Hello Listers, I am new to this list. I am seeking information military posts in the area in the late 1800's. My g-grandfather, John SHIELDS was posted in the area with the 107th Regiment, Bengal Infantry. Several of his 9 children were born in the area: Harriet Lily Shields 1882, John Henry, Alice, Robert, Agnes(nellie) 1890, Annie, Regina 1895. His first wife, Louisa nee PERYER is probably buried in the area. He married Mary Ann SCHNEIDER, his second wife, between 1892 and 1895. I would greatly appreciate any direction re: narrowing down my search. Eileen , Ajax Ontario

Hi Eileen, I do not know if this will help you. From a Book called "Records and Badges of the British Army 1900" "2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.... In 1861 it was re-organised and brought into the British Line under the title of the 107th (Bengal Infantry) Regiment, although it did not make its appearance in the Army List until 1863. After serving some years longer in Bengal and Madras, the battalion came to England in 1875. In 1881 it became under Territorial rearrangement 2nd Battalion , Royal Sussex Regiment. In 1882 it proceeded to Malta and thence, in January, 1885 to Egypt, where it was for some months stationed at Cairo. It went on th India, in December, 1885, where it is still (1899) stationed." Colin ----- Original Message ----- From: Brenda McDonald <comfy.cottage@sympatico.ca> To: <CountyCork-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 8:33 PM Subject: [Cork] MILITARY HISTORY, SHIELDS,PERYER > Hello Listers, > I am new to this list. I am seeking information military posts in the > area in the late 1800's. My g-grandfather, John SHIELDS was posted in > the area with the 107th Regiment, Bengal Infantry. Several of his 9 > children were born in the area: Harriet Lily Shields 1882, John Henry, > Alice, Robert, Agnes(nellie) 1890, Annie, Regina 1895. His first wife, > Louisa nee PERYER is probably buried in the area. He married Mary Ann > SCHNEIDER, his second wife, between 1892 and 1895. I would greatly > appreciate any direction re: narrowing down my search. > Eileen , Ajax Ontario > > > ==== CountyCork Mailing List ==== > ** Please use subject line appopriately! Put surnames in all CAPS ** >

Raised at Chinsurah, India in 1853 for service with the Honourable East India Company, the 3rd Regiment of Bengal European Infantry in 1862 transferred to the British Army and was renamed the107th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Light Infantry). In 1881 it was amalgamated with 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment of Foot to become 2nd Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment. Both come under the purview of the Sussex Combined Services Museum. Contact details are on the site: http://www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/museums/details/m055suss.htm It may prove worth your while to write to the curator. You mention elsewhere his marriage in 1875 in Chichester. It may be mere coincidence but Chichester was the 35th Regiment's home for many years. The original association between the 35th and 107th dates from 1863, when 78 men of the 35th Regiment volunteered to join the 107th at Lucknow in India. In 1875 when the 107th arrived in England for the first time it shared a Depot with the 35th at Chichester. If the paybook you mention definitely places him in the 107th then conceivably his marriage took place in the year of his return from India. It is also possible that he was among the 78 men of the 35th who joined the 107th at Lucknow. In any event since you have his regiment(s?) you are in a position to have his military record searched at the Public Records Office in UK. I'm afraid this has to be done either by visit in person or by a professional researcher. I can recommend such if you contact me offline. Regards, Donnacha (Admin milgenire Military History/Genealogy Ireland. List Home Page http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milgenire ) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda McDonald" <comfy.cottage@sympatico.ca> To: <CountyCork-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 3:33 PM Subject: [Cork] MILITARY HISTORY, SHIELDS,PERYER > Hello Listers, > I am new to this list. I am seeking information military posts in the > area in the late 1800's. My g-grandfather, John SHIELDS was posted in > the area with the 107th Regiment, Bengal Infantry. Several of his 9 > children were born in the area: Harriet Lily Shields 1882, John Henry, > Alice, Robert, Agnes(nellie) 1890, Annie, Regina 1895. His first wife, > Louisa nee PERYER is probably buried in the area. He married Mary Ann > SCHNEIDER, his second wife, between 1892 and 1895. I would greatly > appreciate any direction re: narrowing down my search. > Eileen , Ajax Ontario

Eileen Kitzmiller in his book "In search of the Forlorn Hope" does not list the 107th in Cork at any time, he does list the Royal Sussex in 1874 but that was before they were joined to the 107th. Could it be that he was attached to some other unit but later transferred to the 2nd Royal Sussex (formerly 107th) ? Michael

Eileen, To recap the lineage of the 107th: 1854-1858 Honourable East India Company 3rd Bengal European Light Infantry 1858-1861 3rd Bengal Light Infantry taken onto British Army Establishment as 1861-1880 107th Bengal Light Infantry In 1857 in events known variously as the Indian Mutiny, the Sepoy Rebellion and the Anglo-Indian War of Independence, Indian troops of the Honourable East India Company's army launched a rebellion. At the time the HEIC, (one of the several Companies of Merchants that had been a preferred method of colonial expansion), was a law unto itself and maintained what amounted to a private army in India. Following the rebellion, the London government decided to rein in the HEIC and as part of that solution the military forces in India became wholly incorporated into the British Army 'establishment'. It is this reorganization that is reflected in the change of title on the paybook. You can conclude therefore that John Shields served in the HEIC forces and was subsequently transferred to the British establishment as noted. He would thus almost certainly have received the Indian Mutiny Medal. 'The Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (British Forces)1857-1859' by Kevin Asplin which is a complete list of 50,700 men who received the medal does not show a John Shields listed among the HEIC forces. However, there is a John Shiels listed with the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers. I wonder if your researcher looked at this man? It wouldn't be beyond the bounds of possibility that a man from the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers could possibly end up in the 107th. (The 1st Bengal European Fusiliers had a post-Mutiny history similar to that of the 3rd, becoming the101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers in 1861 and in 1881 the latter combined with the104th Royal Bengal Fusiliers to become the Royal Munster Fusiliers). Perhaps you can send me scans of the paybook off-list, (I must admit I'd just like to see it anyway). If you decide to write to the museum you should consider sending them photo-copies. Regards, Donnacha ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda McDonald" <comfy.cottage@sympatico.ca> To: <CountyCork-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 10:17 AM Subject: [Cork] re:MILITARY HISTORY,SHIELDS,PERYER > Hello Denis, > The information you supplied directly coincided with dates in the > paybook. The paybook was originally was for the East India Company" > The title was scratched out and replaced with "Her Majesty's East India > Forces". I had a professional researcher look for discharge papers, > Medal Rolls, pension records and Chaplain's Returns but to no avail. > However, I do know he received a pension. The help you and others have > given is invaluable....perhaps there are other records at the museum > that can be accessed. I thank you! Eileen