17th Lancers

[Justy]

I am trying to trace my great great grandfather who served in the 17th Lancers in the mid 19th century.  We have a photo of him in India - he was a clarinet player.

I am finding it difficult to get hold of any information - the only thing I have found out is that I need to go to London and physically look up the info myself.  This is just not possible for me - does anyone know of any other way of finding out more?

His name was William Shaw-Webberley (or may have just been William Shaw at that time) and he was born in 1838/1939 in Derbyshire.

I am really just looking for confirmation that he served in the regiment and also if he died in service.

Any pointers in the right direction gratefully received.

[harribobs]

you can employ a researcher to look for you, but i don't know of any on line methods that would help

[liverpool annie]

Hi Justy!

You might try this site - it gives addresses to write to for records - it may give you some ideas !

http://www.qrl.uk.com/h_enq.html

Annie 

[Justy]

Thanks for info Liverpool Annie, I have already tried them and it was them that said I needed to go to the record office in London.  Oh well - maybe I will have to try and get there one day. 

[liverpool annie]

On that same page you will see addresses to write to ....... !! you cannot get all your information on line ... you have to do it the old fashioned way !! you have to write ....... !!

The Army Records Centre,
Ministry of Defence,
Bourne Avenue,
Hayes,
Middlesex
UB3 1RF
Tel. 0208 5733831

For enquiries about entitlement to medals, enquirers should write (providing the claimant's name, date of birth, army number, regiment and discharge date) to:

Army Medals Office,
Government Buildings,
Worcester Road,
Droitwich,
Worcestershire
WR9 8AU
Tel. 01905 772323

Annie 

[Justy]

Thanks - I forget that life exists without the net  .

[manmack]

justy,sorry i cant be of any help,all i can do is tell you that he didnt fight in the crimean war with the light brigade,he must have joined the regt when it went to india to fight in the indian mutiny,they were fighting at sindwah in oct 1858,if he was with them,then he should be in the indian mutiny medal rolls,get hold of kev on here,hes got these rolls,mack

[Valda]

You could only follow William's army career through the records at The National Archives. The Ministry of Defence do not hold C19th records.

It appears William was married by 1860.
Emma Evans can be found in Doveridge Derbyshire on the 1851 census.

Marriages Jun 1860
EVANS  Emma    Uttoxeter  6b 369   
Shaw  William     Uttoxeter  6b 369

1861 census RG9 1957 folio 77
Palmer Moor Doveridge  Derbyshire   
William Shaw 22  Longford, Derbyshire,  Head Married Ag lab
Emma Shaw 29  Rocester, Derbyshire,  Wife  Married Ag lab's wife
Annie Shaw 1 mth  Doveridge, Derbyshire,  Daughter   
Eliza Evans 16  Doveridge, Derbyshire,  Sister-in-law 
 
1871 census RG10 2895 folio 68
Land Lane Doveridge  Derbyshire   
Emma S Webberley 39  Rocester, Staffordshire,  Head  Widow Laundress
Annie S Webberley 10  Doveridge, Derbyshire,  Daughter 
Henry S S Webberley 8  Doveridge, Derbyshire,  Son 

Emma remarried in 1874. I imagine to George Evans

Marriages Jun 1876
Webberley  Emma Shaw     Stoke T  6b 271
Evans  George     Stoke T  6b 271 
or
Bloor  James    Stoke T  6b 271   

It does not look like William himself ever legally used the surname Webberley.

Deaths Mar 1867
Shaw  William  27  Uttoxeter  6b 244

With a birth year of circa 1839 and the fact he was married by 1860 any career William had in the army could only have been of a relatively short duration so the main records (besides the medal rolls) for William will be  the regimental muster rolls - the quarterly pay lists at TNA.

As William's death was in 1867 I think it very unlikely the photograph you have could have been of him. If you post a copy of the photograph I'm sure it could be dated for you by the 'army experts'.

Regards

Valda

[M.T.H]

There's not a William Shaw,17th Lancers,on the Indian mutiny roll.


Mick