Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham

Subject: Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:44 pm

A recent acquisition. Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Division. Mid-1870’s.

The photograph is too big for scanner so please excuse the poor quality.

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R.M.L.I., Chatham Barracks, mid-1870’s
(John Young Collection)

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Band & Corps of Drums.
Some very young faces in band.

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Some odd anomalies here. The Right Marker, a Corporal appears to have a full length sling, from rifle butt to bayonet fixing, normally seen in Rifle Regiments, whereas the remainder of those slings visible go from the trigger guard to the bayonet fixing ring. A single black ammunition pouch appears visible on the Marines which is consistent with Musketry Order. The Ensigns with the Colours also caught my eye, one wears his Colour belt over his left shoulder, the other over his right.

The barracks in the photograph were demolished in the 1960’s.

JY

Subject: Royal Marine Light Infantry . Chatham . Sat Jan 28, 2023 12:37 am

Excellent Pics JY Very Happy

90th

Posts : 3 Join date : 2023-04-30

My great great grandfather was Thomas Griffin a Royal Marine at Chatham who was on board HMS Forrester during the Zulu war. I'm guessing he is in one of these pics somewhere.

Subject: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:04 pm

Johnex,

To see a photograph of his ship see https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t10745-h-m-s-forester?highlight=Forester#99721

JY

Posts : 366 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Johnex,

Welcome to the forum. Do you have any family records of Thomas Griffin's personal experiences during 1879, letters or diary? I am always looking for new information about navy and marine personnel who served in the Zulu war. I do have a copy of his service record if you are interested.

Tom

Posts : 3 Join date : 2023-04-30

Hi Tom

I'm very sorry I've not been on here for a while and have only just seen your message.

I have no personal papers for Thomas. My grandmother told me that he was injured and mentioned a scar that he had on his head. I always thought this had been caused by a Zulu weapon but now I'm not so sure.

I have seen Thomas's service record and it mentions him having been in hospital. I've also been to The National Archives and viewed the logs for HMS Forrester during this time. One mentions RMLI Griffin returning to the ship from hospital. I've tried to locate the records for the Royal Navy hospital but without success. It would be good to find out how Thomas was injured.

I have a couple of photo's of Thomas as an old man but none of him in uniform.

Wish I could have met him but he was around long before my time. My grandmother spoke very fondly of him (her grandfather) and said that she was his favorite girl.

If I can help anymore let me know.

John

Posts : 366 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

johnex,

I have also been trying to find out why Thomas Griffin was sent to Naval Hospital at Simon’s Bay He was discharged to the hospital on 10 September 1879 with no mention on the ship’s log for the reason. On 24 September he was released back to the “Forester”, again with no mention of the cause for his 14 days of hospitalization. In several years of research I have found no record of men from HMS Forester receiving combat injuries.

I too, have an older photograph of him, but hope someday to find one of him in uniform.

Tom

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