Hi all... I'm new to this site and also to the military world. I've begun research on my grandfather, George Norbury Wright, where nobody seems to know much about him as he died late 1940's and my Dad's family moved from England to Australia. The only information that I have is from his marriage certificate where it states that he was a Lance Bdr with the Royal Engineers (electricians labourer). It also states his military number. Any help on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated. I am mainly trying to obtain a photo of him as NOBODY has one!!! Many thanks
Hello Nessie - I'm somewhat new here myself, but I'm sure someone more experienced will be along in a moment. If you have your grandfather's army number that's a start. The best thing to do first is to apply to the MOD for his military records. Do a search on this forum or here: Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel It seems complex but it isn't too bad - if you're next of kin, then you sign the forms and pay a fee. They will send you a letter back asking if you'd like to give up as they're so busy at the moment - ignore it and with a bit of luck you will get your granddad's records back, but don't hold your breath, it may take up to a year. Again, look around this forum for the kinds of things you could expect to be included, but it should be able to tell you most things you need to know. What it won't have is a photograph I'm afraid and you'll probably need to do a bit of reaching out across the waves to Australia for that. You can also try the medal rolls - he will have been sent his service medals and any other awards or decorations after the war at a certain address. If you have his number you should be able to check this at: Armed Services Medal Office, Ministry of Defence Medal Office, AFPAA (JPAC), Building 250, RAF Innsworth, GL3 1HW. Tel: =0800 085 3600 My own dad was an electrician in the Royal Engineers - you don't say when your granddad was born - presumably if he died late 40's he would have been older than my dad who was born in 1923? He was too young for war service so was sent off to Boy's Service which meant the Army Apprentices College at Chepstow. If your granddad went there, they have a very good website. I mention that as it was where the army trained technicians. As I say, someone more experienced may answer you, particularly if I've got anything wrong - this is a great forum with some great people contributing. Good Luck, Brian
Welcome Nessie, What sort of age was George when in died in the 1940's do you know? Just wondering if he also served in the First World War. Can you tell us his service number? Lee
I have just conducted a quick search on Ancestry and found the following: George Norbury Wright: Born 18 Nov 1915, Salford Died 15 Nov 1948 Hulme Manchester Military Number: 3446091 Mark
Brian 59 I take it that your dad joined up in or around 1940 at age 17 after being born in 1923 as MANY of us were called up in 1942 at age 18 as born in 1924 - old enough to see lots of war service..from aged 19 ...... Cheers
If this is the correct George Norbury, the service number Mark (BFBSM) found, indicates he originally joined the Lancashire Fusilers.
Hi Nessie, Assuming the birth,death and army number details Mark (BFBSM) found tally with your records then you'll be able to start filling in some blanks. If by some chance the army number differs I believe that can happen on transference from an infantry Regiment ie Lancashire Fusiliers, into an army Corps, RE or RA. Only his Service Record will really clarify this as outlined by BrianM59*. Still curious why his rank is given as Lance Bombardier (a Royal Artillery rank) but his Corps as Royal Engineer. His rank on enlistment, assuming Lancs Fusiliers would be Private/Fusilier. If he had a civi trade as an electrician then he may have been transferred into the RE later. This happened to my father. Initially conscripted into the RA (with a RA service number) he was later transferred into the RE as he was a builder. A long shot but maybe of use to you. Many young conscripts were photo'd on finding themselves in uniform for the first time, purely 'one for the family album'. Whether the Lancs Fusiliers retained any copies (I wouldn't be too hopeful!) you never know. Date of enlistment/service number and details to the regimental museum may turn something up. The only portrait photos I have of my dad show him with a RA capbadge whilst I point out his time in uniform was actually as a RE! *Don't expect the MOD to move as fast as you do though V!!! - Paddy
I see Plang876 says: Still curious why his rank is given as Lance Bombardier (a Royal Artillery rank) but his Corps as Royal Engineer. Don't be surprised about this....... If you look at one of my own record sheets it gives my closing rank as W/Bdr. What is strange about that is that I held no rank whilst I was in LAA but on transferring to the armoured corps and into the 4th QOH in particular I rose to the giddy rank of W/Cpl (War Substantive Corporal) and yet the document below, issued when I was de-mobbed, shows me as W/Bdr (Warrant Bombardier). Go explain that ! Ron
Greetings Ron, Then again I notice the second column retains you nominally as RA - despite being RAC and QOH too! (Having said that I was threatened with the prospect of becoming a Lance Sapper!). Of use to Nessie - did you have any obligatory portrait photos taken on enlistment or were they only ever offered as privately commissioned photos? Regards, Paddy
I should have mentioned in my previous post, this information was obtained from images of the original documents, the Birth, Death and marriage certificates posted as images on Ancestry. The service number comes from the Marriage certificate which also shows his rank as Lance Bombardier. Mark
Brian 59 I take it that your dad joined up in or around 1940 at age 17 after being born in 1923 as MANY of us were called up in 1942 at age 18 as born in 1924 - old enough to see lots of war service..from aged 19 ...... Cheers Tom - yes, January 18th 1940. to be precise - we always had a drink or a toast on that day and later on it was the birthday of a nephew - his grandson - so we didn't forget. He was an office lad in Cammell Lairds shipyard but wanted to join up. (his later excuse - if you can't be daft at 17 when can you be?) He did about 18 months in Chepstow and then joined the regular army on his 18th birthday - 23rd June 1941. I think he was in a bridging company in Yorkshire, then volunteered for 79th Armoured - staying in first 77 Assault Squadron, then 26 until he was demobbed 22nd June 1949. I have his B108(?) Certificate of Service and he had 9 years 156 days with the colours when he was demobbed at Perham Down. He was an 8 and 4 man someone said - 8 regular and 4 in the reserves? I have two AB64's with lots of details of qualifications - certificates and courses, leave but also a lot of abbreviations I don't understand about inoculations and clothing coupons - great stuff though. He died a couple of years ago now and my kids have his medals and know about what he did; the youngest very proudly did a project about him just a few weeks ago and it was very hard not to let a few tears go when I read the presentation he'd done. Sapper said elsewhere When I have departed there will be no one to bear out these stories ...I know what he means, but I say, don't worry mate, the kids do a good job you know.
Brian if you can scan some of those abbreviations you are having trouble with - might be able to help out Cheers
