My relative , James Edwin Roberts was born in Banbury in 1875 to Thomas , a blacksmith . He became Squadron Sergeant-Major in the Empress of India Lancers , where I found him in the 1911 census , in Albassia Barracks , Egypt : to my surprise , listed separately , was his wife and 2 children . Was it common at that time for families to go abroad too ? One of his children , at least , also can be found living with Mrs.Roberts in Hounslow Cavalry Barracks in 1906 . My question is ; does anyone know of a book/novel which describes the lives of army families living in these barracks ? Many thanks , Rosalind.......