Rorkes Drift - Zulu War January 1879

[Barnes75]

Hi All

EV
Yes you have the correct person on both census, thats the same children i have got.  Trying to find out about his life in the services and his parents.

Neil
The information about him being in the services has gone down the family he told my granddad who passed it on to my dad also my dads cousin says that he had an army pension.

Dave
Yes it might be the case that i have to order the certificate up but i will contact my dads cousin and see if she has a copy already but she seems to have drawn a blank with him as well.

Ken
Through the family grapevine we know that he was part of the relief column.  Looks like i may have to go to kew and look there as he had an army pension.

Thanks

[ev]

hi barnes

a possible 1861 census
william g barnes age 1 born birkenhead cheshire
parents samuel barnes age 34 engine fitter(?) and alice age 31
other children
thomas barnes age 7
sarah a barnes age 1 month

think it's william george barnes but records for birkenhead births only
start september 1861

ev

[ev]

hi

william g barnes general labourer still with parents 1881 census
if it is him i can't see him fighting in s. africa
as dave francis posted think that marriage cert is now a must before you go any further

ev

[Barnes75]

Hi 

I think thats what I'm going to have to do. 

Thank you for eveyone's help.

Barnes

[John Young]

There was a Pte. W. Barnes in the 2nd Battalion, 4th (King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot, they served on the lines-of-communication between the town of Greytown and depot at Rorke's Drift.

Only two other soldiers with that surname and the initial of W. in the 1877-8-9 medal roll, one in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment of Foot; the other in the 3rd Battalion, 60th Rifles (King's Royal Rifle Corps).

[Barnes75]

Hi

Isandlwana

That information could be the bit of information i'm looking for.  We have been told that he went in as relief at Rorke's Drift.  It looks like it could be the first person you mentioned. 

EV
The census records for 1861 and 1881 aren't for the person i'm looking for. 

Thanks for all the help.

[John Young]

Barnes75,

I'm trying make out his Brigade No. on Medal Roll but to no avail, and can read a 9**, the following two numbers are not clear.

All I can see clearly is that he was a member of the 11th Brigade, the Brigade Depot was officially at Lancaster at the time of Anglo-Zulu War, however, it was temporarily housed at Fleetwood.  When he finally got his 1879 bar Medal, he was serving in Bombay, India.

Best thing I can suggest is to have a look at the 11th Brigade's Pay & Muster Rolls for the period at Kew, if he were sending money home or alike the next-of-kin might also by recorded.

'Isandlwana'

[Barnes75]

Isandlwana

Thank you for your time.  Least I have an idea of what I am looking for now.  Yes it looks like i will be looking at the records at kew.  Thanks again for getting me over my brickwall. 

Barnes75

[John Young]

Barnes75,

Not a problem, I should have mentioned he got his medal in 1881 in India about the same time the 1881 Census was being conducted, so don't bother looking for him there!

'Isandlwana'