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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: P-G on Tuesday 02 September 08 20:48 BST (UK)
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Am visiting Kew soon to try and trace several relatives that were in the army through WW1. Can anyone give me tips on how I can find information in the war diaries.
For example, I know my Grandfather was in the Leicester Regiment as I have a copy of his service record & medal card. I also know he was gassed and shot in his hand. How do I find which batallion he was in and where he went?
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Hello P-G,
The battalion(s) your Grandfather served in should be on his service record.
For the others you will have to extract them from the Medal Rolls when you get to Kew, if you have already found their MICs.
You should also be able to get the war diary references sorted out before you go by searching the NA Catalogue online.
Unless they were officers, it is rare to find individuals named in the war diaries.
What details do you have already by way of names, service numbers and regiments?
Phil
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my grandad was William Tyres, regiment no 16264
These are the details on his service record
Joined Leicester Regiment on 4/12/14
Depot
6th posted 16/12/14
Ex force France 29/7/15
wounded 25-27/9/16
Depot England posted 1/10/16
Discharged to Chelsea 10/3/17
I am also looking for William Bembridge, Leicester regiment 23051. Thomas Bembridge 57689, Lancashire Fuseliers, 1st/8th batalion, died on 29/9/1918. John William Everitt, 14014, Lincolnsire regiment, suffered a gun shot wound in April 1915.
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You will need two war diaries to follow William Tyres movements as shortly before he was wounded the 6th Battalion was transferred from 37th Division to 21st Division.
WO 95/2530 covers July 1915 to June 1916 (37th Division)
WO 95/2164 covers July 1916 to March 1919 (21st Division)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/048e/
You will also find him on the Silver War Badge Rolls
Phil
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1/8 Lancashire Fusiliers were part of 42nd (East Lancashire) Division. They started in Gallipoli, moved to Egypt and then to the Western Front. Thomas Bembridge was not overseas before Jan 1916 (no Star on his medal index card), therefore not at Gallipoli. But not knowing his enlistment date, I can't tell you whether he was in Egypt or not.
These are the three diaries that cover the 1/8th's entire period overseas:
WO 95/4315; May 1915 to Dec 1915 (Gallipoli)
WO 95/4594; Jan 1916 to Feb 1917 (Egypt)
WO 95/2655; March 1917 to March 1919 (France, Belgium & Germany)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/048f/
Phil
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P-G,
Can you confirm John W Everitt's service number.
Is he Pte 14024, mistranscribed on Ancestry as being in the Leicestershire Regiment?
Forfeited his Star and had his SWB cancelled, but had both restored.
Phil
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There is a book published by Pen & Sword Books called 'The Tigers' which I think covers the 6th (and 3 other) battalions of the Leicesters. Richardson (I think) is the author.
Bernard
www.swanseabattalion.net
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Phil
The John William Everitt I am interested in is the one you quote in you last message.
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Hello P-G,
Having had a closer look, I'm beginning to think that there are two John Everitt, Pte 14024 in the Lincolnshire Regiment.
The one in the Ancestry Pension records, John William Everitt was born 1890 (?) in Stockingford, Warwickshire.
It looks like he was originally in the Leicesters, Pte 13677
Transferred to 3rd (Reserve) Bn Lincolns and posted to Grimsby.
I don't think he ever served overseas and a stamp on the Hospital Admissions sheet appears to be Cork, which would be consistent with the 3rd Bn moving there in 1918.
The second one, John W Everitt, whose medal index card I found, entered France on 4th May 1915. Unfortunately I can't match this with any of the Division embarkation dates, so I can't even guess which battalion he was in. It's a shame that his service record does not appear to have survived, because the information on his MIC is tantalisingly interesting.
Phil
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Phil
My John William was the one born in Stockingford, his actual DoB was june 1889, We had assumed that the pension records and the medal cards were one of the same. We thought the reason for the original award of the medals being withdrawn because of his injury, but I agree having re-looked at the card it is a little strange. Would the medal roll give any more detail?
I have not yet found if there any war diaries or similar for the 3rd Bn, we actually live near Lincoln and I might try the county achieve or even the Regt Assoc to see if there is any more info.
The surviving children (My Aunts) of John, do not appear to know anything about his military service, so that avenue goes no where.
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Hi
For Pte Everitt 14024.
I think further examination of the SWB Roll and Medal Roll at NA may be needed.Unfortunately youll have to visit or pay researcher.The MIC gives reason for forfeit
I once read early in war that lads who had gone AWOL and then returned to the Colours without further disciplinary action had their campaign medals reinstated.
Also they may have annotated the wrong Medal Card with that info if theres nothing in his Service Record.?
Ady
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P-G,
There are very few Home Service diaries, usually for battalions/brigades that saw active service later on.
I've checked the NA Catalogue and can't see anything myself.
The GSW in April 1915 is a mystery; possibly a training accident. The other J (W) Everitt went overseas in May 1915, only the next month, which was one of the reasons I thought they were different people. It's just a strange coincidence with the names.
Phil