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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: taffy64 on Saturday 08 August 20 15:27 BST (UK)
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seek help with finding service record and or medal entitlement with Great grandfathers brothers military history.
William John Harris is believed to have served in the Army Service Corps....there is a photo of him in the uniform and he did serve during WW1. he was from Morriston Glam, Wales. He had a brother Philip. In 1911 census both are with mother is Winefred age 45. William is 21.
both lads worked underground.
He definitely served in WW1.....for how long we don't know, what he did or where served is known either.
when he left military he stayed in London area and was a tram conductor. his mind was believed to be affected. early twenties he went home to Merthyr, Wales, to stay with brother. then go to visit relatives in Swansea area (mumbles) where he then committed suicide, leaving a letter.
Family myth is that he was sacked from tram job following argument with female passenger concerning the war.
I am going around in circles, cant find anything.....but acknowledge that many of you are far more experienced than I in finding info.
any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
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Did you know that some 60% of service records were lost to bombing in WW2 so the odds are always against finding records that can identify an individual. Medal records show possibilities with variants of the name but these have no identifying detail.
Have you sought out 1918 absent voters list for the place he was living? Only some are on line, none for Wales that I can see. These should give his number and/or unit.
MaxD
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Had a look at absent voters 1918, unless I'm doing something wrong...I can't find anything.
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In 1911 census both are with mother is Winefred age 45. William is 21.
both lads worked underground.
Where are they living.
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William John Harris is believed to have served in the Army Service Corps....there is a photo of him in the uniform
Can you post the photo?
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Living...1911...at
32 cross st, Penywern, Dowlais. Which is in/near Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales.
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My ability/knowledge of navigating through the various military sites/pages is poor...(going bald pulling out hair).
William John Harris' dad was deceased
So his next of kin would likely be his mother, Winefred.
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If you have only been looking on line for the relevant AVL then you haven't done enough. As I advised in the PM go to the relevant county record office. If he isn't there then he may have ben at home at the time of the census, he may not have served overseas, his records may be among the 60% lost in WW2.
MaxD
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Perhaps worth noting that Winefred used the spelling Harries rather than Harris.
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Following up ShaunJ's clue, leads to a possible. M2/148079 Private William John Harries Army Service Corps. Medal card http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2559570
Silver War Badge - discharged sick 13 Sep 1916 - card not found
BUT also William J Harries M2/265246 ASC
Neither so far identifiable to place/birth etc.
MaxD
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Running with the Harries idea
Daily Herald, 21 April 1927, ocr text with gueses
REQUEST TO CORONER Things have been very hard against me. I have had bad luck(?), wrote William John Harries, a London tram conductor, before committing suicide at Mumbles, Swansea. At the inquest yesterday the coroner said Harries lied written to him that (he) should write to the manager of the company and ascertain why he had been dismissed... seemed to think that someone had a grudge against him. A verdict of Suicide was returned
Maybe
HARRIS, WILLIAM JOHN
Age at Death (in years): 36
GRO Reference: 1927 J Quarter in GOWER Volume 11A Page 1048
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More newspaper coverage in April 1927 as Harris
The body of William John Harris was recovered from the sea at the Mumbles yesterday. Harris, who was about 35 years of age, is believed have been a native of Dowlais, but he had been staying at Morriston, Swansea, during the past week.
MUMBLES MYSTERY. FRESH CLUE FOUND BY THE POLICE.
In connection with the mysterious drowning of a Dowlais man, William John Harris, at Bracelet Bay, Mumbles...
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Running with the Harries idea
Daily Herald, 21 April 1927, ocr text with gueses
REQUEST TO CORONER Things have been very hard against me. I have had bad luck(?), wrote William John Harries, a London tram conductor, before committing suicide at Mumbles, Swansea. At the inquest yesterday the coroner said Harries lied written to him that (he) should write to the manager of the company and ascertain why he had been dismissed... seemed to think that someone had a grudge against him. A verdict of Suicide was returned
Maybe
HARRIS, WILLIAM JOHN
Age at Death (in years): 36
GRO Reference: 1927 J Quarter in GOWER Volume 11A Page 1048
This is my relative .
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Following up ShaunJ's clue, leads to a possible. M2/148079 Private William John Harries Army Service Corps. Medal card http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2559570
Silver War Badge - discharged sick 13 Sep 1916 - card not found
BUT also William J Harries M2/265246 ASC
Neither so far identifiable to place/birth etc
There is a 1919 army medical record for a J Harries #265246 in ASC MT. Age 34 so we can rule out that one.
Army papers have survived for the other one (#148079) https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1114/images/miuk1914a_084701-01486
and they show that he was aged 20 on enlisting in 1915 and that his mother was Elizabeth. So we can rule him out too.