TOPIC:

Having exhausted all the usual avenues of enquiry, I'm now going to approach this differently.

The subject of my research - my Great Grandfather - was employed by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in Dec 1901, in his hometown, Hastings. His employment records state that he was 'recommended' by the Army (but no further details).

In around 1888, 15 year old Charlie, his brother and three sisters were all put into orphanages in Southwark, South London. The boys went to the Fegan home in Southwark street and Charlie's younger brother George was 'migrated' to Canada. Both served in WW1 - Charlie in India and George with the 8th Rifle Batt, CEF.

Whilst I have accounted for the whereabouts of his siblings, Charlie seems to disappear between 1887/8 and 1901 - except when he married (in Hastings) to Elizabeth Brooman in Aug 1897.

My question is this. Given his location (Southwark) and the proclivity for orphanages to 'place' boys in the Services, where would a 15 or 16 year old be most likely to sign up?

On WW1 forums, much weight is placed upon the geographical location of an individual to determine who might recruit him. Would the same hold true 25 years earlier?

To be fair, I realise that if he was back in the UK by Dec 1901, it is unlikely that he served in the Anglo Boer War, but any help offered tracking Charlie
down would be gratefully received.

Have you checked for service papers on FindmyPast.co.uk?

Thanks for the hint, I have checked National Archives, West Sussex Archives, Ancestry and London Met, to name but a few.

However.....It does look like FMP have a searchable dataset that covers what I need!

Finding the service record that ends around 1901, that's the goal.....

I'll update with results.

FMP have one possibility.....



Lets see where it leads. The Rifle Brigade again?