RootsChat.Com

Thank you so so much for your speedy response. Have looked at the all the info - fascinating!

Question: I have found that there were 2 young boy boarders living with my ancestors on the 1911 census for Chippenham- not related - but I DO know that my Mum mentions one of them many years later (she was born 1927) Any idea why boys from London area would be boarding in Chippenham. No war at that time?
HOWLETT Frederick Honeywood  boarder 9 School born Putney Surrey          
WILLS Seymour  Peter boarder 6 Schoolborn Harringay London

any help here please?
Have found out that the reason I cannot find one of my relatives in 1871 is that he, George Bentley, was a bandsman onboard HMS Rattlesnake in the Ashanti War.

The George Bentley awarded the naval medal had the following particulars. Born in Canterbury on the 10 of December 1839. (This confirms the George Bentley recorded in the Army Chaplain’s Registers as having been born at Canterbury.) Enlisted into the Navy on the 26 of October 1866. His height was 5’ 6”, dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, and his trade, that of a Musician. He served aboard the “Flora” until the 2 of May 1869 and then in the “Rattlesnake” from the 3 of July 1869 until the 25 of March 1874, when he was “Discharged ashore, paid off.” His rank was Bandsman and his number 667343. His conduct was shown as “very good,” and being in possession of one G.C. badge.

Would a census have been done on a ship??? Would his wife be with him onboard? (I can't find her 'at home')

Anyone able to help?

Hi - I am lost! Am trying to find some info about relatives - Walter Whatley and Adeline Whatley (nee Stanley) who both came from Wiltshire but? married in Birkenhead in 1910. They travelled to Uganda in 1932 where Walter worked as a manager? building railways. They seemed to travel back and forwards to Wiltshire/Uganda before settling in Wiltshire and, at one time, Walter shipped his rather large car over from Uganda? Are there passenger lists for that era?

Hi - I am the 'searching for uniform' posting - kargil - my relation is gggrandfather - Troop Sergeant Major William Bentley - 11th Hussars - saved by Dunn during the Charge. I was invited to Toronto to attend the reinternment of Dunn's remains - but it all fell through at the very last minute?? Have never ever found out why? Flights were all booked so we went anyways! Anyway here is a bit about gggrandpa -

863     William BENTLEY.
Born at Kilnwick-on-the-Wold, Yorkshire on the 25 of October 1816. The parish records of Kilnwick-justa-Witton show a William Bentley, the son of John and Mary Bentley, being baptised there on the 25 of October 1817, by the Revd. William Lugard, Curate. His father’s occupation was shown as that of a labourer.
Enlisted at Beverley on the 7 of July 1835.
Age.  19.     Height.  5’ 9.”    Trade.  Farmer.

Fresh complexion.    Hazel eyes.    Lt. brown hair.

From Pte. to Cpl.    20 of June 1851.

Cpl. to Sgt.     13 of November 1853.

At Scutari from the 22 of September 1854 and sent to rejoin the regiment on the 11 of October.
At Balaclava, Bentley’s life was saved by Lieutenant Dunn cutting down three Russians who were attacking him from the rear. He had been wounded in the knee and in the back of the neck.
At the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, from the 3 of April - 11 of May 1855.
Appointed to Troop-Sgt.  Major on the 26 of November 1855.
(Sent money from the Crimea to his then wife, Mary Bentley, (see later paragraph.)
Discharged from Birmingham on the 7 of July 1860, “To serve with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry.” In this he was a Drill Instructor at Calne until 1872, so serving in the Army for a total of 37 years.
Service to count (Regular Army) 25 years 18 days.     In Bulgaria and the Crimea, 2 years.     East Indies, 1 year 6 months.

Conduct, “very good,.”     Was in possession of three G.C. badges when promoted to Sgt.

Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter’s book.     Never tried by Court-martial.

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol and although his group of medals is known to contain all for four clasps. he is not recorded as being entitled to the Alma clasp on the Alma/Inkerman roll.
Awarded the L. S. & G. C. medal on the 25 of May 1857.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
He died at No. 2 St. John’s Crescent, Penley’s Grove Street, York, of “Disease of the prostate, Cystitis, for 6 months.” aged 74 years, on the 1 of March 1891.
His burial took place in the old part of York Cemetery, Grave space No. 5854N, on the 5 of March 1891.