Orford Barracks, Warrington query 1891 census

[BarbaraW]

Hello, I am trying to find out if the Thomas Banks at Orford Barracks, Warrington as an 18 year old private, and born in Liverpool is mine. I have him marrying in Edge Hill in 1897.

I have no idea of where to even begin trying to find out service numbers and the like or even why there were so many stationed in Warrington at this time. Blue kindly sent me a link last night which gives an overview of Orford, but I'd like to find out more if possible.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsula ... Warrington

[MaryA]

I will ask a member of our Warrington Group if they can shed any light on it.

[Katie]

If he was in the Army 1891 would there not be a service record on FMP?

[Katie]

There are some Service records on FMP. Many of whose who enlisted in the South Lancashire Regiment particularly the 4th South Lancashire Regiment enlisted in Warrington.

[BarbaraW]

Thank you ladies.

Katie I will have a look on FMP. Was there a particular reason somebody would have signed up in those years or was it just a general thing?

[Hilary]

Poverty, adventure, escaping comes to mind.

[BarbaraW]

No doubt Hilary.

I cannot find any Army records for this man. Does anybody else suffer the same levels of frustration with their brick walls or do you all sail blithely past through the ages to the Norman Conquest like they do on WDYTYA?

[MaryA]

I haven't made my way past 1720 yet, and wouldn't think I'd get anywhere near the Norman Conquest as I collect evidence for all my entries.

[BarbaraW]

I haven't made my way past 1720 yet, and wouldn't think I'd get anywhere near the Norman Conquest as I collect evidence for all my entries.

I saw somebody on a FB group this morning saying she's been doing it for 2 years now and has over 21,000 names I must be very slow

[MaryA]

Oh I'm sure you could manage it if you did the same as they do and just import somebody else's tree - including grandparents younger than the children.

[BarbaraW]

[Hilary]

If it makes you feel any better it took 13/14 years for me to solve the mystery of my maternal grandmother. I'm sure some forum members will remember it!

[BarbaraW]

Thank you Hilary that makes me feel better even though I've been chasing this down (on and OFF for over 20 years) no doubt more than OFF as I keep putting him on the backburner along with the others lined up there.

[BarbaraW]

I've got a feeling this one is too old to be mine but the occupation and area fit quite well as does Warrington. Can I find out anymore about this soldier? FMP:

First name(s) THOMAS
Last name BANKS
Birth year 1865
Birth parish EDGE HILL
Birth town LIVERPOOL
Birth county LANCASHIRE
Birth country ENGLAND
Service number 1387
Rank -
Regiment -
Document Type Attestation
Attestation year 1886
Attestation Day 14
Attestation Month 9
Attestation age years 21
Attestation age months -
Attestation Corps 3RD BATTALION SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT
Attestation service number 1387
Series WO96 militia service records 1806-1915
Box 678
Box Record Number 304
Record set British Army Service Records 1760-1915
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Regimental & service records
Collections from Great Britain

I just found a marvellous 17 page service record what great reading it made but alas it was not my Thomas Banks as this young man died of gunshot wounds at Ladysmith.

Are attestation papers for voluntary service or do they mean somebody has been called up?

[BarbaraW]

I now think the guy who died at Ladysmith is probably the same as the man at Orford Barracks.

Regimental number: 3477

[Bertieone]

Thomas Banks, Liverpool Reg, 3477. Born 1873
Enlisted, 7 Feb, 1891,
Carter,
Mother, Alice Banks, 66 Oliver St, Liverpool.
Died of Gun Shot wound, Lyndenburg, South Africa, 31/5/1901.

[BarbaraW]

Yes that was him Bertie. Do you think he was the man at Orford Barracks?

[Bertieone]

Yes that was him Bertie. Do you think he was the man at Orford Barracks?

Don't know, Service papers, Joined, Warrington. No mention of Orford.

[Bertieone]

Thomas Banks, 3477, could not have married at Edge Hill, 1897,

Halifax N/S (Nova Scotia)? 6/6/93-6/12/95
West Indies 7/12/95-6/11/97
South Africa 7/11/97-31/5/1901, Death.

[BarbaraW]

Yes I got that thanks Bertie. I am trying to eliminate possibles after Liverpool RO doing a 6 year search for his birth cert with no result. Orford is in or near Warrington so that's why I was checking out the man who died at Lyndenburg (not Ladysmith).

How do I find out further details of the older man I found on FMP with no service record?

Details above :

Attestation Corps 3RD BATTALION SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT
Attestation service number 1387