RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: ppalla on Friday 28 April 23 11:47 BST (UK)
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Dear Members,
I'm hoping you can assist me. A Medal Roll Index Card for Andrew L Shearer is attached. No additional military records were found. How do I know he's the right person?
I am looking for Andrew Lockhart Shearer, born 2 April 1896 in Wishaw, Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, to Robert Shearer and Barbara Brownlie.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
Patrizia
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You need to try and find the medal roll shown in the reference on the card (RGA 119B). It can be found at the National Archives in WO 329/2571, which should have been digitized by Ancestry, although I am not a subscriber so I can't confirm this. His regimental number was 368105 which may then be of help in finding other service and/or possibly civiilan records. For example he may appear in the absent voters list of the electoral roll for his home address. Have you found your Andrew Shearer in the 1921 Census?
Do you have any other evidence that he was actually in the Army? What about the Navy or a reserved occupation?
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Looking on SP - only 2 Andrew L Shearer births. Andrew Lockhart b 1896 died 1967 and Andrew Linklater b 1885 died 1964
No English births for an Andrew L Shearer
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Thank you Andy J2022.
There is a medal roll record, but I couldn't download it because I am no longer active on Ancestry. However, those records do not include birth dates or locations. I have copies of other persons I've looked for before and know what they look like.
I was hoping to find pension records, which normally contain more information.
Yes, I had already found him in the 1921 census. I've actually documented his entire life.
His family knows almost nothing about him. I was hoping to discover more. I need evidence before I can say it's him.
You need to try and find the medal roll shown in the reference on the card (RGA 119B). It can be found at the National Archives in WO 329/2571, which should have been digitized by Ancestry, although I am not a subscriber so I can't confirm this. His regimental number was 368105 which may then be of help in finding other service and/or possibly civiilan records. For example he may appear in the absent voters list of the electoral roll for his home address. Have you found your Andrew Shearer in the 1921 Census?
Do you have any other evidence that he was actually in the Army? What about the Navy or a reserved occupation?
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Thank you CaroleW.
Andrew Lockhart is the one I researched and documented. I wish I could find evidence that the person named on the medal roll is him. However, because the middle name is not specified, it could be either one.
Looking on SP - only 2 Andrew L Shearer births. Andrew Lockhart b 1896 died 1967 and Andrew Linklater b 1885 died 1964
No English births for an Andrew L Shearer
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Have you checked his marriage in 1916 Cambusnethan to see what it says for occupation
Rosie
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He was a journeyman engineer.
Have you checked his marriage in 1916 Cambusnethan to see what it says for occupation
Rosie
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I'm not an expert on Army Records but it says the regiment for Andrew L Shearer
Was Royal Garrison Orkney Unit
There is a birth for a Andrew Linklater Shearer 1885 Sanday Orkney ?
Unfortunately there is no service records
Rosie
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The record for the Andrew L Shearer I found listed him as "gunner" in the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Since we can rule out the other one born in Sandy, maybe this one is indeed the individual I have been looking for. (??)
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British War Medal and Victoria Medal
Andrew L Shearer
Military Year 1914 - 1920
Rank Gunner
Unit Orkney (Rga - Tf )
Company WO 329
Royal Garrison Artillery
Regiment number 368105
Matches the Andrew L Shearer on the Medal Roll index so both the same person
Rosie
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Thank you, Rosie.
At this point, I must assume that the person I found in the Medal Roll index is the gentleman born in Sandy, Orkney, and not the individual I was looking for.
British War Medal and Victoria Medal
Andrew L Shearer
Military Year 1914 - 1920
Rank Gunner
Unit Orkney (Rga - Tf )
Company WO 329
Royal Garrison Artillery
Regiment number 36105
Matches the Andrew L Shearer on the Medal Roll index so both the same person
Rosie
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Have modified the regiment number I had missed out the 8
Rosie
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Just to illustrate where the "Orkney" bit comes from - it's in the unit description at the top of the medal roll page. Orkney Royal Garrison Artillery, Territorial Force.