Andrew Munro’s Journey from India to Australia (1869)
This post is part of the April A to Z Blogging Challenge, where each day highlights a new letter. Today’s letter is P is for Pensioners on the Move, tracing the journey of one military family from colonial India to Australia in 1869.
In the 19th century, retiring from military service didn’t always mean settling down into a quiet life. For many former soldiers, especially those who had served across the vast British Empire, retirement was just the beginning of another major journey, one that might take them halfway across the world in search of a new future.
One such man was Andrew Munro, a Brigade Quartermaster Sergeant who retired from the British Army in Camp Mhow, India, on 19 October 1868. At the time of his discharge, Munro planned to settle in Bombay (now Mumbai). But within a year, he changed course, both literally and figuratively, and set out for Australia, accompanied by his wife and their seven children.
Though technically a "pensioner," Andrew was only around 40 years old, with limited financial support. For someone with a large family to care for and a long working life ahead, Australia may have represented opportunity, not retirement.
The Voyage Begins: SS Travancore
On 3 September 1869, the Munros boarded the SS Travancore in Bombay. The ship, captained by Eastley, was bound for China with stops along the way. Like many P&O vessels of the time, it carried a combination of passengers and cargo — including chests of Malwa opium, a common commodity in 19th-century trade.
“The P & O’s ‘S.S. Travancore,’ Captain Eastley, will sail today for China, with chests of Malwa Opium, and the following passengers: … For Melbourne – Mr. W. Allingham, Mr. A. Munro, wife and 7 children…”
— Bombay Gazette, 3 September 1869, page 3
Their first stop was Point de Galle, in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), which typically took six to seven days to reach. There, the family transferred to a connecting Royal Mail steamer: the Geelong.
Sketch of P&O R.M.S.S Geelong in Dry dock at Mort's Dock and Engineering Company's Works, Balmain. (1871, November 25). Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), p. 16. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70470453
Transfer at Galle: The Geelong RMS Steamer
The Geelong RMS Steamer, operated by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, was a key link in the empire’s communication and transport network. It carried passengers, cargo, and mail from Ceylon to Australia.
The Geelong departed Galle at 7:00 p.m. on 7 September 1869, navigating a mix of calm seas and stormy weather:
“Experienced moderate southeast trades, and afterwards a succession of head winds… then strong breezes from S.S.E. to E.S.E., with much rain.”
— The Argus, 28 August 1869, page 7
The ship reached King George’s Sound in Western Australia on 21 September, before continuing on to Hobson’s Bay, Melbourne, where the Munro family disembarked on 28 September 1869.
From Soldier to Gasman
Settled in Australia, Andrew Munro faced the challenge of building a new life. By the mid-1870s, he had relocated to Melbourne, possibly ahead of his family, and began to apply the technical skills he developed during his army career.
His time in the Indian Army’s Ordnance Department, particularly as an Acting Laboratory Man, had involved the handling of explosives, ammunition, and sensitive materials, work that required precision, safety awareness, and problem-solving under pressure. These skills translated remarkably well to the urban, theatrical world of gas lighting.
In Melbourne, Andrew became a Gasman, working in theatres like the Academy of Music (later renamed the Bijou Theatre). He even installed lime lighting, a cutting-edge stage technology of the time that used a flame to heat calcium oxide, producing a bright, focused light ideal for performances.
By the early 1880s, Andrew was listed as a Gas Engineer, a title that likely reflected both experience and professional advancement. In later legal records, he was involved in a dispute over extra lighting services provided for Spiritualist gatherings — an interesting detail, as his daughter Blanche Munro was active in the Spiritualist movement herself.
For more on Andrew’s fascinating post-military career, see my earlier post: “Andrew Munro – Gasman.”
Not Just Retired — Reimagined
Andrew Munro’s story highlights how 19th-century pensioners often weren’t done working — they were simply entering a new phase. For Andrew, Australia offered more than just land and fresh air. It offered a second act.
His journey from soldier to migrant, and then Gasman and Engineer, is a powerful reminder that the term “pensioner” once encompassed far more than it might today, especially for those brave enough to move their families halfway across the world in pursuit of opportunity.
