RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: andyhayes on Sunday 02 November 25 21:56 GMT (UK)
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Hi
I am looking for info relating to William Hayes born in Middlesbrough in 1893, I have found a couple of medal records but unsure if they are for the right person as there isn’t an address.
I have a picture and he may have been a pioneer.
Anybody able to help narrow it down?
Mother’s name was Ada and they lived at 19 Adam Street, Middlesbrough.
Cheers a
Andy
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The Medal Record Index (MRI) does not show ages or addresses.
Unfortunately over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz.
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Thanks, any way of finding out?
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If you don't know his service number or a definite regiment it could be difficult
Here's the link to Ancestry's surviving WW1 service records
www.rootschat.com/links/01u2u/
I would suggest you post the picture you have to try & get a positive ID on his uniform. It may help to narrow it down
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/armed-forces/
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If you have his address you could try the absent voters registers some have the regiment & service number but most don't
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He's in the voters lists for 1918 and 1919 at 19 Adam Street so not absent. Per the censuses he was in a reserved occupation (iron and steel production) so he may not have served in the armed forces.
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Thanks everyone, who is I listed at 19 Adam Street?
William is my Grandads Brother, my Grandad being Albert Henry Hayes
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This is an image I have, it isnt great though as it does not show a regimental badge. I have another image wherehe has a chevron on the lower left arm
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The chevron on his lower arm is a good conduct badge, meaning that at the point the photo was taken he had served for at least 2 years. The badge on his collar signifies he was in a pioneer battalion. This probably means that he was initially in an infantry battalion which was converted to a pioneer battalion at a later stage, or that he had been wounded or medically downgraded and thus no longer classed as fit to fight, but was fit enough for manual labouring tasks.
(https://britishmilitarybadges.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GH6776PPUYOY0656-600x567.jpg)
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Voters lists for 19 Adam Street:
1918:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/62737/images/62737_263021009496_4232-00280
1919: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/62737/images/62737_263021009496_4236-00295
Just William and Albert Henry listed
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Hi
They are using the basic voters lists & both William & Albert Henry are down as absent voters. The a before the name & then the letters NM are the indicators but it does not go into detail.
Always worth a try.
John