| A further puzzle is how did the couple meet in the first place? Kate Ann was the daughter of Christopher Carroll, a shoemaker (who had died during 1909, full date not known) and Catherine Carroll (nee Da(i)ly). They came from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath.
Family story has it Harry was already in the Army before the marriage and stationed in Mullingar; Ireland still being under British occupation at this time. (Mullingar still has a large Army barracks to this day). Unfortunately official records don't back this up, no Harry or Henry Gander (bar one, wrong age and he came from Sussex) can be found discharged or pensioned-off from the Army between 1900 and 1912. Meanwhile Harry's own Army documents confusingly show two dates of enlistment, in 1909 and 1912, but both dates are after he married.
It's just possible Harry had been in the new Territorial Army (founded 1908) which may have involved a period at a training camp in Mullingar, and service for which may not have counted as for a regular enlistment. (It does seem unlikely though that a London Unit would go to Ireland for a training camp..)
6.2 A YOUNG FAMILY - A MOVE TO IRELAND AND A RETURN
 ue
mainly to their offspring's birth registrations we can
trace Harry and Kate Ann's movements quite well over the
next 21 years. They had 14 children in all. Their first born,
a son named Henry Christopher (after his two grandfathers
no doubt) was born on 19 Dec 1909 some 37 weeks after the
parents were married. This son also became known as 'Harry'
in time. Henry Christopher was born at 23A Windsor Terrace,
Dunnicarny, in Dublin*.
Harry's occupation was given as 'Labourer' on the birth certificate. | |
