need help with Fold3 record of Charles House

[parf]

Hello,
I have found a record for Charles House born 1843 in Curry Rivel, Somerset on Fold3. I am having terrible trouble reading it or making sense of it all. The record I have found is UK Royal Hospital Chelsea Pension Claim of 9th July 1878. I know nothing about Army history at all, so a bit lost at the moment trying to work out where he was at what time etc !  Also, sorry to sound stupid, but would he have just joined the Army or would he have been called up just to fight in a war/wars as in WW1 and 2 ?
Hope someone can help
Thanks
Jan

[MaxD]

This would be  related to the discharge of a volunteer soldier after a period of service in the 20th Regiment of Foot by the look of it.  The Royal Hospital Chelsea administered the army pension system, it doesn't mean he lived there.  He had been discharged on 24 Jun that year.  I don't have access to the actual Fold3 record.
The 20th Foot was also known then as the East Devonshire Regiment of Foot.  After the Crimea in 1854/5 in which the regiment served but it is unlikely he did, there wasn't much of note in the regiment's service while he served.  Does the document give an enlistment date and perhaps a battalion (1st or 2nd?)

MaxD

[parf]

Hi,
I cant find an enlistment date I dont think, there are so many numbers etc on it I dont know what they are !! It does say he was in the 2nd Battalion, Reg no. 942.
He was born in 1843 so would have volunteered to join the army at what age I dont know. I know I havent been able to find him on any census after 1851, when he was 8yrs old, so maybe was serving abroad at the time of 1861 and 1871 census.
So for him to be claiming an army pension does that mean he was injured ?
I have found on Forces War Records website 3 records for him 2 dated 1861 and 1 dated 1871, but I dont have a subscription to it so dont know what the records are.
Jan

[jim1]

18 was the typical age for joining so he may have been in before the 1861 census.
There doesn't appear to be any overseas activity so it looks like he was on home
duties. This included Ireland. He may have been there.

[parf]

Thank you.
This is part of the record that says "Foreign Service"

[Christine53]

This man's service documents are on FindMyPast. His attestation date was 19 Dec 1859 , aged 17. He served for 13 years and 38 days , 8 years and 6 months of which was service abroad :

China and Japan 3 years 9 months
South Africa 3 years 3 months
Mauritius 1 year 6 months

character and conduct :  good
one good conduct badge
11 times in the Regimental Defaulters book
three times tried by Court Martial

After his 13 years 38 days I think the record says he was with A Reserve as follows
London 1 Apr 1874 - 30 Sep 74
Leeds District 1 Oct 74 - 30 Sep 77
Halifax District 1 Oct 77 - 18 Apr 78

Rejoined from mobilisation 19 Apr 78  , posted to 9th Brigade
Service continued Private 19 Apr 78 - 25 May 78

He was discharged unfit because of extensive varicose veins which had worsened during his service in South Africa.

Intended address on discharge
35 Turkey Street
Hunslet Road
Leeds

He originally served as a volunteer with the Somerset Militia and was released to enlist with the 20th Foot  - he had to pay 18 shillings and sixpence !

[parf]

Oh wow ! Thank you for that, thats amazing !
Does it say his date of birth or where he was born, just to check I have the right Charles House.
Lots to look at and take in with it all,
Thanks again
Jan

[MaxD]

The 1861 and 1871 records are the worldwide army index (census if you will) which shows him at the Curragh in 1861 and in Mauritius in 1871.

Thanks Christine53 - didn't look hard enough!

He served in 2nd Battalion throughout so it is possible to relate those places to approximate dates, but no time today, someone may get there first.

MaxD

[parf]

Thanks for all the help!
Where would I find the Army Index, and more info on him ?
Cant go to our Library at the moment to look on Ancestry or Find my Past, so not sure where else to look.
Thanks again for all the info and help