Gunner RMA Portsmouth 1900

[Dale]

Kia Ora
Seeking help/advice on a problem arising from a recently received Marriage Cert. please.

I have in my family tree Francis Edward Burgess who married May 1900 in Portsea. He was said to be a Gunner RMA

In 1901 he says he is a Gunner Royal Artillery (Navy).
I cannot find him in 1891.
In 1881 he is a scholar at Shaftesbury School School Bisley Surrey.

Francis died in 1910 at Epsom Surrey aged 43.

Can anyone help with any of the following please?

1. Where would I find a Naval ? Military record?
2. I have no idea of where he was in 1891 - any ideas?
3. Was Shaftesbury School a Military establishment and might there be records available? Any otherinfo?
(Francis's father was a sailor but deceased in 1878 might Francis have been sent there as a result?)

ANY advice/help/ideas very welcome - I'm floundering Down Under!
Thanks
Marlene
New Zealand

[Wendi]

Hi Marlene!

There are records in The National Archives, which might help, sadly they are not online, but to give you some idea what might be on offer this is one of the research guides..

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0rj/

I think we can assume that he is Portsmouth Division, in 1900.  He died in 1910.  Was there a rank or profession on his death certificate?

Wendi 

[RobertS]

During the period you are talking about the Royal Marines were divided into different branches Light Infantry and Artillery.

RMA is the Royal MArine Artillery.

Attached are some pictures which I hope you find interesting:

[Dale]

Kia Ora Robert
THANK you so much for thinking of me!
The photos are a wonderful visual picture aren't they!
Being a "girl" i have had little or no interest in the Defence Forces until I have found all these rellies who have served so I am on a steep learning curve!

I have looked at the National Archives site and there is a Francis Edward Burgess but born 30 years too late & in Birmingham.

Do you happen to have any further leads/background info on the RMA which might help me? I cannot find Francis in 1891 nor I am familiar with any historical events apart from the Boer War which might have involved him being  "offshore" durin the decade before his marriage in 1900.

Thank you again- people are just SO wonderful!
Regards
Marlene