TOPIC:

Removed due to the antagonistic replies from an individual forum member. Research discussion moved to a more friendly venue.

It all rather depends upon where the date of enlistment actually comes from, given, one assumes, there is absolutely no issue whatsoever with the date of death, I would certainly expect an error has been made at some point.

djt78 wrote: Dear All,

Maybe I am just being stupid but I'm having difficulty getting my head around a timeline for a Royal Dublin Fusilier who supposedly enlisted on 07/12/99 and died of disease at Intombi Camp on 07/02/00. The medal roll states he was entitled to the Defence of Ladysmith clasp and he is even mentioned as dying during the siege in the regimental history. My difficulty is understanding how he managed to participate in the siege if he enlisted in Ireland in early December 1899? Further confusion is added by the fact that his service papers claim he deserted on the same date he enlisted & that he was posted as a Private on 07/12/00 (when he was already deceased?). Please help, my head hurts with this one!

Regards,

Des

Removed due to the antagonistic replies from an individual forum member. Research discussion moved to a more friendly venue.

Hello Des

The service papers are WO96 - Milita papers not Regular Army. There is nothing in Soldier's Effects on Ancestry which show an enlistment date.

I think this is a horrible coincidence, Ward is not an unusual name.

Regards
Meurig

Removed due to the antagonistic replies from an individual forum member. Research discussion moved to a more friendly venue.

Hello Des

The coincidence is that there are two men of the Dublin Fusiliers with the same surname and number.

One is militia and the other is a regular - each battalion used independent numbering blocks which makes this possible.

I have seen a number of such coincidences over the years.

The only other explanation is that all known sources have the service number of the regular soldier wrong, I have never seen this (doesn't mean it can't happen).

Regards
Meurig