Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80

[Garen]

Hi Bill

Thanks for that - from your info, and what ShaunJ said, it seems he wasn't with the regiment in Afghanistan, but with the Depot Brigade in Clonmel - perhaps due to his age and/or physical condition. If his family had been back in Ireland, perhaps this is another reason he returned home.

If he served in the Afghan War he would have been in receipt of a medal. There were some regiments that garrisoned Kandahar after the end of the war and didn't get the medal, but this was end of 1880 into 1881.

The 18th arrived in India in 1874, and moved into Afghanistan in January 1880 - some men may have been sent back to the Depot HQ at this point. They returned to India in March 1881, and to England in 1885.

All best - Garen

[Bill93185]

Hello Garen
Thanks for your quick response ......... and that of ShaunJ for his previously help.

One more question if I may on Patrick ?

Patrick on route to England from India
At the March 1879 muster shows Patrick continued to serve in the military at Deolali about 100 miles from Bombay.    Patrick age 43, his wife Ellen, 3 girls (Mary, Julia, Agnes) and 2 boys ( John & William) embarked for England on the 15th April 1879 and transfers to Gosport Hampshire. Later to the depot at Clonmel, Co Tipperary Ireland.

Please see extract from muster records.

My question, where may I find the name of the ship that Patrick and family left on at Bombay and sail for England. And any information such as dates and places etc if possible.

Thanks very much
Bill Croke, Australia

[Garen]

Hi Bill - that's excellent, it looks like you had a lot more information already than I could find out from here. So, he left India much earlier than Jan 1880.

I can't tell you off-hand the ship, but perhaps a bit of research into ships departing Bombay or Karachi on that date, using newspapers, would help.

[Andy J2022]

"In 1863 the Royal Navy was instructed to build and operate on behalf of the Indian government five steamships specially designed for trooping. The rigged iron screw steamships Crocodile, Euphrates, Jumna, Malabar and Seraphis of 6,211 tons, 360 feet long with a 49 foot beam, were built in 1866 and served as troopships until 1894. Like later troopships they had white hulls with a blue coloured riband and yellow funnels. In 1894, instead of replacing these five troopships, which were by then worn out by nearly 30 years of service, the Admiralty invited tenders for troopships which the government could charter with the shipowners to be responsible for managing and manning the ships and for victualling them, a system which proved more economical than running government owned ships, and would continue until the troopship era ended. The ships were designed to carry a complete battalion of troops. The Indian Government paid the costs of running the service but the Royal Navy operated the ships."
source: https://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/troopships/ts001.shtml

https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/navyships/indiantroopships/troopshipmalabar.htm
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/navyships/indiantroopships/troopshipserapis.htm
https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/navyships/indiantroopships/troopshipeuphrates.htm (the title says Malabar, but it's the Euphrates)
HMS Crocodile (below)

[Garen]

All I can say is it's not the Crocodile as I researched that, and it was at Portsmouth in Apr 1879 (must get round to the others some day!)

https://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/resources/troopship_crocodile.php

[ShaunJ]

Euphrates left Bombay on 13 April 1879

[ShaunJ]

Jumna left Bombay on 16th April - seems the most likely one.

[ShaunJ]

Newspapers in mid-May 1879 report the arrival of the Jumna at Portsmouth, with a number of cases of measles on board.

Passengers included 38 officers, 402 time-expired men and Invalids, 103 women, and 277 children.

[Bill93185]

Hi Bill - that's excellent, it looks like you had a lot more information already than I could find out from here. So, he left India much earlier than Jan 1880.

I can't tell you off-hand the ship, but perhaps a bit of research into ships departing Bombay or Karachi on that date, using newspapers, would help.

Answer
Hi Garen - Yes I did have some information obtain from a relative in England, however the data I like to obtain was not forthcoming. Yes... Patrick and family left 15 April 1879.

I will look further as suggested.
Bill Croke - Australia