PillBlogs: A military ancestor

I mentioned some genealogical research I had attempted during my previous visit to the National Archives. Although I had no luck with one ancestor, the Army Lists did help me to partly reconstruct the career of another, one Major Alexander Henry Gibbs ANTON, of The Connaught Rangers.

The photograph at right was taken in a studio in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1881. The badge on his glengarry bears the number '94'; signifying the 94th Regiment of Foot, later named as the 2nd Battalion, The Connaught Rangers.

Major Anton was the father of my mother's uncle; don't ask me what the direct relationship terminology is!

The dates below relate to Anton's career; places and dates in brackets indicate the location of the battalion, not necessarily of Anton himself.

• 9 April 1870 - Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant
• 28 October 1871 - promoted Lieutenant
• 1 December 1880 - promoted Captain
• [January 1881 - Transvaal, South Africa]
• [Oct 1881- Jun 1882 Army Lists not available]
• [July 1882 - Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland]
• [April 1883 - Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland]
• [August 1884 - Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Ireland]
• 1 October 1884 - The Times records Captain Anton as having been attached to the School of Military Engineering, Chatham, successfully passing a course in military surveying.
• 3 September 1885 - The Times lists Captain Anton as the 22nd of 23 candidates who qualified for entry to the Staff College the following February with an examination result of 1,668 marks.
• [August 1886 - Portsmouth]
• [April 1888 - Aldershot]
• 29 May 1889 - The Times records Captain Anton as having been seconded for Service as an Adjutant of Auxiliary Forces
• [August 1889 - Malta]
• [December 1891 - still in Malta, but 1892 lists not present]
• [January 1893 - Cyprus]
• 7 February 1893 - Major Anton dies after a short illness in Ealing, London.

Anton died young, at the age of just 41. I found the series of photographs shown below in a box in the attic. Taken by E. Porter of Ealing, they show Major Anton's funeral proceedings. Anton's obituary in The Times of 11 February, 1893, is as follows:

On the 7th inst. at Homeleigh, Hasting-road, Ealing, after two days' illness, MAJOR A.H.G. ANTON, 2d Connaught Rangers, Adjutant of the London Irish Rifles. Eldest son of Colonel Henry Anton, late Governor of The Gambia, in his 42nd year, deeply regretted by all. No cards. Funeral will take place Ealing Cemetary, Saturday, 11th inst., leaving the house 3.30.

1. An impressive Guard of Honour and crowd of onlookers watch Major Anton's coffin being carried from the house to the gun carriage.

2. The coffin now on the carriage, the grieving widow can be seen veiled in black to the right of the gentleman wearing the top hat just outside the door.

3. The procession starts to move off; two policemen keep the crowd at bay while a photographer is seen behind his camera in the road.

4. The floral tribute on Major Anton's grave.

5. Major Anton's headstone. The inscription reads:

In loving memory of
ALEXANDER HENRY GIBBS ANTON
Major, the Connaught Rangers
Eldest son of the late Colonel Anton
Governor of The Gambia
Died suddenly February 7th 1893, aged 41
Deeply lamented

A positive outcome of my writing this blog is realising that the photograph at right is also of Major Anton.

A large framed photograph that has been in a succession of attics for at least 60 years, the verbal story that I've always associated with this portrait was that it was of one Colonel H. BROWN, Anton's brother-in-law, who was a surgeon in the Army Medical Department at around the same time.

However, this would appear not to be the case; the likeness to Anton is too close, and although I'm not an expert on uniforms of that period, the helmet is quite similar to those worn by the soldiers in the above photographs.

There's still plenty of research to be done though!

- Pete

Response posted by < Peter Power-Hynes > on 31 August 2006 at 04:40

What an excellent and complete tribute to Major AHG Anton late 94th Foot and 2nd Bn The Connaught Rangers. peter@connaughtrangers.co.uk

Response posted by < Pete > on 03 September 2006 at 09:41

Thanks Peter; I'll be in touch!

- Pete

Response posted by < anonymous > on 08 September 2006 at 22:01

hello, found your site by accident, my g grandfather was apparently a connaught ranger but am confused, i was told he went to ireland 1880's, met irish girl and brought her back to england much to her parents disgust, then went to south africa. could this be true? timing would seem right. thanks.

Response posted by < Pete > on 21 September 2006 at 20:51

As you say, the timing seems about right; I can't say I'm an expert as such!

- Pete

Response posted by < Claire Weaver > on 25 September 2006 at 14:50

I have a memorial to Lt Colonel Henry Anton on the wall of our little village church in rural Lincolnshire. The inscription reads:

In affectionate remembrance of LIEUT. COLONEL HENRY ANTON 1st West India Regiment Late Governor of the Gambia. Eldest and dearly loved son of Capt. Alexander and Jessy Rachel Anton who died of dysentery on board the Royal Mail steam-ship “Lagos” on his passage home, 1st August 1871

Aged 47 years, most deeply regretted “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait and in his word do hope” psalm CXXX.5

I have no clue as to why he is commemorated at Haugham, near Louth, Linc.s as there are no baptism, burial or census returns for any Anton family in the parish - but I have a guesss. I think his mother, Jessy Rachel, may be a member of the Cartwright family. The name Jessy was very common for girls in that family adn the Cartwrights have farmed in the parish since census returns became useful (1841).

If you have any information on Henry Anton, his parents or his family - he obviously married adn had children - I'd be fascinated to learn more. We are hoping to open the church (it's redundant and in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust) as part of the Heritage Open Days event - their theme is Heroes and Explorers - a previous Governor of Gambia is the closest we are going to get to that!

I'd be happy to send you a photo of the memorial plaque if you're interested

Response posted by < Pete > on 25 September 2006 at 19:51

Claire, that is fantastic news and I'd love a photograph of the plaque! If you go to www.nbcd.org.uk, you'll find my email address there.

I have to admit that I know no more about Lt.-Col. Anton than what you have posted (and what I've written about his son, Alexander), but thanks to your information, I have something to go on!

I have no idea what the Lincs connection is; I'll have to delve back into the family archives and see if there's anything there!

Thanks!

- Pete

Response posted by < Peter S > on 10 February 2007 at 21:20

I had a relative joined the 94th at Belfast, Ireland in 1876 and went to South Africa. Was in South Africa until 1881 and then returned to England and was in the army reserve in 1882. Married and worked in London and moved to Lincoln because of ill health. Died 1902.

Response posted by < Pete > on 10 February 2007 at 22:24

It may well be that Major (or Captain as he then was) Anton knew your great grandfather then!

The 94th saw action in South Africa; I believe that Anton was actually wounded in battle; any idea if your great grandfather went into the reserve perhaps as a result of wounds??

- Pete

Hibbs, Peter PillBlogs: A military ancestor (2010) Available at: http://www.pillbox.org.uk/pillblogs/detail.asp?ID=68 Accessed: 30 July 2010