Serving in 90th Light Infantry Regiment & Army Service Corps

[Jeffrey]

My husbands Gt Grandfather, Alfred Jeffrey, joined the 90th Light Infantry Regiment in 1872 to 1874 then transferred to the Army Service Corps until 1878.
He lived at Dinton in Buckinghamshire and was a Baker by trade.
I am wondering about a number of things.

Why would he join the 90th Light Infantry Regiment when he came from Buckinghamshire?
Where would he have been posted with them from 1872 to 1874?
Why would he then have been transferred to the Army Service Corps in Sept 1874?
Where would he have been posted between 1874 and 1878 (that is when he left the Army)?

He was married in 1875 - would his wife have been with him on any postings?

He must have missed the Army as in 1884 he signed up to the Reserves for 4 years.

Would be grateful for any information just to build a picture of him, his life and where he travelled.

Thank you.

Judy

[MaxD]

Bit at a time.

In August 1872 the 90th Light Infantry were stationed in Aldershot and it is likely that they had recruiting parties all over southern England and perhaps he fancied the uniform!

In Dec 1873 and Dec 1874 they were in Dover so in UK for the first part.

The ASC is much more difficult as the sheer number of units large and small are not listed in the various official publications that record movements.  A baker would have been a natural fit for the ASC as that was one of their capabilities.

I read the surviving documents differently.  In 1884 he finished his service and went on the reserve (as was normal).  He had served 12 years which was a standard term of service. 

Wives could be with their husbands, unofficially usually initially but then he could apply to have her "put on establishment" when, if successful, she would accompany him at the army's expense.

If he had stayed in the infantry it would have been a little easier to follow him around.

MaxD

[Jeffrey]

Thank you for your reply & Help  MaxD.

Also thank you for the interpretation of when he was in The Army. I think you are right and I had misinterpreted them.

I now know that there were two children at least born to him in Ireland. Daisy Rose b1875 at The Military Barracks, The Currah Ireland. And Elizabeth M born 1877 in Dublin Ireland.
There was an Alfred born & died 1878 I don't know where he was born. Then it looks like Fanny Beatrice was born 1879 back home at Dinton in Bucks. It looks like the rest (9 of them) were born back in Dinton.

Grateful for your information.
Judy

[Jeffrey]

I now have his marriage cert dated 25 Mar 1875. He married his cousin and they were married at Aldershot. He was in the Army Service Corps.

Does anyone know if he could have requested a move from the 90th Light Infantry Regiment or were they just posted as and when the Army ordered?

Judy

[MaxD]

The most likely scenario is that the ASC were looking for more men so he requested a transfer, around that time the ASC was going through a number of re-organisations.  It would have been unusual at that time for a man to be simply transferred from one element of the army to another without reason.  He may have been less than fully fit perhaps and the ASC seen as less demanding of fitness than the infantry.

MaxD

[Jeffrey]

Thank you for the reply
 Judy