🗄️ Sources
Pension record for Andrew Munro Service Number 96."United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records, 1760-1913." Database with Images. FindMyPast. http://findmypast.com : accessed 15/4/2016. citing WO97, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. [Explanation: British Army discharge records for Andrew Munro, 1868 (Camp Mhow, India)]
The Times of India (1861-current); Mumbai, India. ‘S.S. Travancore Departure’. 3 September 1869, page 3 [Explanation: Confirms Andrew Munro are onboard the ship and the departure date for SS Travancore]
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1869, September 28). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 7. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5815237 [Explanation: Arrival report of Geelong RMS into Hobson’s Bay]
Passenger List for the Geelong Stream Ship, arrived at the Port of Melbourne on the 28 September 1889, from Point de Galle, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, VPRS 947/P0000, Jul - Dec 1869 Image 92 of 313 [Explanation: Confirming the arrival of the family in Victoria]
🔗 Andrew Munro wokring as a Gasman – TROVE List [Explanation: A curated collection of newspaper articles from Trove relating to Andrew Munro working as a Gasman.]
📘 Glossary of Colonial Terms and Phrases
This glossary provides explanations for historical and colonial-era terms used in the story of Andrew Munro's migration from India to Australia. Many of these phrases reflect the military, maritime, and technological context of the 19th-century British Empire and may differ from modern usage.
- "Acting Laboratory Man" A temporary or substitute role within a military ordnance department, responsible for the preparation and handling of explosives, ammunition, and other technical materials.
- "Bijou Theatre" A prominent theatre in Melbourne, originally opened as the Academy of Music. It was later renamed the Bijou and was known for staging a variety of dramatic and musical performances in the late 19th century.
- "Brigade Quartermaster Sergeant" A senior non-commissioned officer responsible for overseeing the supply and logistical needs of a military brigade, including the distribution of food, equipment, and ammunition.
- "Calcium oxide (Lime light)" Also known as "quicklime," this substance was used in 19th-century theatre lighting. When heated in an oxyhydrogen flame, it produced an intense white light known as limelight, which illuminated actors on stage.
- "Camp Mhow" A British cantonment (military base) in central India, now known as Dr. Ambedkar Nagar in Madhya Pradesh. It was an important military training and administrative center during the British Raj.
- "Ceylon" The former name of Sri Lanka, an island nation located southeast of India. It was under British colonial rule until 1948.
- "Geelong (RMSS Steamer)" A Royal Mail Steam Packet Company ship that connected British colonies by carrying mail, passengers, and cargo. The Geelong referred to here operated between Ceylon and Australia in 1869.
- "Hobson’s Bay" A bay in Victoria, Australia, that forms part of Port Phillip Bay and was the main anchorage for ships arriving in Melbourne in the 19th century.
- "King George’s Sound" A natural harbor on the south coast of Western Australia, near present-day Albany. It was an important refueling and stopping point for ships en route to Melbourne or Sydney.
- "Malwa opium" A variety of opium produced in the Malwa region of central India. In the 19th century, it was a major export product, especially traded by British companies throughout Asia.
- "Ordnance Department" A branch of the military responsible for supplying weapons, ammunition, and other military materials. Personnel in this department often had technical and logistical expertise.
- "Pensioner (19th-century British military)" Not necessarily elderly or retired in the modern sense. Often referred to former soldiers receiving a military pension, many of whom took up new lives and employment after discharge.
- "P&O (Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company") A British shipping and logistics company that operated many mail and passenger services between Britain, India, and Australia during the 19th century.
- "Point de Galle" A port town on the southern tip of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), known in colonial times as a key stopover for ships travelling between Europe and Australasia.
- "Royal Mail Steam Packet Company (RMS)" A major British shipping line that carried mail and passengers throughout the British Empire. Ships operated on fixed routes and schedules, often in conjunction with colonial governments.
- "R.M.S." / "R.M.S.S." (Royal Mail Ship / Royal Mail Steam Ship) : Prefixes used to denote a ship officially contracted to carry Royal Mail. R.M.S.S. (Royal Mail Steam Ship) was more common in the mid-19th century to distinguish steamships from sailing vessels. R.M.S. became the standard over time and is more familiar to modern readers.
- "Spiritualist gatherings" Meetings associated with the Spiritualist movement, which believed in communication with the spirits of the dead. These gatherings often included séances, lectures, and public demonstrations.
Useful Links for Background
This April, as part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge), where I’m sharing my ancestors travel stories—one letter at a time. From long voyages by sea to overland treks, each post will focus on the journeys themselves—the routes they took, the challenges they faced, and the experiences along the way.
Blog Post Meta Data:
The URL for this post is https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2025/04/p-is-for-pensioners-on-move.html originally published on 18 April 2025
Author 2025, Sandra Williamson