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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 10:07 GMT (UK)

Title: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 10:07 GMT (UK)
Hello,

I am looking, on behalf of my brother-in-law, for the WW1 service records of Private Thomas William Liddle, born 1888, in or around Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham. Occupation before the war was hewer and he was married to Jane Thompson. There is what looks like a service number of 29804 but we don't know which regiment, or any other details.
I have looked on Ancestry but only have a basic subscription so there are some records which are not available to me.
My brother-in-law thinks that these could be among those records which were destroyed during the second world war but I thought it worth asking here.

Any help would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.
Jen  :) :)

Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 28 October 25 12:07 GMT (UK)
Not seeing a Thomas Liddle with the number you gave but there is
one with number 29644 in the Royal West Kents.
Really need his number.
There is a record for a Thomas William Liddle b.1887
no.  288244
Not him, wrong occupation.
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 12:46 GMT (UK)
I can't see any reason why he would be with the West Kents, unless his own regiment had been wiped out and he was transferred.
I know it's unlikely, without a definite number but I live in hopes that those of you who regularly work with military records will come up with a miracle!  ;D
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 28 October 25 12:56 GMT (UK)
Men were sent where they were needed irrespective of where they lived.
Can you give a definite number for him?
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 13:00 GMT (UK)

Can you give a definite number for him?

The only number I have is the one I put in my original post.

As I said, this is my brother-in-law's family and I can only tell you what he has told me. But I have found him in the 1911 census so have verified his place of birth as Hetton-le-Hole and his occupation as a hewer.

Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 28 October 25 13:26 GMT (UK)
Where does the 29804 number come from? Is it from a document, and if so can you please post an image?
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 13:31 GMT (UK)
Where does the 29804 number come from? Is it from a document, and if so can you please post an image?

I don't know where it has come from, sorry. I'll see if my sister can send an image to share and we don't live anywhere near each other. They aren't very good at "new fangled internet stuff", despite both being ten years younger than I am!;D
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: AllanUK on Tuesday 28 October 25 18:17 GMT (UK)

Can you give a definite number for him?

The only number I have is the one I put in my original post.

As I said, this is my brother-in-law's family and I can only tell you what he has told me. But I have found him in the 1911 census so have verified his place of birth as Hetton-le-Hole and his occupation as a hewer.

Did your Thomas William Liddle marry a woman called Jane (nee Thompson) ?

If he did, the 1921 Census shows him, Jane and children Jenny and Robert living at 13 Eppleton Terrace, Hetton le Hole. He is described as a Coal Miner, Coal Hewer age 32 years and born Hetton le Hole.

The 1918 Absent Voters List for Hetton le Hole shows a Thomas William Liddel, home address of 13 Eppleton Terrace, Hetton le Hole. He was a Private in the Yorkshire Regiment with a service number of 57593
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 18:32 GMT (UK)


Did your Thomas William Liddle marry a woman called Jane (nee Thompson) ?

If he did, the 1921 Census shows him, Jane and children Jenny and Robert living at 13 Eppleton Terrace, Hetton le Hole. He is described as a Coal Miner, Coal Hewer age 32 years and born Hetton le Hole.

The 1918 Absent Voters List for Hetton le Hole shows a Thomas William Liddel, home address of 13 Eppleton Terrace, Hetton le Hole. He was a Private in the Yorkshire Regiment with a service number of 57593
[/quote]

Yes, this is our man and finding him on the 1918 Absent Voters List is really interesting as it gives a regiment and a more definite number. I imagine the spelling of the name was very variable - I have certainly known both Liddle and Liddell in my lifetime.

My sister is going to send me a copy of the document with the number which they have, so I'll put that on here for your opinions.
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 28 October 25 18:34 GMT (UK)
Good find AllanUk unfortunately I'm not seeing an MIC for him.
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 21:04 GMT (UK)
On the birth certificate of Thomas Liddle's son Robert, born 1915, in the column for father's occupation is:
Private R.A.M.C
No. 29804
Coalman (Hewer)

This is where my brother-in-law found the only information he has on his grandfather.

The number doesn't match that which is on the Absent Voter list - is this normal?
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 28 October 25 22:05 GMT (UK)
Quote
The number doesn't match that which is on the Absent Voter list - is this normal?

Before 1920, individual regiments and corps had their own numbering systems. So if a soldier moved from one regiment or corps to another he would be given a new number.
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Tuesday 28 October 25 22:08 GMT (UK)
Quote
The number doesn't match that which is on the Absent Voter list - is this normal?

Before 1920, individual regiments and corps had their own numbering systems. So if a soldier moved from one regiment or corps to another he would be given a new number.

Thanks Shaun, that explains a lot. I had assumed that once a number had been allocated, it would be permanent, for identification purposes. You've put me right there! :D
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: kinsey on Tuesday 28 October 25 22:58 GMT (UK)
The only record I could find is this:

British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: Thomas Liddle
Gender: Male
Enlistment Age: 20
Birth Place: St Oswald, Durham, England
Military Date: 1909
Regimental Number: 445
Regiment Name: 4th Northumbrian How: BDE??

Occupation was a Miner and he was employed by Wallsend & Hebburn Coal Company. However, in the 1921 census there appears to be two Thomas Liddle's living in Hetton-Le-Hole. One was married to an Isabel and the other (yours) was Jane. Both give the same address for the company they work for but home address is different.

Occurding to FreeBMD only one Thomas Liddle was born in Durham.
Title: Re: Thomas William Liddle Service Records
Post by: genjen on Wednesday 29 October 25 21:40 GMT (UK)


Occurding to FreeBMD only one Thomas Liddle was born in Durham.

In the Durham city registration district, yes, there is only one in the time frame we are searching, but in County Durham, Thomas Liddle births were plentiful! There were two in the Houghton district which covered Hetton-le-Hole. Luckily, the one in my brother-in-law's family was Thomas William so it's easier to pin him down.