Hello
I am a newbie and was drawn here by a search which brought up a wonderful picture of the Dorsetshire Regiment, in which each soldier's name was written on- dated 1905.
My great great grandfather James Wilkinson served in the 2nd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment from about 1892 until his death in 1906.
He was originally from Lancashire (unsure of where exactly, trying to find out). The regiment was posted to Belfast in the early 1890s and was stationed at Victoria Barracks. James met an irish lady there and married her in 1895. From what I understand, the wives and family followed the regiment, and their second child Adeline was born in Malta in 1897 whilst the regiment were stationed there. They also had a son James Henry Wilkinson born 1894. A third child was stillborn and buried in the Rn Military cemetery in Portland Dorset on 14 Jan 1904.
I found WILKINSON, J on the list of names of personnel of 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment 1905 on this forum and believe it to be my gggrandfather.
He served in the Boer War and was invalided home in 1901. He was awarded 2 clasps- Relief of Ladysmith and The Battle of Tugela Heights. He died in May 1906 from heart failure in Belfast.
I have tried in vain to get military records or pension info or any other personal info about him, wondering if anyone on this forum might be able to help
Many many thanks
Ginger
