Well I am back yet again in my search for Patricks history.
I am still tring to find Patricks place of birth and parents.
I enclose the latest findings so that anyone more informed than myself might somehow suggest the next direction to take.
I now know the service no of Patrick He enlisted 13/7/1860 at OMAGH and his service no. was Private 1292. I was told that he died in India but now have found out he was sick at Muster May 1883 and returned to England where he died 1884.
I enclose the notes just in case anyone can suggest any further source of searching.
Was there a RWF barracks at Omagh or just an enlistment post? I have him on 1861,1871 census and know where his postings were until he left Luke O,Conor to join 1RWF and go to India.
Here are a reearchers notes from Kew
I began the search for any records of Patrick McCormick by checking the discharge papers of soldiers, to see if there were any in place for him from his transition from soldier to Quartermaster. I searched the periods 1855-1872 and 1873-1882, held in WO 97/1470 and 2031 respectively, but there were no papers in place for Patrick.
I then searched the card index of officers’ records, which is incomplete, but there were no records for Patrick here either. Returns of Service were issued to officers periodically, with the dates varying from regiment to regiment. It was not obligatory to complete these returns. I searched all those covering Patrick’s period of service, which were held in WO 76/225 to 229, but unfortunately he had not completed any Returns.
The Army Lists show Patrick’s death on 5th June 1884, in Herne Hill. (I have his death cert) The Lists also confirm that he was appointed Quartermaster on 19th November 1873 and Honorary Captain on 1st July 1881. I searched the Regimental Returns of Deaths, but the only listing for a Patrick McCormick was for 1882 in Fyzabad, reference page 403.(NOT Patrick) I also searched the Regimental Returns of Marriages and Births, but there were no relevant listings here either. None of these Returns is complete, however.
I have obtained Patrick’s medal roll entry for his award of the Ashanti medal, WO 100/44, which also confirms his award of the Clasp.
This only left the muster rolls to search.
WO 12/4042 1860-1861 2nd battalion Depot Walmer
Patrick enlisted into the Depot of the 23rd of Foot as Private No 1292 on 13th July 1860. He enlisted in Omagh and was aged 23 at the time. He was 5 feet 6 ¼ inches tall and he was paid a bounty of 1 pound and 10 shillings.
WO 12/4047 1865-1866 2nd battalion Gibraltar
Patrick was throughout as a Sergeant Instructor in Musketry.
WO 12/4050 1868-1869 2nd battalion Newport, Monmouth
Patrick was present throughout as a Sergeant Instructor in Musketry. Patrick’s wife, Georgina, was placed on the Married Establishment on 21st September 1867. This is not necessarily the date of the marriage, but it often is. They had no children until the Roll which was taken in January 1869, when they had one child aged 1 month, so it would seem likely that this child was born in December 1868, and probably in Newport.
WO 12/4055 1873-1874 2nd battalion Curragh and Gold Coast
Patrick was promoted to Quarter Master on 19th November 1873, from Sergeant Instructor of Musketry. This was the final time in which Patrick’s wife was included on the Married Rolls as officers’ wives are not included. This Roll was taken in October 1873 and at that time they had 3 children aged 4 years, 3 years and 8 months.
WO 16/2814 1883-1886 1st battalion Dum Dum
Patrick was sick during the muster of May 1883. He then went on leave to England on 1st April 1884. The muster notes “died 5th June in England 84”. It is a pity that he died whilst he was on the Indian musters, as these are much less detailed than those taken elsewhere, and normally his place of birth would have been noted in the muster in which he died.
I am sorry for the disappointment in that he did not complete any officers’ returns of service, as these might have given further personal information.
I just hope and pray one of you very kind folks may have a suggestion.
Mike McCormick
