RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Paul Crook on Sunday 06 October 24 22:43 BST (UK)

Title: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: Paul Crook on Sunday 06 October 24 22:43 BST (UK)

Hi. Not sure if I've posted this before but I am trying to find out which Company of the 8th Bedfordshire Regiment my late relative Sgt 20706 John Crook was in. Is the attached Medal Card any help. I think his records were among those destroyed in WW2. Any help or guidance would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: Paul Crook on Sunday 06 October 24 22:46 BST (UK)

A smaller copy of the relevant part of the Medal Card in case it helps. Thanks

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: ALAMO2008 on Monday 07 October 24 10:18 BST (UK)

His Roll Medal Card doesn't indicate his Btn
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal
Which means he went Overseas 1916 or 1917
He was probably Territorial Force pre War and signed to go Overseas when he was Recalled
His Army Records would have been sent to Arnside Street Repository in 1920 but they were Blitzed in September 1940 and do not appear to have survived amongst the Burnt Records that An Ancestry have Scanned

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: jim1 on Monday 07 October 24 11:38 BST (UK)

He was in the 8th. Btn.
Died of wounds 17/4/17.
The problem with dying from wounds is that there's little to indicate
when he was wounded.
Most men (but not all) died within a short time.
Looking at the diary the 8th. were in action on the 15th. & 16th. of April 1917
at the double crassier at Loos.
They suffered 28 wounded on the 15th. & 17 on the 16th.
They were from A & C Coys.
At think that's about as close as you will get.

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: Paul Crook on Monday 07 October 24 18:09 BST (UK)

Thank you very much. I wondered if the medal card indicated he was in B Company but I wasn't sure of the handwriting.

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: jim1 on Monday 07 October 24 20:08 BST (UK)

Quote

I wondered if the medal card indicated he was in B Company but I wasn't sure of the handwriting.

I see what you mean.
Well that's a strange one it should give his Regt. but it doesn't, I thought that's what it said
so didn't look at it closely.
Clerks made mistakes the same as everyone else so maybe it said Beds. R but he saw
B Coy. R or it did say B Coy. but forget to include his Regt. & Btn.
My guess is the 1st. scenario as the info on the MIC came from the Medal Roll which
makes no mention of a Coy.

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 07 October 24 20:16 BST (UK)

The medal card says "Bedf R "  = Bedfordshire Regiment. I don't see B Coy

Title: Re: Medal Record Card - I Company or unit identification possible?
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 08 October 24 11:40 BST (UK)

Quote

The medal card says "Bedf R "

I can see it now you've said it but I can also see B Coy.
Yours makes more sense.