Abyssinia Campaign - 1868 Magdala - Rifle Volunteers

[Stephanie]

Could anyone tell me, please, if the Regiment played any part at Magdala in the campaign against the Abyssinians in 1868? I'm trying to discover whether my great-grandfather was at Magdala, and believe he was part of the 11th Worcs. Regt. (Great Malverns) 2A Battalion. Any references to books, photographs, medals, or indeed any other resource, would be greatly appreciated.

[scully]

Hi Stephanie,

The Worcestershire Regiment (29th of Foot) were not involved in the Abyssinians Campaign in 1867/1868. It was the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment who were involved.

Early in 1867 the trouble which for some years past had been brewing with the King of Abyssinia came to a head, leading to the sending to that country of an Expeditionary Force, of which the 45th (Nottinghamshire)Regiment formed part.

In 1881 the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment was merged with the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment and they became know as the Sherwood Forester Regiment (45th/95th). In effect the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment became the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Forester Regiment and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment became the 2nd Battalion of the Sherwood Forester Regiment.

Also in 1881 the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment was merged with the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment and became the Worcestershire Regiment (29th/36th). In effect the 29th (Worcestershire) Regiment became the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and the 36th (Herefordshire) Regiment became the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

In 1970 the Sherwood Foresters Regiment was merged with the Worcestershire Regiment and they became known as the Worcestershire & Sherwood Forester Regiment (29th/45th).

In September 2007 the Worcestershire & Sherwood Forester Regiment (29th/45th) became part of the Mercian Regiment and became the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment.

You also mentioned your Great-grandfather but did not give his name or army number?

Regards,

Louis

[Stephanie]

Louis, very many thanks for the detailed information about regimental history.

My great-grandfather was Henry Wilson of Withybrook, Warwick. The only information I have is that he was (allegedly) second in command at Magdala, but the only information I can find in that general period (actually 1878) on the army list concerns a Henry Wilson who was a Rifle Volunteer in the Worcestershire Regiment, 11th - Great Malverns, 2A Bn.

I don't have Henry Wilson's army number, so I was working on the basis that the regiment had been at Magdala and hoping to discover some trace of him in the regimental records. Matters are complicated by the fact that I can't discover his date of birth despite a diligent search in the GRO index. I'm not entirely sure where to go from here, but I appreciate your help! Any further suggestions would be much appreciated.