47th Regiment of Foot - Henry Dillon

[Luzzu]

Hello,

I would like to ask for help in finding out at Henry Dillon who was with the 47th Regiment of Foot.  From the census returns, I have found out the following.

He was born in 1844 and married Adelaide Goff/Goffe/Gough around 1860.  Their first son, Henry George on 24 Mar 1860 at Thorncliffe Camp, Kent.  In Canada, they had two children; Michael J and Mary A c1865/66.  In Malta, they had the following children; George 1872, Alexander James 1878 and Mary R 1884.  Their daughter, Priscilla was born in 1874 in Italy.

Sorry to be a bit vague but I am having difficulty pinpointing Henry and Adelaide births (she was born in Malta) and the births of the children.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Luzzu

[KB783]

I cant help you with your enquiry but is the following info of any use to you?

On page 24 of the book 'The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1855 - 1970' there is a picture and the caption reads, I quote 'The Dillon brothers, both Lance Corporals in walking out dress with white foreign service helmets, Cape Town. This is a picture sent from Jack Dillon to Annie at Christmas 1899'

[Luzzu]

Thank you for your posting.  To be honest I am not sure but may be this is one of those things that isn't relevant at the moment but might be in the future.  It would be brilliant if it fits in somewhere.

 

Luzzu

[km1971]

The births of the three children in Malta 1872 to 1884 does not indicate a man serving in the 47th Foot. They were elsewhere. Likewise the British army has never served in Italy with wives, so that 1884 birth is a mystery. Maybe he left the army and settled in Malta.

Do you have the 1860 birth certificate, and so can confirm she was the mother to the first born? The 47th Foot left Malta in May 1857. They spent the next three months in Gibraltar and they may have got married there.

ken

[Luzzu]

Yes the birth certificate of the first born registered in Mar 1860 male Dillon Elham 2a 751 is for Henry George Dillon, son of Henry Dillon and Adelaide Ghoff.

I also have the baptism entries for Michael John and Mary Anne both born in Canada:-

"12th of October, 1862, the undersigned priest have baptized, Michael born on the 26th of September.....of the lawful marriage of Henry Dillon, soldier of the 47th, who could not sign and Adelaide Goff of this parish.  The sponsors were Michael Bramshaw (?) and Mary Carey. St. Patrick Church, Montreal, Quebec."
 
"22nd day of January, 1865, M. Anne Dillon legitimate daughter of Henry Dillon and Adelaide Goff. St. Jean Cathedral, Quebec."

Widowed Adelaide was back in Manchester by 1891 and remained there until she died in 1915:-

Class: RG12; Piece: 3172; Folio 80; Page 4; GSU roll: 6098282

It is on the 1891census that Priscilla is recorded as being born in Italy.

Luzzu

[biggles5000]

Hi Luzzu Duke of Lancaster Regiment was posted in Canada in 1861 spent five years their as far as my records are shown in 1869 the  Regiment was then posted to Ireland and spent 6 six years left Ireland and then was stationed in Jersey. Hope this any help to you the British army never served in Italy in 1891 it was stationed at Malta and then sent to South Africa AS THE 2ND BATTALION also served in Cyprus in that same year.

[Luzzu]

Hi km1974 and Biggles5000,

Thanks for your replies and help.  I am well out of my depth with all this military stuff and just wanted to clarify something with you.

Are we saying that the the 47th did not return to Malta after Canada and the British Army never went to Italy at all.  Also the regiment ceased to exist after 1881 when it merged and became the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment aka the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

It is looking likely, as Ken suggested, that he left the Army.  In addition I have this week received a marriage certificate for the second son, Michael John Dillon who married Mary Buck in Gorton, Manchester in 1916.  On the marriage certificate his father was recorded as Henry Dillon, publican (deceased).

One more thing,  I have been told his service record is missing because he "wasn't discharged to pension" and I thought this meant he died in the Army and his service record was destroyed but this marriage certificate changes this now, doesn't it?

Luzzu

[biggles5000]

As far as i know the Regiment  returnd to Malta in the year 1899 to 1900 it was the 2nd Battalion that was stationed there  The first Battalion was in South Africa and took part in the siege of Kimberely during the Boer war.

The child in question could of been born at sea but not sure on the records.I mite be able to find the transprot ship that carried the regiment to Malta and see if there on the passenger list this may take some time.I do know that most of the army records were destroyed by German bombing druing the second world war. Leave it woth me and i try and help you out as much as i can.

[Luzzu]

Thank you.

100% Henry Dillon was dead by 1891 as the widowed Adelaide and children were back in Gorton, Manchester on the 1891 census.

Luzzu