William Henry Abbott - Cameron Highlanders

[Ron Abbott]

William Henry Abbott (a.k.a. William Abbot) is mentioned on the following website (with photo) as having been the Bandmaster of the 1st Bn. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders between 1907 and 1920:-

http://military-bands.co.uk/qoh_bandmasters.html

http://military-bands.co.uk/qoh.html

I can't find a record of birth/marriage/death for him in Scotland's People (BDM) so presumably he wasn't from Scotland, although the CWGC records the death of his brother who served in the 2nd Bn RSF and an Edinburgh address for him:-

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2947268/ABBOTT,%20A%20A

I can't find a record of the bandmaster in the medal rolls etc. either. There are certainly men called William Henry Abbott/William Abbott/William Abbot but none appear to be recorded as having served in the Cameron Highlanders.

Can anyone help with identifying him?

Many thanks in advance.

[aradgick]

Alfred Albert Abbott (the brother) was born Q4/1884 in Hartley Wintney registration district.

SDGW lists him as born at Aldershot (which would be Farnham registration district), residence at Bruff, Co. Limerick, and enlisting at Templemore, Co. Limerick.

William Henry Abbott appears in the 1911 census at Lynchford Road, Farnborough, age 30?, place of birth Glasgow, occupation solider (bandmaster).

But William Abbott, age 20, birthplace Scotland, is listed in the 1901 census at Aldershot as a private in the Gordon Highlanders.

I haven't been able to track down William or Alfred in the 1891 census.

Andrewr

[Ron Abbott]

Thanks Andrew.....much appreciated.

I suspect that the William Abbott, age 20 at Aldershot may be a different person because I have an ancestor with that same name/age who was a private in the Gordons in 1901 but who subsequently died of fever in Sialkot, India in 1903.

I don't think William Henry and Alfred Albert are from my family.

Based on the locations you identified, I wonder if William Henry and Alfred Albert came from an army family (their father?)

I can't find William Henry mentioned in the medal rolls nor elsewhere.

[Rob Bulloch]

Ron. William Henry Abbott. Is listed on the Succession Roll of Bandmasters. It seems he was transferred (If that is the proper term) From the Royal Scots fusiliers 26th August 1907. To the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders. This is from the Historic Records of the Cameron Highlanders Vol. VII.

Aye Rob.

[gordon92]

William Henry Abbott (a.k.a. William Abbot) is mentioned on the following website (with photo) as having been the Bandmaster of the 1st Bn. Queens Own Cameron Highlanders between 1907 and 1920:-

http://military-bands.co.uk/qoh_bandmasters.html

http://military-bands.co.uk/qoh.html

I can't find a record of birth/marriage/death for him in Scotland's People (BDM) so presumably he wasn't from Scotland, although the CWGC records the death of his brother who served in the 2nd Bn RSF and an Edinburgh address for him:-

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2947268/ABBOTT,%20A%20A

I can't find a record of the bandmaster in the medal rolls etc. either. There are certainly men called William Henry Abbott/William Abbott/William Abbot but none appear to be recorded as having served in the Cameron Highlanders.

Can anyone help with identifying him?

Many thanks in advance.

It is unsurprising that you did not find a record of Abbot in Scotland's People as it is less than a sure thing that he was Scottish. Graduates of the Bandmasters course at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall were placed in battalions irrespective of nationality. Further, open positions in more desirable regiments were offered to existing Bandmasters on a seniority system. Bandmaster preference may have played a secondary role, but the seniority position prevailed.

Positions in Highland regiments were always among the most desirable because those bands (along with a few pipers) were in high demand for outside engagements for which a fee was paid to the battalion; Bandmasters received a percentage of those additional revenues.

[Ron Abbott]

It is unsurprising that you did not find a record of Abbot in Scotland's People as it is less than a sure thing that he was Scottish. Graduates of the Bandmasters course at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall were placed in battalions irrespective of nationality. Further, open positions in more desirable regiments were offered to existing Bandmasters on a seniority system. Bandmaster preference may have played a secondary role, but the seniority position prevailed.

Positions in Highland regiments were always among the most desirable because those bands (along with a few pipers) were in high demand for outside engagements for which a fee was paid to the battalion; Bandmasters received a percentage of those additional revenues.

Thanks for that. I had no idea how the military (brass/silver) band postings worked.

The practice hasn't died, the 'bandmaster' in my organisation still gets his percentage cut from outside engagements and uses the army practice as being the precedent!