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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Aunty Em on Saturday 24 March 07 15:00 GMT (UK)
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Hiya :)
Would someone be able to point me in the direction of WW1 records, please. Mr grandfather from Dundalk was in the British army, all I know is that he fought at the Somme. Any info would be welcome.
Thank You
Regards
Aunty Em :)
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Try the National Archives, they have the Military records on there including both WW 1 & 2,
Jayne
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Did he survive the war, if not you may find further information Commonwealth War graves commission. that tells you of death and burials
Jayne
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Hiya Jayne, :)
Thank you so much, yes, he did survive the war, TG :)
Kind Regards
Aunty Em :)
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There is very good website dedicated to this type of research at:
http://www.1914-1918.net/
On the right hand side is a menu with a link to the forum, which I suggest you join. There are lots of very knowledgeable people there (many ex-army) only too happy to help answer queries. Many of them have invaluable resource material which they are happy to share. I eventually found my family member (including a photograph !) with their help.
The difficulty with WW1 records, is that many were destroyed in fire in WW2. So, the archives at Kew may or may not have the records you are searching for.
Good Luck.
Lizzey
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Hi Aunty Em ! and welcome to Armed Forces !! :)
Before you try the excellent Forum suggested .... why don't you give RootsChat experts a chance - we have many !!
If you would like to post your grandfather's name and any family stories etc or any other details you can think of .... we'd be happy to help if we can !
Annie :)
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Hiya Lizzie & liverpoolannie :)
A pair of angels have landed at my doorstep, thank you :) ;)
Here goes with what little info I have, my grandfathers name was Philip Gray from Dundalk Co Louth, his wife was Emily, they had 6 children. They were probably living at John St at the time of the war. I have been told my GF was discharged sometime before the end of the war due to being `gassed`, how true this is I don`t know. I`m sorry this is all the info I have, hope it is of some help.
Thank you soooo much
Kind Regards
Aunty Em :)
I`ve also heard he had two brothers serving in the war, I think one was called Micheal.
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OOps . Apologies to all you WW1 experts out there. :-\
I spent some time on the 'other' forum, specifically looking for WW1 material, long before I found my way here.
Sorry again.
Lizzey.
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I did a quick search for a Philip Gray's medal card on the National Archives database.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Only 11 names came up. Only 1 of those in an Irish regiment.
Description Medal card of Gray, Philip
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Irish Rifles 10848 Private
Royal Irish Fusiliers 51865 Private
Date 1914-1920
Catalogue reference WO 372/8
If this is him, you now have his regiment and number. Invaluable for tracing his records. As he survived the war there is also a better chance of his records being available at Kew.
You'll need to take a look at the other Philip Grays listed. I may have the wrong one here.
Just go to the National Archives page.
Click on Military History/British Army and find the links through to the War medals Index cards. you can view the card for £3.50 and that holds clues to where he served. (It'll need deciphering !)
I'm sure there will be others here who can be of more help.
best wishes
Lizzey
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Hi Aunty Em and welcome to RootsChat Lizzey ! :) :) :)
OK ! ... Aunt Em ... do you have any birth certificates of the children ? and if you do .... see what it says for the Fathers occupation !
( I know my Granddad's service number was on my Grandma's death certificate .... after I'd been looking for it for years .... it was right there under my nose ! ::) ) so check and see OK ?
There are quite a few Philip Gray's and Grey's ...... so we need to find a bit more information - so we can narrow the field ..... do you have him on 1901 census ?
Think about everything you know .... even family stories ... do you have a photo in uniform ?
Give as much information as you can and that will help somebody help you !
Annie :)
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Hiya Lizzey, :)
Thank you sooo much for your info, I`m indebted to you, I will have a look in the national arcives, bless you :-*
Hiya Annie,
I have my mothers birth cert, she was born in 1919, it states her father was a labourer, this is all the info I have apart from my grannies death cert. I`m afraid I was brougt up in the era when children were not allowed to listen to adults talk and was shooed from the room if any `talk` was going on :) ::) My grandfather died in 1960, we live in England, so I only have a vague recollection of him.
I really appreciate all your help, thank you :)
Thinking about medals and uniforms..... I have a misty memory of three medals in my mother handbag, which I used to look at as a child,( I don`t know wht has happened to them) there is a photo somewhere of my GF in uniform, if I can remember who has it.
Take Care Annie
Regards
Aunty Em :)