John Patrick Doyle / Margaret Redmond(married 1919 Dublin) , Family History.

[vanjasper]

I'm not sure how to start, or where to go to find out what i'm looking for.  My Grand Dad was a British Army man, as were his before him. But i know nothing but little vague bits about his time with the British Army. I know he was in the RHA in WW1. Was in France and marched to Mesopotamia. The commanding officer was so old he was known as "the souvenir" my Grand dad, being the youngest in the company/ regiment (whatever) was know as "Suv",he was his batman.
He must have stayed on in the Army after the WW1. There are rumors he met my Grandmother (his wife) in India. She was an Englishwoman, i only discovered this a couple of years ago. Their family were also military, drum followers. Her family worked in the Vice-Regal Lodge in the Phoenix Park in Dublin Ireland. But i think her origins are in Gravesend in Kent(?)
My G/Dad got an ex-servicemans house in the Castleknock area of Dublin. And the Army, or his service got him a job as a fireman with the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. He went on to command a barge the plied along the river liffey, bringing the casks to the boats on the docks.
His G/Dad took part in the charge of the Light Brigade and survived. The 8th hussars was his regiment.
Sounds like an interesting history that should be explored. Any idea where's best to start?

[Annie65115]

Hello vanjasper and welcome to Rootschat!

Why don't you start by giving us your father's name and birth year and any other factual details of which you're sure, and see what RCers can come up with? (avoid mentioning by name anyone who may still be living -- site rules!)

(edited - of course I mean grandfather! my error! --as per post below!)

[jim1]

Grandad's name might be more helpful.

[larkspur]

Hello Vanjasper and a warm welcome.
I am not trying to be clever or patronising here. I cannot help at all with Irish records, as I have never come across any of my family from there.
The very best place to start is at the beginning- with your birth certificate. From there your parents marriage certificate should give you your grandfathers names. Your parents birth certificates should give you all of your grandparents names.
Treat all the family stories with care, as they do get embroidered over time.
I would be looking for grandad's army records.
ancestry.co.uk/ has army records, but it is a pay to view site.
I will warn you in advance though----this hobby can become very addictive, and sometimes expensive.
 If you want to post up Grandad 's name I am sure many here will help with your hunt.
 Best of luck.

[Deer243]

Here's a link to a photo of some of the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade at a reunion in 1904, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade_survivors_reunion_-_1904.jpg

[Sinann]

Guinness have a searchable archive of former employees
https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/archives/archives-genealogy

[vanjasper]

Brilliant! Thanks for that info. I'll check into that site.

[vanjasper]

My Grandfather's name was John Doyle. Could have been known as "Jack".
Very little, if anything was ever spoken about my G/dad's war service, or the fact he was ever in the British Army, like i said i only discovered two years ago that my g/mother was an English woman.

[jim1]

I can't see a Medal card for a John/Jack Doyle RHA which there should be if he served overseas. There are about 30 in the RFA.