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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: adamthomas on Thursday 29 February 24 09:41 GMT (UK)
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Hi All.
Help please. My friend is trying to find out about her grandfather, his name was William Henry Gee, born 27 February 1868 and died 4 October 1968. He seved in WW1 and was gassed in trenches and discharged. He lied about his age to sign up. Struggling to find any more info. Help would be appreciated.
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There was No William Henry Gee born March Quarter 1868
If he Died in 1968 he would have been 100
But only one died December 1968 in Havering aged 70
Was he Born in Sheffield?
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sorry, my error, born 1898!
As far as I know, always around the London area.
Thanks
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This seems the only match in London -
GEE, WILLIAM HENRY Mother's maiden surname: FRY
GRO Reference: 1898 June Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 349
FreeBMD: possible marriage March Quarter 1882:
FRY Elizabeth Harriet Bethnal Green 1c 338
GEE Henry George Bethnal Green 1c 338
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Yes that's what I found - he was one of six
One Ancestry Tree
No evidence of the Army Service
2 possible on Silver War Badge Pension
10 possible on Medal Cards
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Just spoke to my friend, Lambeth is correct and married to Elizabeth Fry is correct, just trying to find anything about what he did in WW1
Thanks so much
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The Two William Henry Discharged 1919 with Silver War Badge are far too old so not him.
We have No Evidence he Enlisted as William Henry or William or Henry
There's no evidence that his Brother Charles John enlisted either.
If William was Gassed and Discharged Sick you would expect to have a Disability Pension Card
Where does the 1921 Census have him ? 19 Orsett Street ?
He didn't marry till 1927
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He was only 16 in 1914 so would not have been conscripted until 1916 which narrows his service to approx 2yrs
Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz & those that remain are on the various subscription sites
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He was only 16 in 1914 so would not have been conscripted until 1916 which narrows his service to approx 2yrs
Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz & those that remain are on the various subscription sites
It is known that he wasn't Conscripted in 1916 that the lied about his Age so joined 1914 or 1915
The Medal Cards and Silver War Badge Records and Disability Pension Records weren't burnt as they weren't kept in Arnside Street Repository so they still exist.
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Hi
You could put a post on this forum https://www.greatwarforum.org
Cheers
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It looks like he enlisted with a false age and probably an assumed name -- both common occurrences amongst young men who were desperate to 'do their bit'
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Hi
National probate has a William Henry Gee d 4/10/1968 238 Stampford Road, Dagenham.
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Hi
there's a few photographs on Ancestry and the 1939 census.
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Hi
if his wife was Edith Doris Mayo 1899-1954 then there's a full family tree on Ancestry....no mention of military service.
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Hi
if his wife was Edith Doris Mayo 1899-1954 then there's a full family tree on Ancestry....no mention of military service.
I said that at 10.53
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Hi
if his wife was Edith Doris Mayo 1899-1954 then there's a full family tree on Ancestry....no mention of military service.
I said that at 10.53
Sorry, must have missed that.
cheers
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There is a WW1 Hospital Record on Findmypast for:
William Henry Gee
Born 1898
Service number 82616
Royal Garrison Artillery
Tony
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There is a WW1 Hospital Record on Findmypast for:
William Henry Gee
Born 1898
Service number 82616
Royal Garrison Artillery
Tony
A Good Find as a Possibility
But looks like he Enlisted 1916 1917
Which means he was over 18 and didn't need to lie about his Age to Enlist.
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The medical record mentioned above is a transcription:
Name -- William Henry Gee
Birth Year -- 1898
Age -- 19
Rank -- Gunner
Service No -- 82616
Regiment or unit -- Royal Garrison Artillery
Sub0unit -- 75 Anti Aircraft Battery attached to RGS K Anti Aircraft Battery
Hospital -- Red Cross Hospital, East Harnham, Salisbury
Length of service 15 months
Service 'in the field' 13 months
Arrived back in UK from France -- Hospital Ship Warilda
Disease or injury -- Trench Nephritis (kidney infection)
Transfer -- to Rushmore Auxiliary Hospital, Salisbury on the 5th October 1917
He is shown as being in the Army for 15 months -- this would give an estimated enlistment of July 1916 and in a theatre of war (France) estimated at September 1916
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Reading the transcription of his medical record again, I cast doubt on the length of service shown (15 months) when you compare the length of time in the field (i.e. on active service) of 13 months. I can't see a man being deployed on active service only two months after enlisting. I have looked for surviving service records for men with a service number very close to 82616 and of the ones that I found I see that they enlisted in December 1915 -- if 82616 enlisted in December 1915 it is more likely that he would have been sent overseas July - September 1916.
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thanks, will get my friend to have a look!
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Thanks all that have helped so far. Hoping we might be able to track down at least which regiment he was in. My friend has spoken with her father (William Gee's Son) and we have this info:
Marriage: 22 May 1927
1921 Census: 19 Orsett Street, Lambeth
Signed up with his good friend Bertram Dennis
Both from South London.
Thanks again!
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According to the Medal Roll he was in the 1/5th. AA Section RGA.
This will be his unit at discharge.
So at some point he was transferred to the above from 75 AA section RGA
& attached to K Battery RFA.
The LLT says:
5th AA Section
Landed at Le Havre in France 31 May 1916 (2 officers and 40 men)
Departed for Abbeville 2 June 1916
Base Ports AA
An AA Section.
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Thanks so much. Will pass on the info and wonder if there is anything else we can find out.