Child Soldiers?

[ShaunJ]

Link to his statement of service on FindMyPast (indexed as John Plaice ) http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fwo97%2f0595%2f099%2f001&parentid=gbm%2fwo97%2f595%2f639543&highlights=%22%22

I don't know how they got that to add up to 37 years 11 months !

[Regorian]

Regimental orphans. They were employed as bandsmen/musicians, fifes and drums.

[Dinkydidy]

If only the actual service record with dates and places would turn up! It's there somewhere, as there are references to his service in an article in the Napoleon Series.

Unfortunately, access to the microfilm is not much use to me, as I am in Australia. 

[Dinkydidy]

Regorian, I wondered about your suggestion, which is why I asked about the attestation date. If he was already employed as an orphan, would he then apply again as an "adult"?

[ShaunJ]

Totalling up his actual years of service (which would only reckon for pension from age 18), that comes to 27 years and 3 months. The difference between that and his total pensionable service of 37 years 11 months is 10 years 8 months which is exactly 50% of his East Indies service. So is that the measure of the uplift for East Indies service?

[km1971]

Yes 50% - hence 'half-period'.

Ken

[km1971]

I don't know how they got that to add up to 37 years 11 months !

Shaun

Total service adds up to 27y 3m. East Indies service is 21y 4m. Half period is 10y 8m.

27y 3m + 10y 8m = 37y 11m

Ken

PS - no under age service, and he was not at Waterloo

[km1971]

If only the actual service record with dates and places would turn up! It's there somewhere, as there are references to his service in an article in the Napoleon Series.

Shaun found it - see two posts before this.

Ken

[Regorian]

Regorian, I wondered about your suggestion, which is why I asked about the attestation date. If he was already employed as an orphan, would he then apply again as an "adult"?

I don't know, but guess that on death of a father in service, son was taken into regimental band.

Not surprised that West Indies service counted as enhanced service. Yellow fever wiped out large percentage of all ranks every year.