Pensioner from 6th Regiment of Foot

[jhope]

Can someone help please?!!

After a long search I have found a possible GGGFather who died aged 73 in 1853. He is described on the Death Certificate as a "Pensioner from the 6th Regiment of Foot" and on the 1851 Census as a Chelsea Pensioner.

I am completely new to military records and have no idea where to go know to try and find out more about this man to see if I can confirm he is "mine"! Will there be any military records still exisiting/available that I could check? What sort of information would there be in any such records etc?

Can anyone suggest where to start!

Many thanks in advance!

Julie

[liverpool annie]

Hi Julie !

This isn't what you asked for - but maybe a little background to start you off !!  if you Google the wars and places ... it will give you an idea of where and what your GGGrandfather was doing !!

The Napoleonic Wars

The 1st Battalion went from Gibraltar to the Iberian Peninsular and were at Rolica and Vimeira in 1808. The Battalion took part in the retreat to Corunna, losing 300 men during the march.
The men were then shipped to UK before taking part in the Walcheren expedition before returning to the Peninsula in 1812. Present at Vittoha 1813 and heavily engaged at the later action at Roncesvalles. At the Heights of Echalar in August 1813 Wellington watched the Regiment's attack against 6,000 French in rugged positions in the mountains and described it as "The most gallant and the finest thing he had ever witnessed". They were held in reserve at the Nive and were again heavily engaged at Orthes 1814. Once again, this so impressed the Duke that he subsequently scratched on the officers' mess silver snuff box, which since 1785 had borne the words "Seek Glory", the additional words "Huzza for the 6th Regiment Now Keep Glory". The Regiment sailed for Canada in early May 1814. Once there they gained the Battle Honour Niagara for their repulse of an American sortie into British territory.

Queen Victoria's Wars

In 1832 the 6th became a Royal Regiment and their title was changed to The Royal (1st) Warwickshire Regiment. The 6th took part in the 7th and 8th Kaffir Wars in South Africa and received the Battle Honour South Africa 1846-7, 1851-2-3. Service on the North West Frontier took place between 1849 and 1868. The Regimental Depot was established at Warwick in 1873 and following the 1880-1881 Cardwell Reforms, the Regimental title became The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
In 1898 the Regiment fought at Atbara and Omdurman during Kitchener’s reconquest of the Sudan and saw service in the Boer War 1899-1902 at Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast

And here's the movements of the Regiment .....

    1815.12.24   6th Regiment of Foot
redesignated upon disbandment of 2nd Battalion
    1818   England   
    1821   Cape of Good Hope   
    1825   India   
    1841   England   half bn at Aden
    1842   England   regt reunited
    1844   Ireland   
    1846   Cape of Good Hope   
    1846   Kaffir war   
    1847   Cape of Good Hope   
    1850   Kaffir war   
    1853   Cape of Good Hope   
    1857.10.23   1st Battalion, 6th Regiment of Foot
redesignated upon formation of 2nd Battalion
       at sea   
    1858.01.17   India: Calcutta   
    1857   Sepoy rebellion   
    1858   India   
    1862   England   
    1865   Channel Islands: Jersey   
    1866   Ireland   
    1867   India

Annie 

[liverpool annie]

I nearly forgot ...... !

It might also be a good idea to post his name and anything else you know about him .... somebody may be able to help you !!

Annie 

[jhope]

Thanks Annie!!

His name is John Bennett and he was born @ 1779 in Shropshire (though don't know where) He died in 1853 in Surbiton, Surrey

This is really helpful - and  adds to the evidence that this is my man - I see the regiment returned to England 1815-1818. My GGGFather must have been pensioned off then because in 1817 age 37 he joins the Customs & Excise Service - and worked there until 1842 - gaining another pension!

I have also just found out another piece of related evidence this afternoon which makes me fairly sure he is the one. Have been seraching for him for a long time - so this is great!

Julie

[M.T.H]

Hi Julie,

It looks like his Army records are at The National Archives in series WO97.

http://tinyurl.com/yuu8x3

You can order copies of these documents direct from the National Archives website, click on the 'Request This' button.

For more information about what these records can contain, have a look at this page- Scroll down to Soldiers Discharged Through Chelsea Hospital

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/BritMilRecs.html

Good luck,

Mick

[neil1821]

The Military General Service medal roll has a John Bennett, 6th Foot who received the medal with one bar for Corunna.

This could well be your man, and would place him at the battle of Corunna in 1809.

Neil

[jhope]

Dear Mick and Neil

Thank you!!

I had no idea what sort of information there was available for military records and both of your replies have helped me immensely - I am really grateful.

I have been trying to identify the right John Bennett for a long time now and this looks as though I have finally found my man. And to think he won a medal!!! Need now to brush up on my military history

Thanks again to you both for being so kind in providing this information - and to Annie also.

Kindest regards

Julie