United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records

[AlanR83]

Hello,

I am trying to trace what happened to a relative of mine - Henry Doyle, he fought in the Boer War with the British Army, I found his Pension Service Record on Family Search.org, he was born in Wicklow in 1877. I know he was discharged from the army in 1907 and I have him living in Dublin City with his wife Alice & son Alfred in the 1911 census. I know from a family letter that he was still alive and living in Dublin in 1932, however I have no idea what his address was or when or where he died. Is there somewhere I can contact that would have his address in the 1930's & 1940's - if he was receiving a life long British army pension then surely some Army department has a record of his addresses throughout his life and his date of death? 

[km1971]

I do not believe that the Chelsea admission records for men who only served the basic 12 years 'first period of enlistment' have been kept. But you can always ask the National Archives.

If he had been awarded an Out-pension for 'length of service' - ie 21 years plus - then the admission books are in the National Archives. But these only give starting pension, pension district and intended residence. Before about 1880, 'Chelsea' tended to write the changes (including last payment) on his discharge form - the four pages that comprises his 'record'. Previously in WO97 and now on Findmypast.

The Irish GRO have greatly improved the indexing of death certificates, and I believe they still do five years searches. You can get a copy on plain paper for 4 euros. Someone on the Irish or Beginners section can help. You need to print off an application form then post or fax it with details of an international credit card, assuming you do not have a Irish bank account.

Ken

[t mo]

found this death for a henry doyle  born 1875 died jan-mar 1935  Dublin north vol 2 page 285 it,s the only one I can find for Dublin others may find more .
regards
trevor

ps be worth asking on the irish boards for a look up in deaths for him .

[km1971]

Nice find Trevor. Hopefully his occupation will confirm he was a (British) army pensioner

Alan...this is the form you need - https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx

You have to be careful with Irish BMD certificates as there are lots of websites that look official but only the official government site includes the option of the plain paper copy for four Euros instead of 20.

Ken