2nd Battalion of the 23rd Regiment of Foot

Hi forum members

I am new to this forum. I am researching my family history and recently discovered that my great grandfather Henry Phillips was in the 2nd Battalion of the 23rd Regiment of Foot aka Royal Welch Fusiliers. According to the 1871 Census Henry Phillips age 19 born abt. 1852 in Amersham Buckinghamshire, was a Private soldier with the 2nd Battalion of the 23rd Regiment Royal Welch Fusiliers, based at Gillingham in Kent. Presumably he was based in some sort of barracks or camp or was the regimental HQ as there were more than 16 Census Pages of people based at the same location starting with senior commanding officers?

I would appreciate anyone who could help me to find out more about my great grandfathers life with the 2nd Battalion of the 23rd Regiment Royal Welch Fusiliers in the 1870's, particularly if he was involved in any military campaigns and was awarded any medals. I am especially keen on any photos of this time.

He married a welsh girl Mary Jane James in Chorlton near Manchester in 1876 and by the time of the 1881 Census was living in Northchurch near Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire with his wife and 2 daughters and was no longer with the regiment.

Best wishes

Richard

I have a 1909 Drummer Henry Phillips on the Ashantee War Medal roll, entitled to clasp Coomassie, serving with 2/RWF.

Might be worth seeing if his service papers survive at The National Archive, as this chap is a strong contender for being your Great Grandfather.

Dear Richard,
The summery of movement & location, of the 2nd Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers
1869. May 14, moved from Newport South Wales to Aldershot.
1870. March 24, moved to Chatham.
1871. Aug 2, moved to Woolwich.
1872. Aug 12, moved to Blandford, for manoeuvres.
Aug 13, moved to Portsmouth for embarkation to Ireland.
Aug 16, disembarked at Kingstown and moved to Mullingar.
1873. June 11, moved to Curragh.
June. 20, moved from Curragh for Cork.
June 21, embarked at Cork for the West Coast of Africa. (Ashanti Expedition.)
Dec 29, arrived off Cape Coast Castle.
1874. Jan 6, landed at Cape Coast castle. (Jan 6 – Feb 20 Ashanti Expedition)
Feb 22 embarked for Portsmouth.
1874. March 20, Disembarked at Portsmouth and moved to Shorncliffe.
Oct 10, Embarked at Portsmouth for Gibraltar.
1875 – 1880 remained at Gibraltar.
1880. Feb 14 left Gibraltar for Plymouth and disembarked on the 12th.
Hope that this input is helpful to you.

Notes: did he meet up with “Mary Jane James” when the 2nd Bn RWF was located at Newport Mon. and kept in touch throughout his service.
Regards Glyn

Hi, I have an ancestor who sounds like he served with yours. He was a drummer with the 2bn at the same time. i have him on the Gillingham census as well. I got a private researcher to copy all of his paybook records and he went to
Malta for a few years before returning to the UK. He deployed to Ireland but left the Bn before they went on the African tour.
The paybook records aren't great but they can fill in some holes or confirm some guesswork.
Good luck.

Brasco 1033,

My Great Great Grandfather, Daniel Cook was a drummer from 1858 to 1873. I've also found him at Gillingham in 1871 and from his paybook records he asked to be discharged from the 2bn whilst in Ireland before the Gold Coast Tour after duty of 15 years.

I wonder if they had enough of travelling the globe or whether something particularly bad happened in Ireland to force them to leave?

Sorry for the very late reply but I got sidetracked with life and family etc. My John Jackson had met a girl when he was based in Brecon, South Wales and obviously kept in touch. They were married and she accompanied him to Ireland where his son was born at Mullingar in 1872. He left in 1873 just after the battalion left for Africa. I'm guessing the call of the family was too strong for him. He joined as a drummer at age 13 so I guess he served long enough.