Where did the 2/23 Royal Welch fight 1871-1885?

[susan_coe]

Hello,

There seems to be plenty of info on the internet about the Royal Welch in World War 1, but I haven't been able to find out where they fought in the mid Nineteenth century.

I am researching a Private Richard Lewis, who was born in Cowbridge, Glamorgan in about 1848. He was in the 2/23 Royal Welch on the 1871 and 1881 censuses. In 1871 he was in Gillingham, Kent and in 1881 at the Citadel in Plymouth. He had a son, also Richard born in Gibralter in about 1879.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me why the regiment were in Gibralter in 1879 and how long they were there for? Were thet on their way to somewhere else?

By the 1891 census Richard had left the Army. I have looked at the soldiers discharge papers at the National Archives at Kew for the period 1883 to 1900 in WO 97, but found no papers relating to him.

Could anyone tell me where the 2/23rd fought between 1871 and 1883. Were they engaged in any campaigns abroad?

Any help anyone is able to give me will be most gratefully received.

Many thanks,
Sue Coe.

[LarsA]

Hi, hope this gives a few leads.
Kind regards,
Lars

1866Canada (mk:@MSITStore:C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Lars% 20Ahlkvist\Mina%20dokument\Medaljer\regiments.chm: :/wars/19thcent/70fenian.htm) 1867England 1872Ireland 1873Gold Coast (mk:@MSITStore:C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Lars% 20Ahlkvist\Mina%20dokument\Medaljer\regiments.chm: :/wars/19thcent/73ashant.htm) 1874Gibraltar 1880England 1881.07.012nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers (mk:@MSITStore:C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Lars% 20Ahlkvist\Mina%20dokument\Medaljer\regiments.chm: :/regiments/uk/inf/022Ches.htm) 1881England: Plymouth 1883Ireland: Templemore 1885Fermoy 1887Galway

[Mike McCormick]

Sue
Glyn kindly provided provided the following for me and I am sure he won't mind me posting it for you.
Mike
________________________________________
Dear Mike,
In Dec 1861 the 1st Bn left Lucknow for Fyzabad.Dec 1862 move to Agra. Dec 1865 move to Jubbulpore. Nov 1867 1st Bn left Jubbulpore. Jan 1868 arrive at Poona, March 1868 arrived at Colaba, Bombay. 1869 embarked at Bombay for Portsmouth and Devonport. Oct 28th 1870 proceeded to Newport and Pembroke dock in Sep 1871.

The movement of 2nd Bn could have a more interest to you.
2nd Bn RWF formed at Newport Mon on 3rd March 1858. Dec 7th 1858 moved to Aldershot. Feb 5th 1859 embarked at Portsmouth, landed at Malta 22nd Feb 1859.
The 2nd Bn remained in Malta and moved to Gibraltar on 28th Oct 1863. June 23rd 1866 embarked for Canada, arrived at Montreal July 13th.
Oct 16th 1867 2nd Bn embarked for England, Oct 29th landed at Portsmouth, preceded to Newport, Mon, remained at Newport and moved to Aldershot May 14th 1869
Hope this is helpful to you,
Glyn

[susan_coe]

Hello Lars and Mike,

Many thanks to you both for all this interesting information, especially the fact that the 2nd battalion went to the Gold Coast. Richard Lewis's first child was called Elizabeth Mary Elmina Lewis. I wondered where the name "Elmina" came from, but now know she was named after the fort of the same name on the Gold Coast.

Now I know where the battalion fought, I will go on to find out more about their various campaigns.

Thank you once again.

Best wishes
Sue.