Our relatives in WW1

Discussion in 'Prewar' started by dbf, Aug 4, 2014.

  1. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Attached Files:

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  2. Pat Atkins

    Pat Atkins Well-Known Member

    Hi Hendrix,

    Ancestry has the Medal Rolls for soldiers who fought in WW1, and they sometimes contain some interesting additional facts... Henry John Furney is recorded first as a rifleman, number 5490, in the 3/19th Bn London Regiment; he then transferred or was transferred to 13th Bn Royal Irish Rifles with the new regimental number 13/44707. At this time each battalion issued its own regimental number to recruits, there was no centralised Army number, so when a man was transferred he was allocated a new regimental number by his new battalion.

    19th Londons were originally a Territorial Force recruiting around the Camden district of London; in WW1 its 3rd battalion (hence 3/19th) was a reserve formation created in March 1915 to train recruits for the first and second line battalions; as the war went on it was common for other Regular and New Army rifle regiments to source reinforcements from the London Territorial rifle battalions such as the 19th. It seems a reasonable supposition that your great-grandfather was transferred from the 3/19th Londons into the Royal Irish Rifles on completion of his training as part of a replacement draft.

    Henry's Medal Rolls Index Card shows he was entitled to the British War and Victory medals, and confirms his two battalions and the award of a Silver War Badge. As there is no mention of a 1914 or 1914-15 Star, he didn't enter a theatre of war until after 31st December 1915.

    Hope this helps, Pat.
     
  3. hendrix17

    hendrix17 Active Member

    Thank you for explaining why there was 2 different numbers. It says he was wounded and discharged in April 1918 (he joined in 1916). If I've read the right regiment war diary, I found a g furney but dates don't add aup and no mention h.j furney. Although they were very detailed diaries it ends in about feb 1918.
     
  4. hendrix17

    hendrix17 Active Member

    Any ideas about finding a war diary for the following. Info is from ancestry.com. Surely there should be a battalion or unit number?

    Name: Thomas Henry Maw
    Military Year: 1914-1920
    Rank: Sgnlr
    Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
    Regiment or Corps: Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery)
    Regimental Number: 72642
    Sub Unit: Royal Field Artillery
    Previous Units: R.F.A. 72642. Gnr.
     
  5. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Rifleman E. Jackson, 2/17th London Regiment. Killed in action 23 October 1916 (probably by trench mortar) Age 20 years 8 months.
    Without him there would probably be no "Geoff's Search Engine"
     

    Attached Files:

  6. chick42-46

    chick42-46 Senior Member

    My great-grandfather was killed in action with the Black Watch on 9 May 1915 during the battle of Aubers.

    Private Charles Carmichael
    Service No: S/6070
    Date of Death: 09/05/1915
    Age:26
    Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders),1st Bn.
    Panel Reference:Panels 24 to 26.
    Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL
    Additional Information:Husband of Georgina Annan Carmichael, of 17, Alexander St., Dundee.
    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1558770/CARMICHAEL,%20CHARLES

    My grandfather, Charles "Chick" Carmichael, was 3 years old. His brother James Carmichael wasn't even 1 year old. This photo of Georgina, Charles and James was taken not long after.

    SCAN_1_1.jpg

    Georgina's brother was killed in action on 19 July 1918 with the Black Watch in the battle for Meteren.

    Private Charles Melville Annan
    Service No: S/18111
    Date of Death: 19/07/1918
    Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders),8th Bn.
    Panel Reference:Panel 7.
    Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
    http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/873906/ANNAN,%20CHARLES%20MELVILLE

    Another relative who served was a cousin of my great-grandfather.

    Sapper Vincent Carmichael of Brisbane, Australia, served with the AIF, Field Engineers, from 1916 until 1919 (service no. 16121).

    Other ancestors served but tracing those who weren't killed is difficult. Tracing casualties is, sadly, much easier.
     
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  7. Pat Atkins

    Pat Atkins Well-Known Member

    Both my grandfathers served, as well as others in their families. Have done some research, so forgive the long list but I do feel they deserve a mention - as does everybody who served. At this time of year particularly, I remember:

    George Sinclair, AB, HMS Caradoc, who survived the war.
    His older brother John Sinclair, a trooper in1/1st Lanarkshire Yeomanry, later commissioned into the RFA, and who also survived the war.

    John Palmer, my maternal great-grandfather who served in Egypt with the KOSB aged 40-odd.
    His son Jim Palmer, who saw active service as a private in the 7th Scottish Rifles.
    His other son Tom Palmer, a dispatch rider in the RAF. All three survived (though one of the sons was gassed, but nobody can now remember which!).

    John Atkins, who joined the 2nd South Lancs Regt in 1906, transferred to 5 Signals Company RE in 1913 and was made POW at the battle of Le Cateau. On his return to Britain in 1918 he completed his 21 years as a QM Sgt in the Royal Signals. In 1939 he re-enlisted to train recruits in the run-up to war as A/CSM. His three eldest sons did their bit in the next war, and are pictured in my avatar.
    His younger brother Herbert Atkins, who joined 2nd Royal Fusiliers in 1911 and was killed by a sniper on 26 May 1915 at Gallipoli.
    His next younger brother William Atkins, a pre-war Territorial in 1/23rd London Regt and who was killed in action at Givenchy, by coincidence also on 26 May 1915.
    His youngest brother, Percy Atkins, who joined up and was in France in a RE cable section in 1915 at the age of 17 and who survived the war.
    Their half-uncle Samuel Atkins, who joined the Scots Guards in September 1914 and was killed in action on 25 January 1915 near Cuinchy. None of the three who were killed have known graves.

    John Howell, father of my grandmother (John Atkins's wife), who served in France with the Norfolk Regt and was wounded, but survived. His son Ralph wasn't so lucky at Tobruk in 1941 with 1/RHA, sadly.

    I sincerely hope there will never be another poppy to add. Cheers, Pat
     
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  8. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    RIP Ernest.
    (and I think I've found two Gt Uncles who served and survived. Only taken me 15 years. Now have to wait 5 days for docs to arrive)
     
  9. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I only found out recently that my father's grandfather was a gunner in WW1 (Reginald Camfield). I think we have it written down that he was discharged for shellshock and injury. My knowledge of my extended family that far back is pretty limited.
     

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