Researching a WW1 Gunner

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by Hoody321, Jul 8, 2019.

  1. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Hi all, apologies if this is in the wrong section what with it being ww1 related. I’m researching my great grandfather after some new information has came to light.
    Matthew Hood - DOB 1894 - Regiment RFA.
    I’m hoping someone here could potentially help me, he was a gunner/driver in the RFA and I have so far found his medal card showing he was in France from 22nd July 1915. However, I have been told that he was seriously injured while pulling a gun carriage, yet can’t seem to find any record of this!
    While I await his service record I’m trying to dig as deep as possible so any help is appreciated!
    Thanks,
    Hoody
     
  2. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    You may have better luck on a WW1 forum, but it would help if you provided what information you have. If you have his medal index card what is his service number, would save me hunting but is it 14671 by any chance?

    How do you know the MIC is your great grandfather as it is unusual to have any personal information on them? Interested in where you are getting his service records from, over 60% of WW1 service records were destroyed in WW2 and are known as the 'Burnt documents', if you have seen any you will know why.

    Once you have tracked down the correct man your best bet will be to look for the war diaries.
     
  3. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Apologies I should’ve included that, it is indeed 14671.
    The gent in question is the only Matthew Hood that served with the RFA as far as I can see. And he served during WW2 so thankfully there is a slim chance that his records survived due to them being kept separate.
    Cheers,
    Hoody
     
  4. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    What are his WW2 details?
     
  5. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    His service number was 3239799 with the pioneer corps. However he was also with the Cameronians at somepoint between WW1 and WW2.
     
  6. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    OK, there was a Gunner M Hood, Royal Artillery wounded in WW2 but not your man.
     
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  7. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Appreciate your help anyway! I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that his service records have survived,
    Thanks again,
    Hoody
     
  8. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
    Name: Matthew Hood
    Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
    Regimental Number: 14671
    30850_A000770-01580.jpg

    As Tony56 says - how do you know this is your man, - are you saying he was injured in France during WW1, if he was that seriously injured I would doubt he was available for further duties pre WW2 or WW2 itself. What injuries did he suffer??
    You say he was born 1894 - but dont say where, do you have that information, did he have any other names, his wifes name was??
    Where does the Pioneer Corps service number come from? the service number given (3239799) is a Cameronian number [Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 3233001 - 3299000]

    Pioneer Corps had a different range of numbers - (Royal) Pioneer Corps 13000001 - 14000000

    So any more details you have would help
    TD
     
  9. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    I realise there’s potential that it’s not but due to being told he was RFA and that chap being the only Matthew hood in the RFA I could find it leads me to believe it’s him.
    The story I was told was that he was blown up while pulling a gun carriage, due to this he received a metal plate in his skull. I was told this was during WW1 but I understand that stories grow arms and legs over the years.
    He was born in Burnbank to Margaret and James Hood. He married Sarah Swain in 1919 and had his 1st child James in 1920.
    Apologies for the pictures, I don’t have the items in my possession so these pics are all I have.
    Hoody
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Here he is during WW2, on my grandfathers service record in 1940 it states his father (Matthew Hood) is in the 6th Battalion Cameronians.
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Sorry to say but the 2 images of the Army Form 3?44 do not show a name just a number - is it possible to scan and upload a copy of the full form

    Can you also upload a copy of your grandfathers service record - I assume that is a portrait of your grandfather in uniform?

    TD

    upgraded father to grandfather - my error
     
  12. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Sorry I meant to send this one too, I don’t have access to it so these are all I’ve got I’m afraid!
    Also, the picture in uniform is Matthew Hood my great grandfather.
    I can get that done today, I’ve got this screenshot for now though from my grandfathers 1940 joining papers which shows Matthew was in the cameronians.
     

    Attached Files:

  13. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Cameronians service number, Pioneer Corps cap badge
    Screen Shot 2019-07-09 at 09.29.34.png
     
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  14. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Problem here is that the picture has some medal ribbons and they dont seem to be WW1 or WW2. If they were WW2 then they were really only worn after 1945 which would make him 51 (born 1894) and he doesnt look 51 to me. If they are WW1 ribbons then his badge is Pioneer Corps and he was in RA. The uniform to me looks more WW1 but I am no expert

    If you say he was in WW2 then you can apply to the MOD for his service records - you will need to fill in the forms from this link Request records of deceased service personnel, and provide them with a copy of his death certificate - this will answer all your questions about his WW2 service.

    Other than that perhaps contact the Regimental museum for the Cameronians and see what they have, but there seems to be vital bits of information missing, maybe the WW2 records will help, and by the way the MOD is the ONLY place to obtain them from, there are some web sites that might draw you in with fancy words etc but they are only after your money and provide very little detail

    TD
     
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  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    The form seems to show 881 Pioneer Coy

    Search results: 881 coy pioneer | The National Archives
    Reference: WO 171/7511
    Description:
    881 Coy. (German Labour)
    Date: 1945 Oct.- Dec.

    Reference: WO 171/10528
    Description:
    881 Coy. (German)
    Date: 1946 Jan.- Apr.


    They seem to be based in Germany after the war using German labour I guess to clear and start to rebulid. The other thing I note is that they were only a unit for 1945/1946, but the forms you have show a date of 18 Dec 1943 or 1963 [might be 1945] - so confusion reigns supreme again, if its 1945 why use someone who is 51 ship them to Germany for 3 or 4 months in the winter ..................................................................

    TD
     
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  16. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    I had always assumed the medals were the WW1 trio and that he would’ve been wearing them during ww2 with his pioneer uniform.
    Im hoping the records clear at least a few of the mysteries up!
     
  17. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Screen Shot 2019-07-09 at 10.35.48.png
    "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred"
    1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

    Screen Shot 2019-07-09 at 10.37.23.png
    'Winsor & Newton' guessing game?
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2019
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  18. Hoody321

    Hoody321 Active Member

    Brilliant work, I believe you’re right though with the 1943 date so again it doesn’t help with the mystery!
    Hoody
     
  19. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    That seems to be the problem with this search - they are too many variables and not enough facts, we have had threads like this before and I'm not sure any of them had a conclusive ending

    See what Official records you can obtain and go from there

    TD
     
  20. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

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