Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by tervid03 (U10373929) on Friday, 14th December 2007

  I have recently acquired my grandfather's birth and baptism certificate via the Army Register Book of Births Baptisms and Marriages. On the certificate is his parents names of George and Harriet Saunders and that he (George) was in the 106th Regiment of Foot. The date of the baptism is given as Sept 1875.
  
  My aim is to find out more about the regiment, where they were based, if they were involved in any conflicts and if possible about George himself.
  Thanks
  T

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by muttyluv (U4567009) on Saturday, 15th December 2007

  Hi T
  
  This is a possible for your family on the 1881 census
  
  1881 census @ 28 Highgate Lane, Fruit Shop, Kings Norton, Worcestershire
  
  George Saunders 32 head, Fruiterer, Hadbury?
  Harriet Saunders 32 wife, Clun, Salop
  George H. Saunders 6 son, Scholar, Bootle
  Ernest E. Saunders 3 son Bootle
  Ada B. Saunders 1 dau Bootle
  Edgar A. Pugh 15 visitor, Willot? Salop
  Sarah Saunders 63 Mother, Wid,Bulley? **reford
  
  To be more accurate, could you let us know where he was born/baptised, it may narrow the search field a little.
  
  Mutty
  
  

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by tervid03 (U10373929) on Saturday, 15th December 2007

  Sorry, I should have stated that the birth certificate I have acquired, confirms Frederick William Saunders DOB as 17 June 1870 as does his Metropolitan Police Service Record so am 99% sure I have the right persons for his parents.
  MPS Record also states he was born in the county of Southampton ie Hampshire
  His date of baptism was 5 Sept 1875 in Aldershot,
  he married in Kersey Suffolk in 1905 and lived in Brixton South London during his police service, he moved back to Suffolk about 1923 and died in Oct 1948. He also enlisted with the Essex Regiment for the seven years prior to joining the Police service. I don't know whether there were any brothers or sisters, it was never spoken about in my knowledge, there are no living relatives who knew him to ask.
  Thanks for looking
  T

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by dmatt43 (U7656541) on Saturday, 15th December 2007

  Have you tried The National Archives, Kew,?. Ther have pension records as well as the pay lists/muster rolls which will give some information up to around 1881 including locations. You would need to know if he was an officer or not. Additionally there may be the regiment's own official history which may through light on any operations around the World.

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Monday, 17th December 2007

  The 106th Foot started life as one of the European regiments in the East India Company's army - 2nd Bombay (European) Light Infantry. When the Company was wound up after the Indian Mutiny, its European regiments were transferred to the British army, which caused a lot of ill feeling among the men.
  
  The 106th was in India until 1871, when it returned to England. In the 1881 reorganisation, it became 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
  
  
  
  As your gt grandfather was born in Hampshre in 1870, it follows that his father must have joined the regiment after its return from India. I believe I may have found the marriage: the way the BMD index works, it gives you 4 names on a page and you can't say with certainty who married who unless you invest in a copy of the marriage certificate, but a George Saunders and Harriet Porter both married in the Christchurch district in the second quarter of 1867 (Vol 2b Page 944, if you want to risk Β£7 for a certificate: .
  
  In the 1871 census, there's a Harriet Saunders, born Norfolk (where your gt-grandfather ended up), aged 24, living in Alverstoke with two daughters: Rosina, aged 3, and Mary Ann, 1. She's married but her husband isn't there. Tracked her down in 1881 and she is indeed married to George, who's a soldier - but a sergeant in the Royal Marines. They're in Guildford Terrace, Walmer, which is obviously a married quarter. Their children are Mary Ann (11), Earnest (4), Harriet (3) and Albert (1) - Rosina was probably in domestic service somewhere by then. No Frederick but there's a big gap in the children's ages, as you can see - maybe some were elsewhere. Or the names may just be coincidence!

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by tervid03 (U10373929) on Tuesday, 18th December 2007

  Since receiving the birth certificate and posting this message on the board I have been in touch with the Hampshire Records Office, who do not keep records of Churches used solely for the Army, but they have given me an address for the Chaplains Office in Wiltshire, so have sent of a sae to see if the maiden name of my great grandmother is in the actual register.
  Fingers crossed
  At the moment I have discovered several George/Harriet Saunders marriages in the Sussex/Surrey/Hampshire area and at the right period but without the maiden name it would be difficult to know which one is correct!
  Thanks for the useful advice
  Kind regards
  T

  Link to this forum: I know so Little of My Great Grandfather

  Report message6

Back to top