I have just received a death certificate for a child born in 1858. The child died in 1859 and was the daughter of John Burkinshaw my x2 great grandfather. On the certificate John's occupation was a Private in the Third West Yorkshire Militia. This has surprised me as all the information I have discovered about John states he was a brace & bit filer, I had no idea he had been a soldier.
Was he conscripted?
Did he go to war?
Did he carry on with his usual occupation whilst being in the Militia?
Was he ever stationed/posted to another area?
Delia.
It was voluntary and he would do his normal job unless some emergency came up, taking him anywhere necessary
The regiment fought in the Crimea 1855 to 1856.
Dave