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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: grange72 on Friday 02 October 09 18:57 BST (UK)
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I am having great trouble finding records for my maternal grandfather. He served in WW1 in France, but we have one photo of him (no jacket, ID badges or anything - just looking scruffy outside tents with a cigarette in his hand!!) in Malta 1916-17 and 2 supposedly taken in Lille. The one attached is the clearer of the two in Lille but I've no idea what the hat badges represent. Any suggestions?
Which regiments would have been in Malta?
I have a suspicion that he might have been part of the service corps. My mother thinks he was a driver.
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Hi
Have you got his service record ???, if not what was his name and when was he born. Then someone might be able to find it ;)
ricky
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Can't find a service record. He was born in Dundee, Angus on 13th June 1896- Albert Thompson Cable.
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Not 100% sure, but the cap badges look like the Royal Artillery :-\
But I could be wrong
ricky
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There are five Albert Cables listed on the NA WW1 medal index. One had a middle name starting J. One of the other four was in the ASC.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=browserefine&query=first_name%3dalbert%7clast_name%3dcable&catid=10&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&mediaarray=*
See also - http://www.1914-1918.net/ASC_HT.htm
If you have his family address c1918 you could try the local record office for the 1918/1919 electoral roll. That should record his regiment.
Ken
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Thanks to you both! Problem with trying to question the oldies is that they think they remember but there again...
I'll definitely follow up those links.
Di
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Agree with RA for the cap badges.
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Now I've located his medal card but I'm really not sure about what some of the abbreviations mean in the 'Action taken' part.
What on earth is 'dubsub' and what does 'blue ring' refer to??
I assume that the X signs with and without dots links to injuries - there were some of these alongside names on old RAF photos that my Dad had. ???
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Hi
Are you sure you have the right medal card, as there is no age given on it ???
ricky
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Hi
The X with dots indicates what is impressed on the edge of the medals.Ive had Blue Ringed on some of my lads cards ive researched never found the answer...These cards refer to the acual rolls at Kew and other info is likely to be on the Rolls which arent online :(
Ill have a look at the card what was his number...ive just resubscribed to Ancestry after a few months off!
Ady
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I'm as sure as I can be, Ricky. There aren't any other service records I can find but it fits in with what my Mum thinks about him being a driver..... One day I'll make it to Kew to look things up or even egt to the Scottish records.
His number changes, Ady:
1st Co 6th Div ASC = AA/1041
Tank Corps = 3/3327
ASC = TR/51982
Di
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The various crosses refer to what is inscribed on the various medals.
He was a pre-war regular who first went overseas with 1 Company, 6th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps.
He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, plus the 1914 Star with Clasp and Roses. For the qualifications for each, click the link below.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp
For some reason the Clasp was not issued until 1938, possibly because his records were confused by his transfer to and from the Tank Corps. The note appears to refer to another Roll. Just a guess though.
Phil
Just seen Ady has already done it.
Good to be able to see them again isn't it Ady. :D
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Di,
The number change is due to his moves from ASC to Tank Corps and back to ASC. The TR prefix is possibly for the Remount section.
Phil
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Thanks to all of you. Kew is definitely on my to-do list now.
Di
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T32459 if faintly listed too as his Army Number..this could well be his post 1918 number.If he had post war service his record could well be with MOD still..He was a career soldier so its a possibility .
YesPhil its great been able to get them again..its free for two weeks! :D
Ady
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I got mine back when it was half price ;D
The TR/5 looks like a late issue number. Geoff's Search Engine only brings up two: 1919 and 1920, one being Archangel, the other UK.
Phil
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Hi,
If you go to the TNA try and speak to William Spencer who is the best at knowing what military docs are about. He wrote the guide for TNA on medals & WW1 papers etc.
Failing that, use one of the professional researchers from the list TNA will supply, rather than a TNA researcher. a - they know what they're doing and where to take some research & b - a lot cheaper!
Cheers
layerb