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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: EdinKath on Tuesday 30 September 25 13:19 BST (UK)
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Hello, I'm looking for some help with a service record please.
James Anderson, No. 8848, joined the 3rd batt. Royal Scots on 11 July 1901. His address was 1 Wymess Terrace, Edinburgh. His age has 17 years, 11 months crossed out and 18 written above. Next of kin is Father William, 5 Union Pl. The record says that James moved to the Kings own Scottish Borderers on 2 Sept 1901. There's no info on his service after that.
My ancestor's brother James Anderson was living with his brother's family at 1 Wymess Terrace on the 1901 census. His father was William. The main discrepancy is the age. My James was born 23 May 1885 which would make him only 16 in July 1901. His age on the 1901 census was correctly given as 15. I have no confirmed information about James after the 1901 census.
I'm wondering whether there is another service record anywhere for the James Anderson in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers which might help confirm whether or not the army recruit is my ancestor's brother? And what were the rules around minimum age for recruits at that time?
Thanks very much.
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My grandfather enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment on the 29th Dec 1898. His age was recorded as 18 years 0 months. His actual age was 15 years 10 months. I don't think that the recruiters were too particular about the age the recruit stated.
Ray
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James Anderson, No. 8848, joined the 3rd batt. Royal Scots on 11 July 1901. His address was 1 Wymess Terrace, Edinburgh. His age has 17 years, 11 months crossed out and 18 written above. Next of kin is Father William, 5 Union Pl. The record says that James moved to the Kings own Scottish Borderers on 2 Sept 1901. There's no info on his service after that.
Just for clarification, that first enlistment was for a militia unit. He was a part time soldier. He then joined the KOSB as a full time regular soldier.
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Thanks Ray and Shaun.
I hadn't realised the militia was part time. Do you know if there's likely to be another record of his service in the KOSB anywhere? I read that a lot of army records were destroyed during WW2, were they from the 1900-1914 period?
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Just bye the bye I think the name of the street is not 1 Wymess Terrace, Edinburgh but Wemyss Terrace.
Google search the below gives information:
wemyss terrace longniddry
Wemyss is also one of those unusually pronounced names with most pronouncing it 'weems'.
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Thanks Ray and Shaun.
I hadn't realised the militia was part time. Do you know if there's likely to be another record of his service in the KOSB anywhere? I read that a lot of army records were destroyed during WW2, were they from the 1900-1914 period?
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/research/military-records/british-soldiers-ww1-service-records.htm