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Messages - Espiegle

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1
World War One / Re: Service on HMS Victory
« on: Thursday 03 January 08 18:26 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Brandane

Lightfoot was a WW1 destroyer launched in August 1915, crew of 104, so quite small.

The illegible word that is before Lightfoot on your service document will be the destroyer depot ship that HMS Lightfoot was attached to.

Regards
Andrew

2
World War One / Re: WW1 query
« on: Thursday 03 January 08 17:52 GMT (UK)  »
Hi Sylvia

RE/1740 is a Silver War badge reference (its actually a page number in a SWB volume) With this reference you will be able to see his entry in the SWB list and one thing it will tell you is how old the man was at time of discharge (as well as cause of discharge).
Unless you can get to Kew yourself, best to get a researcher to look up the reference for you.
Regards
Andrew

3
World War Two / Re: Is this the uniform of an officer?
« on: Saturday 29 December 07 13:14 GMT (UK)  »
I have a jpeg of his 1901 census return, but it is too big to attach.
The details are:
Father James M Oliver aged 41, coal miner, living at 84 Quarry House, Haltwhistle, Northumberland.
Mother: Elizabeth Ann aged 40, 9 children, 6 sons, 3 daughters
James P was born in Featherstone, Cumberland, the third son.
Andrew

4
World War Two / Re: Is this the uniform of an officer?
« on: Friday 28 December 07 20:23 GMT (UK)  »
Yes, I saw that as well. I had a go at finding him in the London Gazette, but no joy yet (it does have a somewhat strange logic engine!)
His Officers records will not be at NA as he continued to serve after the end of WW1. A systematic search of the Army lists will reveal the bones of his career. Some of the larger city libraries have them in their reference sections.
Andrew

5
World War One / Re: probably a silly question, but...
« on: Friday 28 December 07 20:18 GMT (UK)  »
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

The NA web site has all the opening times etc. It will be closed from 21-27 Jan for more reorganization. It looks like there will be no advance document ordering until the end of March. Basically just when you have worked out where everything is, they go and move it!

Regards
Andrew

6
World War Two / Re: Is this the uniform of an officer?
« on: Friday 28 December 07 19:10 GMT (UK)  »
Leave him with me, I will have a look to see what I can find.
Regards
Andrew

7
World War One / Re: probably a silly question, but...
« on: Friday 28 December 07 14:08 GMT (UK)  »
Thanks for the welcome. My main interest is in military history specifically WW1 and 2. I collect WW1 Memorial Scrolls and this leads to lots of research potential. My own family (Nichol) had a number of military and naval connections, so again I have become quite used to searching through medal index cards/war diaries/soldiers papers/ships logs/London Gazette etc at the National Archives.
I would recommend  a visit to the NA to anyone living relatively close. Lots of info in there just a case of finding it!

Regards
Andrew

8
World War Two / Re: Is this the uniform of an officer?
« on: Friday 28 December 07 13:51 GMT (UK)  »
Yes, looks like a pip and a crown, which means he was a Lieutenant Colonel. If you have any pictures in which his lapel badge is clearer, then I might be able to work out his regiment.
He has a good number of ribbons on his chest, close ups of those will give an idea of his military career.
What was his full name and when was he born ? With this data I should be able to look him up in the Army Lists.

Regards
Andrew

9
World War Two / Re: Is this the uniform of an officer?
« on: Thursday 27 December 07 19:10 GMT (UK)  »
Definitely an officer. Do you have any pictures which show his shoulder tabs. If you have, then by looking at the numbers of pips or crowns you will be able to work out his rank.
Regards
Andrew

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