ROYAL ARTILLERY. Carson Royal Artillery account Navan, County Meath.

Two account books bound in a leather cover with flap and gilt title to front. Tipped in is a gunnery certificate on vellum. With details of promotion; Marriage at Howth County Dublin, in 1887; Certificate of education; Afghan campaign medals and battles; Daughter born at Sutton, County Dublin, and next of kin - a sister who moved from Dublin to New Zealand. Also some newspaper cuttings about his retirement as Sergeant Major after long service.

Original brown leather pocket pay-book with ownership label to upper cover, named throughout to Henry Carson (No. 8635) of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Contains extensive manuscript entries recording Carson’s military career, including enlistment at Kingstown, County Dublin, personal details, promotions from Gunner through Corporal and Sergeant to Sergeant-Major, educational qualifications, deferred pay records, next-of-kin details, marriage entry, and numerous official endorsements. Inserted and affixed within are contemporary newspaper cuttings relating to Carson’s retirement and presentations made in recognition of his long service. Also includes a folded Gunnery Certificate issued at Woolwich in October 1897, certifying his instructional competence in artillery training.

Henry Carson was born at Navan, County Meath, and was a gardener before joining the Royal Artillery at Liverpool in 1876 at the age of twenty-four. His postings included Sheerness, Candahar, Afghanistan, Meerut, Allahabad, Clonmel, Limerick, Aldershot, and Woolwich.  

A particularly interesting and highly personal military record documenting the career of an Irish soldier in the Royal Artillery during the late Victorian period. The volume provides a detailed service history extending over two decades and preserves biographical information rarely surviving in such complete form, including family details, educational achievements, promotions, and contemporary newspaper notices.

12mo. Contemporary leather wallet binding. Unpaginated official forms completed in manuscript throughout, with inserted certificate and newspaper cuttings. Worn but sound example, leather binding heavily rubbed with losses to spine edge and flap, contents generally clean and legible, manuscript entries well preserved.

A scarce surviving Victorian military service record with strong Irish interest.

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