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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: bman on Tuesday 06 November 18 17:05 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Can anyone help in tracing my relative in WW1. He was born Fred Griffin in 1884 in Turton, Bolton, Lancashire. He enlisted in the ASC on 13/4/1915 and was a Driver with the Horse Transport, No: T4/083466 and was awarded a Silver War Badge due to sickness.
I only have a copy of his War Medal Records and it doesn't state where he served, but it was overseas. He did survive the war.
If anyone can help in shedding any light on his service that would be brilliant.
Thank you
Bman
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Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz. If his had survived it would have been available on Ancestry etc
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I think you have the wrong man. There is an army file on FindMyPast for Fred Griffin T4/083466. He was born in Anstey, Leicestershire circa 1877.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f007264084%2f00840&parentid=gbm%2fwo363-4%2f7264084%2f57%2f840
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Record is also on Ancestry :) for the one Shaun has mentioned born 1877
Rosie
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Although born as Fred Griffin 1884 Turton and appearing as such on 1891 and 1901 census - he appears to have married as Frederick and appears as such on 1911 census! After that he seems to be Fred in 1939 and 1964 (death).
What I'm saying is that to further complicate things he could have enlisted as Frederick rather than Fred.
Annette
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Hi,
Thanks for your replies, it gave me something to think about and investigate further. The only clue I have is in a newspaper article about his brother Tom being injured it mentions "his brother Pte Fred Griffin is in the ASC" That is why I thought the medals record belong to him. I have tried searching for Frederick, even though is birth record is Fred, but I have been unable to find anything in that name. Back to the drawing board, I presume!
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you might want to consider these:
F Griffin (Frederick)
Army Service Corps, Army Service Corps, Royal Garrison Artillery
T4/059926, S/059926, 220584
Fred Griffin
Army Service Corps
M2/175166
Frederick Griffin
North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment, Army Service Corps
39539, 2/209140
There are others but with middle initials.
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Hi,
Thanks for the useful information, which has put me in a bit of a dilemma now. I can discount the Fred that I originally thought it was and I think I can also discount the Frederick in the North Staffs as he was transferred to the RASC after the date of the newspaper article.
That leaves me with two choices: Fred or Frederick
I also have several photos of unknown soldiers which I am trying to identify and I think one may be of Fred. It is of a couple with a baby, the man, slightly older than the others, is in uniform but no cap or other markings. Fred was in his mid thirties and he also had a baby daughter born on 21st Nov 1914 so he could have enlisted around that date. Although he did have two young sons who are not on the photo if it is him.
Double dilemma! Any suggestions.
BMan
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The RASC & ASC are one in the same.
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Hi,
Yes, I realise that the RASC & ASC are the same. I meant that the Frederick in the North Staffs was transferred after the date of the newspaper article whether it was RASC or ASC, if that makes sense.
Bman
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F Griffin (Frederick)
Army Service Corps, Army Service Corps, Royal Garrison Artillery
T4/059926, S/059926, 220584
T = horse transport? He was a Driver, and your man was a carter in 1911. Which looks promising.
But there is the RGA in the mix.
as he was transferred to the RASC after the date of the newspaper article.
Can you tell us the date of the article?
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Thanks again. The article was in the Bolton Journal & Guardian on 20th Oct 1916. It was about his brother Tom Griffin who was in the Canadians and had been injured on 8th Oct 1916 (his birthday). At the end of the article it just mentions Fred being in the ASC and is the only clue I have on him.
Hope that helps.
Bman
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Hi,
I have looked at the medal record that you suggest, and it is a possibility. I suppose I will never know. If nothing else I have eliminated the one I thought it was, so that is something.
Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks
BMan