciated.

Thank you

SL

[TheWhuttle]

Hi SL,

Records of the North Down Militia are held at the National Archives in Kew, London.

WO 13/2792 1843-1856
WO 13/2793 1856-1860
WO 13/2794 1860-1867
WO 13/2795 1867-1872
W0 13/2796 1872-1876

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13073&POSCATLN=6&POSCATID=2789500

If visiting the repository personally, then I'd recommend taking a face mask and gloves.
[The materiels are very very dirty/dusty!]

----
It was quite common for such well-trained "Militia" folks to be sought by the regular army regiments.

The 2/13th (PALI) was on home garrison duty in Ireland the early/mid 1870s.
It came up thru' Newry to Belfast around this time.
Its two depot companies actively recruited men in these areas.
Some ended up being transferred to the sister regiment, the 1/13th, in Zulu land in 1877-1878!

Capt. Jock

[stlowrey1]

Capt. Jock,

Brilliant work. Thank you so very much for your detailed reply.Unfortunately I live a long way from Kew. However, I will gladly hire a researcher to sift through those dusty records for me.
  My two relatives that I mentioned did serve in South Africa during the
Zulu War campaign attached to the Somersetshire Light Infantry.
  I am fortunate enough to have copies of both there army records. Interesting
reading btw.

Thank you again,

Very pleased,

SL

[TheWhuttle]

Hi again SL,

We hold all the electronic records from J.C. Kenworthy's opus vitae.
[His extensive 20 year researches on the PALI.]

Such are available in some of the restricted-release copies of his privately published book held in the Somerset Archives and also in the Regimental Museum at Taunton.

Take it that you got your info from these.

Capt. Jock

P.S. The "Zulu Wars" medals are quite valuable nowadays!
       Unfortunately,  our man's is lost to the family ...

[stlowrey1]

Hi Capt. Jock,

I was not aware of the electronic records from J.C Kenworthys opus vitae. I would like to learn more about it, if you don't mind.
 A relative of mine found one of the Zulu war records in her attic years ago. It might actually be an original as it is bound with old paper and field thread.
 From this record I was able to learn about his association with the North Down Rifles. I hired a researcher based out of London to look deeper into his
time during the Zulu war. The researcher could offer no more clues, but found
the records of one of his cousins who was also a member of the North Down  Rifles and present during the Zulu War.
 Capt. Jock, I get it that your relative was also in the Zulu War? I would be
interested to learn more about it.

SL

[TheWhuttle]

SL,

Aha, my tired brain just got your "SL" moniker!
[S. LOWERY, but also Somerset Light (Infantry).]

Perhaps we'd better explain to anyone looking in that the latter is the modern-day name for the 13th Regiment, which was once known as Prince Albert's Light Infantry (PALI).

----
Yep, we had a man on the ground at the time.
He eventually became a bible-thumping preacher in Virginia ...

I'll have to unleash the 3rd arm of the Whuttle trinity on this for you.
More (much more!) soon.

----
I also have a research interest in LOWRYs who married in to the Glenavy WHITTLEs ...

Capt. Jock

[stlowrey1]

Hi Capt. Jock,

Yep, Somerset light Infantry that'll be the one. I Know it all too well.
Hope to hear back from you sometime.
Cheers

[soapy1]

Is there a way to check members online ? My grt grt grandfather lived in Dromore ( Ballysallagh) around 1820 until at least 1855 and on his children's marriage certificates and death certificates his occupation is shown as 'soldier' I'm trying to trace any info I can about him as I can find no birth, marriage or death details anywhere. The other possibility is that he might have been an English soldier? I was trying all the variations i could think of to find something about him. Any advice would be great. Some of his sons came to Scotland, surname recorded as Beresford. Irish marriage records and birth records for his sons are under Berrisfield, Berrisford, Beresfield, depending i suppose on the person doing the recording
I'd be grateful for any help or suggestions for other regiments if my assumptions are a bit daft. Thanks in advance

[aghadowey]

Ireland was part of the U.K. so any records are for British Army- Kew has large collection but best to post query on Armed Forces board for expert help.