I'm presuming I have found my gg grandfather - Wilfred Stephens in 1871 at the Royal Engineers college in Gillingham,Kent thanks to the census of that time then later again upon the steamship Whampoa heading to Fiji where the 6th company of Royal Engineers headed in 1875. He was part of the initial team to survey the new capital of Fiji with his name being mentioned in Wikipedia along with two high ranking Officers.

He settles in Fiji marrying and having 3 children by 1883. I found the only discharge for a Wilfred Stephens in 1879 Chelsea and quite sure this is my Wilfred Stephens as he only served for 9 years making the timing of him at the colledge in 1871 correct with this.

It is verbally commented that he served as an RE in Ceylon India but I'm having trouble finding any records of enrolment for him in this area. I have contacted the British Library and they could not find any records whatsoever of a Wilfred Stephens...it was suggested I try the National Archives in Kew...as apparently they hold the records for the RE's there as it has already been mentioned.

Paula