Researching your family history: Irish Army Census Collection 1922

In the last lock-down series we looked at researching our family history by using the online source, www.irishgenealogy.ie The focus in that series was mainly on finding marriage and birth certificates, however, we also looked at the 1911census to find out more about the family.

This week we will be using the same site www.irishgenealogy.ie but going to the Useful Links option.  

Choose the National Army census for 1922. This will bring you to the Military Archives site. Click on genealogy and then it’s just a matter of choosing the Irish Army Census Collection 1922. If you are interested in why the census was taken there is a very good explanation on the site.

I thought I would use my own surname as an example of how to search as it is a bit unusual. I input McLeod and I got one result for an Aidan McLeod. I downloaded the file and discovered lots of useful information about him. Because I don’t wish to breach the confidentially of others who appear in the census I have only shown Aidan’s personal record here.  

The census shows that Aidan was a Sergeant in the 1st. Battalion of Southern Command (top of page). The record shows that Aidan was in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary when the census was taken, however, it also gives his home address which was Michael Street, Gorey, Co Wexford. He was 23 years of age, single, a Roman Catholic and his next of kin was his mother, Kate McLeod of the same address.

The record also shows that he enlisted on 18th May 1922 at the Curragh Camp and last but not least his all important pay number. 

This information is sufficient to get us started on Aidan’s family history. We can look back to 1911 census when he was eleven years of age or the 1901 census when he was just one year old. These censuses will inform us of other family details that we can work on in the future.

Next week we will be staying with the Military Archives to see if Aidan’s name appears in any more army records.

Submitted by Helen in the Reading Room.