Private John Miranda, Connaught Ranger

Reading around WW1, the Easter Rising, Tan War, Irish Civil War, there are a number of people that become "persons of interest" to use the police term. John Miranda is one such person for me; a Connaught Ranger mutineer still in India, left behind when the bodies of Sears, Smyth and Daly were repatriated to Ireland.

Private John Miranda died in Dagshai military prison following his arrest for taking part in the Connaught Rangers mutiny. He, like a number of the mutineers, was English rather than Irish. Born in Liverpool/Bootle, his parents/step mothers address at the time of his death was 11 Shelley Street, Bootle. His gravestone/memorial carries the  army number 7144229 which he would have been issued as a result of the British army renumbering exercise of 1920. During the Great War he was 5734 and then 35038, Connaught Rangers. His service record is most likely still with the Ministry of Defence.

In the 1901 census, John and his older brother Joseph Peter Miranda (born 21st August 1897) are living with his mother Elizabeth, her father Andrew Wiggins (his country of birth is given as Sweden with British in brackets) and her nephew, another Andrew Wiggins. No sign of the father, Jose Miranda.

Elizabeth Wiggins was born in Liverpool and married Jose Miranda in 1895. She died in 1904 (the death registered as Elizabeth Meranda). Jose Miranda married Elizabeth McCardle, a widow, in 1905.

In the 1911 census, John and Joseph are living away from home at a school institution.

Elizabeth Miranda nee McArdle is living at 11 Shelley St, Bootle and lists her place of birth as Ireland. Age 49 she is in the property with unmarried daughters Elizabeth and Annie McArdle (25 and 18 respectively) at the address. Elizabeth states married for 5 years with no children. No sign of Jose Miranda.

Joseph Miranda appears to have joined the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards after the Great War, as number 19412. His enlistment date is 6th June 1919 and he lists Mrs E Miranda at 11 Shelly St, Bootle as his next of kin. He was charged with stealing by civil authorities and discharged from the Army in August 1920. During the Great War he had served briefly with the Royal Navy Reserve, no Z/687, and then as 520158 Royal Garrison Artillery and 518345 Labour Corps. He listed his occupation as seaman.

He appears as a Deck Boy in the crew list of the SS Addah in 1915. The entry shows this was his first voyage.  His record can be found by searching on https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/

The father, Jose Miranda appears to have died in Liverpool in 1931, aged 66. His records have proved elusive.