What regiment was James Fitzpatrick in?

Post by **emanday** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:19 pm

I've uploaded an 1864 MC for James Fitzpatrick and Ann Lorimer. He was in Stirling Castle and I think the regiment number is 79th but, apart from his name, I can't make out anything else in that box.

The register's flowery handwriting isn't helped by his squeezing things in there

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1291

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:44 pm

Not an easy one !!.........

Signed
...........his
James X Fitzpatrick
..........mark.......Bachelor
Soldier 79<sup>th</sup> Reg[iment]t of Foot
Michael Kerr Wit[nes]s
Andrew Dickie Wit[nes]s

The 79<sup>th</sup> of Foot being The Cameron Highlanders, - no nickname, just The Camerons and proud of it

David

Post by **emanday** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:08 pm

Thanks David.

I've now Googled the 79th and got the Camerons, but his being at Stirling Castle threw me!

Were they stationed there in 1864? Isn't it the home of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders?

apanderson · Post by **apanderson** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:18 pm

Hi Mary,

If you PM me with your personal e-mail, I'll send you through some stuff on the 79th Camerons along with some bits and pieces I found recently while doing some research on men who served through the Indian Mutiny.

The 2 men I was researching were Capt. & Adj. James Young and Capt. Robert Dougall but readng through some of the notes might give you some idea of what the regiments were up to over the years.

I also discovered, quite by accident, that they both died at Bridge of Allan near Stirling. It tuns out that bridge of Allan was once quite a renowned Spa Town and it's thought they had both been there 'taking the waters' so to speak but instead of recuperating - they both snuffed it!!

Robert Dougall in buried in St. Mary's Episcopal Churchyard in Dunblane and James Young is buried in Mar Place Cemetery in Stirling. (Imagine me knowing where they were buried

)

Doesn't say very much for our local Spa then - does it!! Of course it doesn't say that on their death certs, but it was a bit of a co-incidence.

Anne

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:30 pm

emanday wrote:Thanks David.

I've now Googled the 79th and got the Camerons, but his being at Stirling Castle threw me!

Were they stationed there in 1864? Isn't it the home of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders?

Prior to the Cardwell reforms in 1881 British army regiments had no fixed territorial link, although it's correct to say that most Scottish regiments had strong area links.

The Cardwell reforms also involved the pairing and almagamation of regiments, so that what we know as the The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Lousie's) were, prior to 1881 two quite separate regiments, the 91st of Foot The Argyllshire Highlanders, and the 93rd of Foot The Sutherland Highlanders.

The Camerons escaped this amalgamation and were expanded to 2 regular battalions in 1897.

The Cardwell reforms also introduced the concept of permanent home barracks, with the Camerons in Inverness, and the Argyllls at Stirling.

http://www.regiments.org/deploy/uk/reg-inf/079-1.htm doesn't show the battalion in Scotland in 1864, but it was quite common for a regiment on overseas service to leave a cadre back in Scotland for various reasons.

It could even be the case that he was there to be discharged, a soldier having the right to be discharged where the regiment was stationed or have transport back to where he enlisted.

David

Post by **emanday** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:46 pm

I don't think he was there to be discharged in 1864 as he was only 20. However, as you say, he may have been part of the "cadre" you mentioned could have been possible.