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Messages - Yorts

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Armed Forces / Re: Missing piece of the puzzle- Theophilus Jones
« on: Friday 15 February 08 13:17 GMT (UK)  »
Quote from: km1971 on Tuesday 08 January 08 13:59 GMT (UK)
Hi Ayashi

Welcome to the Forum. My GGGF also served in the Royal Marines, from 1855 to 1876. He was promoted to Corporal only six months before he retired – I presume to give him a bigger pension – so your GGGF did very well. In my GGGF’s time they did not have Lance Corporal, so the rank must have been introduced later. I found his records about ten years ago in Kew and was able to get A2 copies in glorious colour. As they were trying out a new colour copying service, staff at Kew took an extra copy and pinned it to the wall of the copying room as a sample for years later. They probably took it down when they let visitors take their own photographs. His name was James Plummer if anyone remembers it.

Anyway, it will be RMLI. There was also the Royal Marine Artillery. I think they finally combined in the 1920s. At some time in the 19th Century they were called Red Marines (RMLI) and Blue Marines (RMA) from the colours of their tunics. Here is a link to the online guide at TNA - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/marines/step2.htm. Knowing that he was in Plymouth will help as finding his Division is half the battle. But you will need to visit Kew or employ a researcher.

In the 1901 census, have you seen his youngest daughter over the page, and also the visitor?

Ken

Hi Ken,

I would be really interested to here more about James Plummer. Perhaps you would humour me and post a brief biography?

Rgds,

Alex.

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Armed Forces / Re: Missing piece of the puzzle- Theophilus Jones
« on: Thursday 14 February 08 19:19 GMT (UK)  »
The CWGC lists every casualty whose death was even remotely attributable to war service; this includes those who were killed in action, died of wounds, died of disease and those who died on active service. The example in question is not unusual; I have recently researched a casualty who died of cardiac disease dueing WW1 whilst serving with the marines. Although he was initially omitted from CWGC records, more recently his case was presented to them and he can now be found on the CWGC website.

The type of service number we are discussing was not introduced until 1885; prior to this date marines did have service numbers, but they were not unique and had to be used in conjunction with a company number. In fact the latter was more useful when identifying individuals, so it was more common to see individuals referred to as:

Private A.N. Other 14th Coy. RMLI

When the new numbers with a divisional prefix were introduced, all men currently serving were re-numbered. I've rechecked my notes and based on this number I'm fairly confident that he enlisted prior to 1885.

Rgds,

Alex.


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Armed Forces / Re: Missing piece of the puzzle- Theophilus Jones
« on: Tuesday 12 February 08 18:18 GMT (UK)  »
Hi,

CWGC gives:

Name: JONES
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Marine Light Infantry
Unit Text: Plymouth Div.
Date of Death: 05/03/1916
Service No: PLY/2619
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Church N. 5. 36.
Cemetery: FORD PARK CEMETERY (FORMERLY PLYMOUTH OLD CEMETERY) (PENNYCOMEQUICK)

The PLY prefix does indeed indicate Plymouth Division, RMLI. I would visit the PRO first, not the FAA Museum. Most of the information you seek should be contained in his service ledger entry (FAA records are discharge papers and duplicate the ledger entries). His service number suggests an enlistment between 1867 and 1885 which fits with what you say.

His record will be in ADM 159/65.

Rgds,

Alex

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