Just before WW1 or not

[charger]

Looking at some old picture today I came acroos a letter from Private 1890 Harry Allpress. This could have been my grandfathers brother or my great grandfather.

The letter is dated with a 72 or a 12 difficult to tell.

The letter is from O (not certain) Company 69 Regiment Chatham Barracks and in the letter he states that the 54th regiment are sending 50 or 500 men & the 39th regiment 15 men to India.

Could anybody help with this.

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section I have looked on the main site but can not find any info.

Regards

Steve

[Will O'Brien]

The letter is from O (not certain) Company 69 Regiment Chatham Barracks and in the letter he states that the 54th regiment are sending 50 or 500 men & the 39th regiment 15 men to India.

Steve...........The way the regiments are described (by number rather than name) suggests it's more likely to be 1872 rather than 1912

[charger]

Thanks Will just wish relatives did not have the same christian name for father and son. It would make our lives much easier.

Regards

Steve

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Steve

I would say that it is 1872 as the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment

became 2nd Batt Welsh Regiment in 1881.

See: http://www.regiments.org/milhist/uk/inf/069-758.htm

The 54th (West Norfolk) Regiment became 2nd.Batt Dorsetshire Regt. in 1881

See: http://www.regiments.org/milhist/uk/inf/054-757.htm

The 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment merged with the 54th. as 2nd Batt. Dorsets in 1881.

See: http://www.regiments.org/milhist/uk/inf/039-702.htm

The practice of giving companies identifying letters dates from 1864

Dave

[charger]

Dave

many thanks

Steve