Wars/conflicts 1860-1900

[madfan]

Hi,

Please excuse my ignorance but what wars or conflicts were happening around 1860 - 1880 which Irish or English soldiers would be involved in?

Thanks
Madfan

[neil1821]

Quite a few conflicts, some more significant than others.

Here's a basic list for reference
http://www.regiments.org/wars/wars.htm

[madfan]

Hi Neil,

Thankyou for the link,

I've just found out that family legend was that my gg grandfather was a 'soldier of fortune'

regards
Madfan

[neil1821]

I've just found out that family legend was that my gg grandfather was a 'soldier of fortune'

All I'd say is family legend can be dubious. Treat it with a large dose of skepticism, start from what you know and maybe a story will emerge.

You could always tell us some details about him on the forum here and let us see what we can find  . The usual stuff; name, dates, places, do you have him on census returns etc etc

[madfan]

Hi Neil,

Totally agree about taking family legends with a (big) pinch of salt, but this is the first one I've found so i'm very intrigued!

Depending on what documents you look at the man in the picture is called William Henry Walsh (Welch) McConnell and sometimes just plain Henry McConnell. I have his marriage in 1883 in Warwick and his death in 1908 (In Warwick). He is on the 1891 and 1901 census in Warwick and is down as a Corporation Labourer born in Dublin. Ages given on his marriage and death cert would mean he was born in 1840 but have not been able to verify this.

I have only recently been given this photo and was told that he was in the Irish Fusiliers, well he may have been but I can see from his cap badge in the photo that it is the emblem of Warwickshire - bear and ragged staff. I don't know when the photo was taken. Last night another newly found relative said that they had been told he was a soldier of fortune.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Zoe

[mmm45]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Yeomanry

The cap badge you describe sounds like the Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry .
Theres a link above....They were volunteer militia who went to fight in the Boer War.

Ady

[madfan]

Thanks for the link Ady, learned a lot.
Henry would have been too old to be in the 2nd Boer War, but maybe the first?
In the photo he has 3 stripes on his arm so he was a sargeant? but he is not wearing any medals, this seems strange? but I'm definately no expert on these things.

Zoe