Territorial Force & National Reserve

[pendlelad]

Hi there,

I recently discovered the obituary for my 2x great grandfathers brother, Thomas Foley, who died in 1914 in Manchester aged 66 (born 1848 in County Waterford).

On the obituary (pictured below) it says 'members of the Territorial Force and National Reserve are invited to assemble at the house at 2:30PM'. This makes me believe he was at one time a part of that regiment. Before this i believed he was a dyer by occupation all his life.

Would i be able to find any records for the Territorial force?

Thanks,
Pendlelad

[MaxD]

The Territorial Force and the National Reserve were not one regiment but were the overall titles of two elements of army reserves within which were a large number of different units.  This and the links from it explains the two:http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/enlisting-into-the-army/british-army-reserves-and-reservists/.

He was in all probability an ex-soldier who belonged to a local TF unit and the article is inviting support from his TF comrades.  The Manchester area had too many TF units to think of tying him to one or another but it may be possible to find his earlier service.   I'll have a look.

MaxD

[MaxD]

Afternote

He appears regularly in the earlier census returns with no sign of army service so it may be he was a member of the Territorial Force (ie part time) having not served before.

MaxD

[pendlelad]

Afternote

He appears regularly in the earlier census returns with no sign of army service so it may be he was a member of the Territorial Force (ie part time) having not served before.

MaxD

MaxD,

Thanks so much for the info and for looking into it. I thought he could have joined and left between censuses but part time seems much more plausible.

My grandmother remembers seeing a photograph of her grandfather (Thomas' brother), and vividly remembers him wearing a red uniform. Perhaps he was also doing it part time as he is listed in every census as a dyer.

Thanks again,
Pendlelad