Northamptonshire Regiment

[miked47]

Hi There,

Can anyone please help a newbie to this forum.  I'm trying to find why my wife's Grandfather, Joseph Walter Wright, born 1884 in Green's Norton, ended up in Naas, Co. Kildare after completing his 7 years with the 2nd Battalion, Northants Regiment, in 1906.  From what I've found so far, the Battalion was stationed in Bordon, Hants from 1902 after returning from South Africa and then in Colchester, Essex from 1904. 

Joseph was married in Naas in 1908 and the marriage register records his Rank or Profession as "Ex Soldier".  At some time thereafter, Joseph joined the Army Veterinary Corps.  He rose to  the rank of Staff Sergeant by the time he left the Army sometime around 1920-22.  Whilst with the AVC he was stationed variously in Aldershot, Co. Dublin and Co. Kildare.

Many Thanks

Mike

[seahall]

Welcome Mike to Rootschat. 

1891 Census Greens Norton Rg12/1188 Dist: 11
Pg 11 Folio 114 Sch 72

William Wright Head M 49 Agriculutral Labourer Woodford
Frances Wife M 43 Northampton
Thomas Son S 16 Agriculutral Labourer Greens Norton
Albert Son S 14 Agriculutral Labourer Greens Norton
Elsie Daur S 9 Scholar  Greens Norton
Joseph Son S 7 Scholar Greens Norton

Sandy

[seahall]

1881 Census Greens Norton Rg11/1536 Dist: 10, Pg 16,  Folio 20
Sch 75 Down Street

William Wright Head Mar 39 Millers Waggoner Woodford
Frances Wife Mar 33 Wag. Wife Northampton
William J Son 9 Scholar Towcester  Parlasyed from B.
George T Son 6 Scholar Greens Norton
Albert Son  4 Scholar Greens Norton

Sandy

[miked47]

Hi Sandy,

Yup.  That's the man.  Thanks for responding so quickly.

He really is proving a "brick wall".  Other than UK and Ireland Census Returns and Parish Registers, most of the information I have about him comes from family "memories".  The family in Ireland still have a medal that gives Northants Army Number, 5218.  The Northampton Museum provided me with the fact that he left in 1906 still a private, time expired with the Queen's SA medal, 1901 and the King's SA medal 1902 with clasps for Cape colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal.  

I applied to the Army Records Branch for his AVC military record but they were unable to find him.

Still hopefully digging away though.

Mike

[seahall]

Hi again Mike.

You may have more luck with his Regimental History on the
Armed Forces Board.

As you have said you know quite  lot already.

I will link across for you.

Sandy

[scrimnet]

I had a Regt Dinner this weekend and have been away I'm afraid, mum!!

This was the 58th (2nd bn Northamptonshire Regt).

They left Aldershot on the 21st/22nd Oct 1899, sailing half a bn each, in the SS Nubia and Harlech Castle..

They arrived in Cape Town between the 13th and 14th Nov. The bn was 28 officers, with 982 other ranks, 550 being reservists. They also had x3 horses, and one wheeled machine gun.

Interestingly it was this bn that introduced the practise of marching in columns of 4, closed up and on the left side of the road.

On 16th Jan 1911, they were posted to Malta.

I have a full account of the 58th in South Africa if you would like a copy...

[scrimnet]

Funnily enough I also have a 1920s history of the RAVC!!

[miked47]

Scrimnet,

I would relish an account of the 58th's exploits in SA.  I have only seen a few bits and pieces so far which amount to not more than a patchy overview.  Any light you could shed on where the Battalion was between the end of the 2nd Boer War and 1906, when Joseph's time with the Regiment expired, might help as well.  We really haven't a clue as to how he ended up in Ireland, unless it was with his regiment.  We know why he stayed, he married a local girl, Brigid Currin, in 1908.

Is the 1920s RAVC history in electronic text ?  If so, I'd dearly love to see that as well.

Thanks.

Sandy,

Thanks for the cross-posting.

[scrimnet]

No probs...Send me a PM with your eamil addy and I will copy the Regt int I have.

Now then, as for brigid....Either she was in service somewhere and he followed her home, or he went over the water to find work, and met her....Don't forget that the whole of Ireland was just as much part of the UK then as Wales is now.

He had only served his first part of service with the Regt and would have to serve the remainder of his time in the reserves...Up to the 12yr point.

The Regt did not serve in Ireland (a "home" posting) during this time...Have you followed Brgid's movements on the census at all, in case she came over the water, but this way??