Army Families_1882_Transport Home

[MaxD]

I have amended my earlier post re the date of leaving India.

There is no mention I can find of when (or if?) the families joined the battalion at Parkhurst.  There is a great number of references to the battalion's journey and arrival but none mention waiting families.  Where they were is a wee bit of a mystery?

I'm sure you will have looked everywhere but would you like to post the child's name and date of birth for other eyes to have a go?

MaxD

[janthedig]

I would be happy to MaxD, thank you!  Details are as follows:
John Edward ALEXANDER
Born: 01/08/1881
Baptised: 17/08/1881
He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (nee Brown) Alexander and was born in Kasauli.  Joseph was a Sergeant in the 1st Battn Seaforth Highlanders (72nd)

I think the families must have been in Parkhurst at some point, as their next son was born there.

Thanks again :-)

[hanes teulu]

I had a look at Joseph on the 1911 Census to check the "Children who have died" column.

[janthedig]

Thanks hanes teulu, yes, they had 16 in total and 6 died; John Edward is the only one of the 6 for which I can't find details of death.

[MaxD]

The index records of British Armed Forces overseas deaths and deaths at sea have John Alexander aged 1 died on the Serapis [a troopship] in 1882.  The GRO ref is page 413 line 33 in the GRO Marine Deaths register.

maxD

[janthedig]

Oh my word!  MaxD you are an saint!  Thank you so much!  My guess was correct at least but I didn't have the correct resources!  Thank you!

[MaxD]

The GRO will have the exact date, only the index for the document DMR2 1846-1902 is on line.

https://www.richardjoslin.com/gallery-detail.php/The-Troopship-i-Serapis-i-off-Bombay-Circa-1870-99/

As far as I can see she arrived in UK from Bombay in January, May and December.  The arrival in December included 93 women and 166 children, there were 7 deaths on the voyage.

MaxD
 

[janthedig]

Wonderful, thank you so much!