William TAYLOR, m1894, unit NK

[maddycook]

When a Military History Sheet is attached to a soldier`s pension documents the" service at home and abroad" is totally consecutive. If for example it says.....India:3.12.1889 to 7.2.1895.
....................... Gibralta:8.2.1895 to 11.12.1897.
......does this mean that the soldier does not return to England for any reason during the period from 1889 to 1897?
Are there any circumstances where he might return e.g. to take an exam. for promotion to Corporal? Were soldiers allowed any time back home?
I would be very grateful for help on this as I am not at all familiar with Military matters.
Maddy.

[heliwest]

Maddy,

Life was hard in those days and he would have stayed out of UK for the time shown. Unlikely that he returned because many of the courses etc you describe were run in unit or in India generally. Officers were looked after more generously and returned to UK after so many years if they wished.

[maddycook]

Thank you Heliwest.
I just hoped that I might have my correct Grandfather,William Taylor, but he seems to have been abroad when my Grandmother says she was married which was c.1894. This is from the 1911 census where she says she has been married 17 yrs.
Thanks for showing an interest
Maddy

[heliwest]

Maddy,

Don't give up too easily. It is possible that he might have married in India. Some soldiers, usually the more senior were accompanied by their wives. Also in the event of of an accompanied soldier's death it was quite normal for the widow to remarry another soldier of the same regiment. You need to find the marriage certificate.