Honorary Captain

[dptb]

Hi

Can anyone help ?

What does honorary captain mean.  My possible gt gt grandfather, Frederick Curruthers Graham, was an engineer serving in India in about 1846.  He was made Hon Captain later in his career.  Does this mean he was part of a regiment? I am trying to find his whereabouts in 1860 and 1869. Whether he was stationed at Preston barracks and whether or not his wife, Helen Amelia Graham, came with him.   I have his pension record and it says he served 30 years in India and was out of India 2 years and 98 days.  Was he in England during this time I wonder ?

Any Ideas !

Thanks

Diane

[km1971]

Diane

The most common soldiers to get an honorary commission were Quartermasters. These were usually promoted from the ranks having been Quarter Master Sergeants. Honorary means they did not have to purchase the rank. Or he may have been a substantive Lieutenant given the position of Adjutant with an honorary captaincy.

However engineer suggests the Royal Engineers. Other Ranks were part of the Sappers and Miners until they  merged with the officers of the Royal Engineers in 1856. Can you post a link to the pension you have? Officers did not have records like ORs but you may find details of his commisions on the London Gazette archive.

As a senior Sergeant or officer he had an automatic right to take his family to India on a normal garrison tour.

Ken

[rosie17]

Hi Diane could this be his marriage
Frederick Graham age 38 widower birth date 1822
Father Leslie Gordon. Graham.
Spouse Helen Amelia Greatorea
12 April 1860 Madras India
Rosie

[rosie17]

Diane ,Is that your tree with details of a son being born 8 June 1860 Brighton ?
Rosie

[dptb]

Hi everyone

thanks for your help.  I have attached Frederick grahams pension record for you to look at Ken.

thanks Rosie yes that is the fella.  He isn't a blood relative I don't think, but Helen could be my gt gt grandmother.  I have quite a lot of info on them but I need to prove they were in England in 1860 and 1869 !  Yes that is my tree.  Im still trying to find out if this baby belonged to Helen Amelia

Cheers

[hanes teulu]

The 1860 marriage occupation is "Conductor and Sub Engineer D.P.H.(?)"

A Helen Bertha Graham was baptised Coonoor, Madras, 1863, parents Frederick and Helen. Occupation looks like "Deputy Adj Commissary and Sub Engineer D.P.H".
Is this your Frederick?

[dptb]

Hi

Yes that's him

[jim1]

Deputy Adj Commissary

This bears out what Ken1971 said. Concerned with supply ie. Quartermaster's stores.
It appears it wasn't considered a full time job & as he was also an engineer of some description.

[dptb]

Did these people move with the regiments I.e.  Could he have been posted to England from india