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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: shawneeb502 on Monday 23 June 25 12:16 BST (UK)

Title: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: shawneeb502 on Monday 23 June 25 12:16 BST (UK)
I was too young, when my grandfather, WJC King, died, to ask him about his experience in WW1.  He was born in 1880, so would have been of an age to serve in the armed forces but there has never been a mention of his service.  He was a fitter working for a gas company in the early years of the 20th Century, so he may have been in a reserved occupation and have no war record.

Is there anywhere I can find out if he did serve or not?
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: rosie99 on Monday 23 June 25 12:20 BST (UK)
Is this who you are referring to  :-\
KING, WILLIAM  JAMES CARLISLE  mmn PANKHURST 
GRO Reference: 1880  Sept Quarter in LAMBETH 
Volume 01D  Page 400
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: shawneeb502 on Monday 23 June 25 12:23 BST (UK)
Yes, that's him.
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: jim1 on Monday 23 June 25 14:18 BST (UK)
There's this chap however we don't know what the JC stands for.
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: ALAMO2008 on Monday 23 June 25 14:44 BST (UK)
His Daughter Mabel was born September 1917 and his Son In February 1919
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: shawneeb502 on Monday 23 June 25 14:52 BST (UK)
Mabel Victoria was my late mother and the son born in 1919 was Victor John (Bob).  I know he served in the REME during WW2.  Haven't yet managed to find his army record either, but that's another issue.  There were 9 children (I think) Mabel and Victor were the 7th and 8th.

Their mother was Henrietta Matilda Price (1881-1967).

That William J C King could be my grandfather.  The only other person I have come across with those initials was his son - too young to serve in the 1st War, born in 1902.
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: jim1 on Monday 23 June 25 15:52 BST (UK)
Do you have any birth certs. for the war time children as this
should tell you if he served.
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: softly softly on Monday 23 June 25 15:54 BST (UK)
That soldier number is for a William John Charles King.(252671)

Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: ALAMO2008 on Monday 23 June 25 15:57 BST (UK)
Do you have any birth certs. for the war time children as this
should tell you if he served.

Very Good Point Jim1

Only Yesterday getting a Digital Copy of a Birth in 1917 finally solved the case for everyone who didn't know if their Relative Served or with whom.
It clearly stated proof of his Regt and Btn
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: softly softly on Monday 23 June 25 16:01 BST (UK)
According to William John Charles King's army record he married Annie Sterland in 1915 Leicester, 2 children, William Charles  Robert 1915 & George Alfred 1917.

SS
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: ALAMO2008 on Monday 23 June 25 16:10 BST (UK)
My point of stating for everyone else the Births of his Daughter and Son was to show he was at Home 9 months before in 1916 and 9 months before in 1918

Not Everyone who wanted to Serve was Declared Fit for Service

You do know that WW2 records have to be applied for chrome the MOD as they are Not Online which is why you can't find them..
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: amondg on Monday 23 June 25 16:21 BST (UK)
Children of William J C King and Henrietta Matilda nee Price
( married 27 July 1902  St Mary The Less, Lambeth he was widower age 22, she was 21 spinster)

GRO Index  all registered Lambeth
William James Carlisle 1903
Frederick 1908
Arthur Edward 1910 twin
George Ernest   1910 twin  ADDED poss. death 1911 age 1 reg Lambeth
Frank Albert 1912
Henrietta Matilda 1914
Mabel Victoria  1917
Victor John 1919
Rita R 1923    died 1926 age 3
------------------
1911 Henrietta (Hettie) days she has had 4 children 4 still living
listed are William, Frederick, George and Arthur.
------------------------
There is another King/Price family registering children in Lambeth, based on census information the parents are not William and Henrietta.
Charles 1904
William 1905
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: amondg on Monday 23 June 25 16:33 BST (UK)
I checked the baptisms of all the children, the father William James Carlisle King is listed as a Gas

Fitter through 1914 then a Pipe Fitter 1917 for Mabel Victoria, Victor John 1919 and Engineer for Rita Ruby 1923
Title: Re: DID MY GRANDFATHER SERVE IN WW1
Post by: shawneeb502 on Wednesday 25 June 25 08:48 BST (UK)
Of course!  My mother's birth certificate.  Idiot me never thought of that.

He was an Engineer (fitter) in September 1917, as shown on her  birth certificate.  So no services record.  I assume his was a "reserved occupation".  It was, after all, essential to keep the gas supply going in London.

Thanks all.