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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: erica236 on Friday 21 February 20 16:40 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I am trying to find info on my husband's grandfather John Boothroyd born 1888 from Liverpool. I know he was in the Merchant Navy and died at sea in 1943 but he was obviously in the Army during WW1.
This is the only photo we have and we have no idea which regiment he was with.
Does the bandolier suggest working with horses? And I wondered if he was wearing jodhpurs?
I can't find army records for him other than a medal card which looks as though his number was 687016.
he was issued with a Medal Ribbon on 4.9.19 from Burton Street, Liverpool but the card has been crossed through with "Not Eligible" and "Not entitled to any medals from M M (O?)"
Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Erica.
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Hi Erica
FindMyPast has his army service records if John was born in Birkenhead and his father was Benjamin.
If so, he served in the Cheshire Regiment 1908-9
It confirms he joined the Royal Navy in 1909 after his army service.
Paul
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I have looked at John's service record which states that he spent his war years in the Royal Navy with no break in service from 1909.
However I notice that John had a twin brother, Samuel, who was in the Royal Army Service Corps and the uniform in the photo is compatible with this Corps.
I hope this is of help
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Hi,
Not much help but M.M.O. = Mercantile Marine Office.
see: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/merchant-seamens-campaign-medal-records-1914-1918/
Note also the sentences and paragraph in there which state:
(1) "Ribbons were issued in lieu of medals until the medals were minted", and
(2) "Occasionally a card will confirm that the seaman did not receive any medals. In these cases it is most likely that the merchant seaman did not fulfil the necessary criteria needed in order to be issued with a medal".
Good luck with your search.
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Hi, this is a different John Boothroyd. It confused us for a while and I think they must be related. However, my John was born in Liverpool, as opposed to Birkinhead and his father was Moses Boothroyd. The family were very complicated as Moses also went under the alias Edward Smith!
I have now found our John on the ship "North Star" in 1914 as a Fireman which I think was a Stoker.
Thank you for your help and the information on the Medal Ribbon. I will keep on looking.
Erica.