Service in India (where? )

[Margaret]

My Grandfather enlisted at Ashton I believe in 1888 when he was 18 years old.

From 1888 to 1891 he was stationed at HOME, which I understnd could be anywhere in the UK including Ireland.

From September 1891 to March 1896 ( 4 years) he was in India, but I have not been able to discover where that would be --or where they in different places?

Is this information given anywhere?

For the next 3 years he was HOME again? and in October 1899 he went to South Africa, the bars on the medals indicate that he was part of the Mounted Infantry.

Then he was HOME again for another 2 years.

He joined up agian in WW1.  and  went to Fance.

can anyone advise on the India service please?

[themonsstar]

Hi Margaret

Can you tell us your G/F name,number and anyother info.

Cheers MS

[Margaret]

Sorry for the long delay in replying, I couldnt find the information I put in a safe place !

Here it is = William Henry Massey born Manchester in 1869. enlistment number 2377.

He enlisted under the  surname of his stepfather as William Irving, in 1888,  but appears to have resumed his own name of Massey later on in his service, possibly when he was 21. 

Are you also able to show when the Regiment first went to India?

Thank you

[timberman]

Hello Margaret

Welcome to the forum.
This is his medal index card from the first world war, but does mention his 1901 medal.
Also it has his address on as well.
This is one of the best cards I've seen for information.

Click on the picture to make it bigger.

Timberman

[mack]

pte 2377 william irvine
stepfather thomas irvine and older brother alfred
enlisted 1-10-88 at ashton
labourer
aged 18
1st manchesters
posted to 2nd battalion,on 18-9-91 in india,till 16-2-96
army reserve 23-2-96
rejoined the colors 23-9-98
south africa 23-10-99 till 31-7-01
discharged at ashton,on 30-9-01

pte 3211 william,henry massey
re-enlisted as a special reservist,on 9-9-14
13th manchesters
aged 44
labourer
1 midway st,longsight
born.ancoats 1869
promoted serjeant 1-10-14
sent to france,on 13-6-18,with the 11th manchesters
transferred to 180th POW company,labour corps,on 12-10-18
army reserve,on 18-2-19

awarded only the queens south africa medal
clasps.paaderberg/dryfontaine/johanesberg/diamond hill/cape colony/kimberley

mack

[Margaret]

Thank you for that.

I have a good clear copy of the  Military History Sheet, which shows he was in India for over 4 years.    Sept 1891 -16 Feb 1896
 
I have never found out where that would be,  is there a record for the places they served in this period?.

[mack]

Thank you for that.

I have a good clear copy of the  Military History Sheet, which shows he was in India for over 4 years.    Sept 1891 -16 Feb 1896
 
I have never found out where that would be,  is there a record for the places they served in this period?.

hiya margaret.
the 2nd battalion,mounted two expeditions on the north west frontier,in 1891,then they were posted to aden,in 1897,but william had returned to the UK the previous year,pending his transfer to the reserves,william rejoined the battalion when it  returned to manchester,in 1898.

mack

[Bob.NB]

The regimental history shows that the 2nd Battalion were stationed in India as follows:
Sept 1891 -3 companies in Sialkote and Rawalpindi, 2 companies in Amritsar.
Nov 1892 - 3 companies marched to Amritsar and then all entrain to Meerut. Two detachments then moved on to Delhi,
Mar 1893 - marched to Chakrata, one detachment moved to Gnatong, Sikkim,
Nov 1893 - moved on to Dinapore,
Nov 1897 - moved from Dinapore to Bombay and then on Aden, where 254 men went on to Gibraltar to join the 1st Battalion,
Nov 1898 - remainder of 2nd Battalion return to England from Aden.
Hope this helps.
Bob B.