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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: sandsunsurf on Tuesday 12 April 11 19:10 BST (UK)

Title: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: sandsunsurf on Tuesday 12 April 11 19:10 BST (UK)
I was just reading through some papers and it says my grandfather Ernest Richard Layton was in the British Army during WW1 and he spent a time guarding at Windsor Castle. He was born March 16, 1894 near Ross on the Wye Herefordshire.
Is there any way to check his military career?

I have found my maternal grandfathers enlistment application however he was from Canada.  I am not sure these are available in Britain.
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: gortonboy on Tuesday 12 April 11 19:16 BST (UK)
hi,,do you know his regiment?  ;)
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: Jeuel on Tuesday 12 April 11 21:16 BST (UK)
Ancestry has military records but about 2/3rds of WW1 records were destroyed so its hit and miss whether or not you'll find your ancestor.
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: sandsunsurf on Tuesday 12 April 11 22:22 BST (UK)
No Sorry I don't.
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: stewart_M on Saturday 16 April 11 16:20 BST (UK)
Go to http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/

This is probably the best WW1 forum anywhere and is full of experts who will give you all the advice and assistance you could want in tracking your grandfather's details. 

Stewart
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: n4mv3t on Friday 22 April 11 02:33 BST (UK)
G'day sandsunsurf ... well it seems your grandfathers record may have survived ...
... an Ernest Richard Layton joined up on the 11th Dec 1915 (Regimental No 24529), Coldstream Guards ... Religion Cof E ... Mother, Mary Ann Layton living at Walsall Rd, Gt Wyerly(? ... difficult to read) ... demobilized on 11 Jan 1919 ... there are only 7 pages of records on this soldier

... so, is this your grandfather?
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: sandsunsurf on Friday 22 April 11 04:35 BST (UK)
Yes it does sound likely that this was him.
 
He was born in 1894 which would make him 21.  He married in June or July of 1919.  His mother's name was Mary Ann (Amphlett) Layton.  My father, their 2nd son was born in Walsal.
Is there any way to get any "official" type papers...ie his enlistment papers or discharge papers etc.

Thank you so much for finding this. I appreciate this very much.
Sandra
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: sandsunsurf on Friday 22 April 11 05:39 BST (UK)
Since you had good luck finding my grandfather would you mind trying to find any thing about my grandmother,  (Grandfather is my dad's dad..Grandmother is my mum's mum.) Her name was Florence Matilda Brooker born in 1883 in Islington, London

On her grave marker it says
SGT F. M. Brooker 8851
Women's Army Auxillary Corps.
Thank you.
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: ellvera on Friday 22 April 11 06:19 BST (UK)
Hi Sandra

You can access ANZAC records for free this long weekend 22-26 April on Ancestry's .au version,which includes British service records as well as Australia ,NZ and some Canadian records. Then you will be able to download your Grandfather's service records yourself.
Hope this is helpful :)
Barbara
Title: Re: Grandfather in the english army
Post by: n4mv3t on Friday 22 April 11 09:38 BST (UK)
Since you had good luck finding my grandfather would you mind trying to find any thing about my grandmother,  (Grandfather is my dad's dad..Grandmother is my mum's mum.) Her name was Florence Matilda Brooker born in 1883 in Islington, London

On her grave marker it says
SGT F. M. Brooker 8851
Women's Army Auxillary Corps.
Thank you.

... I have sent you a PM re your grandfathers info
... according to the National Archives website, your grandmother was in Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, Regiment No 8851, Rank; worker, Date   1914-1920 ... there is also a listing of another Florence Brooker, but with a different Service number of 26519, however this is dated 15 February 1919 and with a Catalogue reference of AIR 80/28 ... now, I am fairly sure that 'AIR' was formed after WW1, so the 2 Florences could be the same and this perhaps could explain why she is 'worker' in the QMAAC and on her headstone is Sgt ... have a look at the http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline website to get the documents (a bit over 2 UK pounds each if I remember right) ... hope this helps you a little