I have recently found a WW1 medal belonging to a family member, 4111160 LCpl David Harris James PPCLI. I have no idea why he would have served with this unit as he came from west wales. Id also like to know how I can get hold of his military service records. I have managed to get hold of his attestation paper from an online source but im in the process of getting all our family medals mounted and want to know exactly what medals are his(i have a few).
Huge numbers of British lads went to Canada pre-WW1 to work & joined up on the outbreak of war. After the war some came back to the UK. Can you not order his full service records with the attestation paper from the Canadian archives ? I did that the old fashioned way by post in the 90s for a local lad who was killed served with the 5th Bn CEF. No need nowadays , it's all there below. You added an extra 1 to his number. Item - Library and Archives Canada Sevice records here. 108 pages http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B4770-S051 His War Medal & Victory Medal should have his name & number on the rim.
Jim, Unless David was awarded a gallantry medal for his service in WW1, he would be entitled to the British War and Victory medals to go with his Star. These would have his name, rank, number and unit impressed on the outer rim of the medal. Photo of the medals mentioned:
Ive just scanned through his records and the majority are medical records. It looks like he was in France when he was evacuated back to the UK with appendicitis. Im not 100% sure which medals he would be entitled to except the one with his name on. Surely there should be somewhere on his records showing what medals and decorations he had earnt or exactly what theatres of war he served.
Transcribed PPCLI war diary here. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) War Diary (1914-1919) : Canadian Expeditionary Force : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Look at what dates match up from those records with what the Bn was doing & when.
Thank you for this. Theres only the one medal with his details on(shown). If he was entitled to the victory medal I would get a copy/replica before I get them all mounted.
I've been looking for his medal index card & can't find one either on the British or Canadian archives . As you have his 14-15 Star maybe get the WM & VM so he has Pip, Squeak & Wilfred. Like this group. First War Group to the PPCLI - Twice Wounded
I am trying to find him in here - British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 - but his name doesnt help and service numbers are normally 4, 5 or 6 figures not 7 as his number above - can you check that TD do you have any other details - date of birth, where born, etc etc
TD, see my first post on thread, number has too many 1s in it. 411160. Date of birth is on the attestation papers see my links too.
Owen, CEF files don't have UK style medal index cards. The CEF equivalent is at P9 in the file with reverse at P10. The squiggles on the right hand side are supposed to indicate "struck through" letters V and B to show his entitlement to BWM & VM. France and 17th July 1915 indicate 14/15 Star entitlement. Stamp on P10 shows medals were dispatched to the updated address in Canada shown at bottom P9 in 1925 Regards. Steve
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Name: David Harries James Registration Year: 1891 Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec Registration district: Newcastle in Emlyn Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District Inferred County: Cardiganshire Volume: 11b Page: 17 Seems he travelled to & from Canada a few times after the War TD
Yeah but I had 420 results when searched for ''PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY'' when searching the MIC on TNA website. Search results: PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY | The National Archives Found this image too. (not related to OP query) U.K. National Archives
Hi Owen, I take your point that there are some exceptions to the rule that applies to most of the CEF soldiers Some CEF have UK style MIC because they were subsequently commissioned into "Imperial Forces" as in the example you've posted. I'd guess the majority of CEF UK MIC relate to these circumstances. Another exception will be CEF who served RFC/RAF. I was looking at a CEF file only yesterday for a CEF Lt who transferred RFC (later RAF). His CEF style MIC is endorsed with his RAF Medal roll details as I'm sure all other RFC transferees from CEF will be - although IIRC RAF MIC are not in the public domain. Steve
That inspired me to try something - and I hope someone has FMP access to do the same and compare results. Using the database on Ancestry - All British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 - and by just typing in PPCLI into the Regiment/Corps slot - I had 33 results Example: Name: J Bryant Regiment or Corps: PPCLI (Can EF), E Surr R (TF) Regimental Number: 1721, 6135203 However David James is not on that list - but that could be through transcription errors etc, perhaps FMP will provide better results?? TD
Hi TD, Steady on there Richard this inspiration thing can be catching David James won't be on Ancestry MIC list as he only served PPCLI in CEF. Ancestry will likely only have all PPCLI (and other CEF units) who transferred to UK (then called Imperial) forces. Steve
As Steve said above those MICs are for chaps who transfered to the British Army. Such as your example. Those that stayed in the Canadian Army wont have one.
I guess thats the problem with Sunday mornings and feeling inspired - perhaps I'll just go for a walk instead TD