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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: sandie on Tuesday 29 December 09 16:08 GMT (UK)
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Hi All,
A few months ago I found the details below on the National Roll of WWI, armed with his nos. and Regs. I looked for my grand-dad's service records, but sadly they didn't survive. I've just been going through the info. I have and although I know I can't find anything specific about my grand-dad I thought it would be good to find out about the Regs. he was in but I don't know how/where to begin. This is what I have -
WELCH C.H., Private Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light
Infantry and Sapper R.E....mobilised from reserves at
outbreak of hostilities....served in retreat from Mons and
battles of Le Cateau, the Marne and was wonded on the
Aisne in September 1914. He was invalided home, after
recovery sailed for Egypt in August 1915. ... he took part
in engagement at El Fasher and was present at entry
into Jerusalem in the Palestime campaign in December
1917. He was then transferred to Royal Engineers ... he
was demobolised in July 1919.
I found his medal card so know he was also in Royal Warwickshire Reg.
If anyone could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.
Regards
Sandie
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Hi Sandie
Can you say what the CH stood for, and give an idea of his age? Also have you found him in 1911?
The fact he was a Reservist at the start of WW1 shows he was a pre-war Regular. From his demob date he probably enlisted in 1907. Normally they could do 7 years in uniform then the final 5 years as a Reservist. But after the Boer War they introduced 9 + 3 and even 3 + 9, as they wanted to encourage men to join up to greatly increase the size of the reserve army. Reservist only had to serve two weeks a year but were paid half the basic service pay.
Is this him - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6020346&queryType=1&resultcount=4 ?
If so, you need an expert in the Ox and Bucks and find out when 7032 was issued. My guess is that it was a few years before 1907, in which case he may have completed his '12' and was in either Section A, B or D of the Army Reserve - http://www.1914-1918.net/reserve.htm . That’s why having his age is important.
The problem with reservists is that they never seem to record it on BMDs, census etc. They just recorded their normal occupation.
Ken
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This page will give you a little more detail on the Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry
http://www.1914-1918.net/oxbucks.htm
jds1949
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The trick now is to establish the battalion as well as the regiment.
You can then get the War Diary of that Battalion (provided it has survived) - from Nat Archives, and some are available on line, if not you have to go they or get someone to do it for you.
The War Diary is a day by day account of the battalion, and will detail battles, casualties and what where exactly they were every day. Though Privates are not usually mentioned by name.
The battalion is much more important than the regiment for an individual soldier.
It is also worth your while buying the medal roll entry - what you see on the Medal Card Index is just the index. The Medal Roll will give some more info.
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Hi
If your search reveals he was in the 1/4th OBLI let me know as I have their diary
Nigel
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This is a good site for OBLI and QOOH
http://www.sofo.org.uk/
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Hi,
Thank you all for your replies.
Ken, yes that is him, Charles Henry Welch. I cannot say exactly what his age is as I have been unable to find him on ANY census, which is very frustrating, nor have I been unable to locate birth details. I do have his marriage cert. dated Dec. 1907 on which it says he is 25, so in theory he should have been born in 1882.
How/where can I purchase the medal roll entry?
I'm now off to look at the suggested sites. Once again, thank you all for your help.
Regards
Sandie
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Name: Charles Henry Welch
Year of Registration: 1881
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Birmingham (1837-1924)
County: Warwickshire
Volume: 6d
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I do have his marriage cert. dated Dec. 1907
Does that say if he was in the army then ? It should give his "profession"
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I'm afraid he gives his occupation as 'labourer' - anything else would be far too easy coming from my grandad!
Regards
Sandie
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Just a quick update.
I still don't know which batt. Charles was in but I have been told he joined the Ox & Bucks in June 1902. A tiny step, but better than nothing!
Sandie
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Hi Sandie
I do strongly recommend the SOFO web page I pointed you toward above. They have 'looked up' several people for me and provide great info.
It is really quite likely they will give you much info.
T ra
Nigel
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Hi Nigel
I did post a question asking them when his number was issued and when I hadn't received a reply I decided to join the Great War Forum to see if anyone there could help me find out more about his time in WW1. I mentioned I had asked SOFO about his number and someone posted his joining date for me and said SOFO hadn't received the message - I sent it via their 'contact us' link.
I was going to ask them if/where I could find his earlier records but they charge a fee of £25 which you have to pay before sending the message and I just can't afford this at the moment so will have to leave for now, but thank you very much for your help.
Regards
Sandie
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Hi Sandie
Ok, well thats cool and I so understand about the £25.00.
Take care
Nigel
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Just a note to say a huge thank you to all who helped me with this query.
I did eventually contact SOFO who have just got back to me. I now know he was with the 2nd Batt. of OBLI and have the dates he transferred to the other regiments. Sadly I didn't find any personal info. i.e., date of birth or place of enlistment, but hey it's better than knowing nothing at all.
Again thanks to all.
Regards
Sandie
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Probably as well you found out when he enlisted in OBLI. I have found a Charles Henry Welch who was born Butters Marston, Warks 1877 joined the RA and was dismissed in 5 Apr 1905 as "incorrigible and worthless" and was in Gosford prison at that time.
He may well be related?
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Hmm, not sure if I'd want to claim that one!!!
Sandie
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Sorry, me again!
I think I already know what the answer to this will be but ... is there any way of finding out why my grand-dad was sent home for a year?
Regards
Sandie