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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Warwickshire => Topic started by: chrisjcherry on Thursday 29 November 07 20:21 GMT (UK)
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Looking for WW1 Service details for my grandfather who was born in 1898 and I believe was in the Royal Engineers Warwickshire Mechanical (only details I can remenber from talking to my nan about him several years ago). One of his army pictures is with an army friend called Frank Perry. My grandad would have only been 16 when war broke out. I also have a photo of him that says Salonika on the rear dated 23 June 1919. The last digit has been inked over so I don't know if this shouldn't read 1918. I have searched Ancestry for his war records and the only Alfred Henry Cherry I can find was in the Middlesex, five years older and address and mother are clearly not the Alfred I am searching for. Any help would be appreciated. I have also drawn a blank on his medal record.
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According to Ancestry's blurb on that particular databse.
Description:
This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. The type of information contained in these records includes: name of solider, age, birthplace, occupation, marital status, and regiment number.
So it could be that it either didn't survive or he re-enlisted.
Pauline
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Thanks Pauline. He didn't go back to the army after ww1 so iguess the records are missing.
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the Ancestry records are for those who received an army pension.For this you would have had to have been be wounded & retired from active service or time served ( career soldier)
jim
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There are now both Pension records and service records on there, not just that database you are thinking of Jim.
Pauline
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PS. 3/4 of service records for ordinary men were destroyed in a fire in WW11.
They are commonly known as "the burnt papers".Those that survived are held at The National Archives and are only viewable there.
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Any ideas how I would find his war service details? All I know is that he finished the war in Salonika and came back after a dose of malaria!!
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This is what it says:
"These records are unlikely to contain information on individuals who did not claim a pension."
The pension record would also contain the service record for that individual.
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You may find this helpful:
http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/grandad.htm
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Found these medal cards:
Alfred Cherry Pte.
11th.Royal Warwicks.
Reg.no.11057
Alfred H Cherry acting Sgt.
Royal Eng.
Reg.no.505788
Alfred J Cherry Corp.
Royal Eng.
Reg.no.119493
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Thanks Jim I had already followed up the second record for Alfred Henry Cherry, however after looking at his service records I established that he was not my grandfather as his mothers name and address and his age were all different.
The first record may be his. I have now the medal card and this shows he went to France in July 1915. My grandfather would have just turned 17 at that date. However I can't locate a service record and all I know from talking to my nan is that he was in the Warwickshire Royal Engineers, Mechanical? something to do with transport and his war service ended in Salonika in 1919.
Any further ideas and help would be most welcome.
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The RE was a Corps in it's own right.A squadron may have been attached to the Warwicks for repair/maintenance of the Regiments vehicles.In peace time this work
may have been undertaken by civilians.The RE served all over the world undertaking specialised work both in peacetime and war.
The service records for ordinary men went up in a fire in WW11.They are known as the "burnt collection",only about 1/4 survived so it's unlikely it exsists in any readable form.Unless he was wounded ( this will be on his medal card as SWB) and received a pension the medal card is probably all you will get.
Disappointing I know but so it is for all of us.
Jim
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Thanks Jim for your help.
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I have managed to find a medal card record for an Alfred Henry Cherry(Victory & British Medals). This may be my grandfather.The medal card states ASC M2/265938. I can't find any army record for further details. Any ideas to establish where he went etc and what he did?
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You could contact the RE Museum:
http://www.remuseum.org.uk/
Jim
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Jim his medal states ASC which I take to read Army Service Corps. Is this separate from the Royal Engineers? What does the M2 signify before his regimental number?
Thanks
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The ASC were involved with logistics,transportation of food,ammo etc.
I don't know what M2 stands for but someone probably does.Put it up the board as a seperate topic.
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Does this photo shed any light on his army service? I recall my Nan said his friend shown on the right was Frank Perry, and I had made a note at the time: Royal Engineers, Mechanical Corp, Warwickshire.