WW1 MIA help

[kat2004]

Hi, I posted a question on here a long time ago about my gg grandfather so my apologies if this seems familiar . In 1907 my gg grandfather Thomas William FISHER married my gg grandmother Lucy Barnes in Chester. His occupation on the marriage certificate says Sergeant- The Cheshire Regiment. In 1907 they had my g grandmother, and on her birth certificate Thomas is now working and living at Barrow in Furness (employed at the Shipyard).

So we know he was out of service shortly after 1907, but he must have signed up for WW1 because my g nanna has told me how he died during the war, his body (sadly like too many others) never recovered. His wife remarried in 1922, and is listed as a widower on her 2nd marriage cert.

I've searched the Barrow war memorial and Thomas is not on there (his brother Herbert is - he died at Gallipoli with the Worc reg). I've searched the CWGC and there are four pages of Thomas Fisher's - how do I know which is mine? I've already purchased a few but I'm not sure they are mine (Thomas would have been between 34 and 38y in the duration of the war). I've searched the medal indexes and again there are to many to narrow down. Please would sks help me with this?

I don't think Thomas went back in the Cheshires for WW1 - he could have joned up with his local reg (The Kings Own) or been attached to somewhere else. He may even have died as a result of his injuries post war which would explain why he's not on the local war memorial (if this is the case then I think its appalling that these men arent named also )

So I've decided to apply to the Cheshire reg for a search (£10) which may give me his service number, is it worth paying someone to check the records at Kew also? I know 60% were los in a fire so its a long shot, but I really want to do this mans memory justice and find out what happened to him, please couls sks help or advise me?

Thank you

[casalguidi]

Hi Kat

If you know where the family were living during the time of WW1 then local newspapers are a good option ........... they listed many casualties, often with some family background information.  Also, again, if you have an address, it might be worthwhile to check the absent voters list for 1918 just in case he was listed.

There are also the WW1 army death indexes available in the overseas section at the Family Records Centre or online at http://www.1837online.com (pay per view).

Casalguidi

[Bill749]

Hi Kat

He sounds as though he would have been getting on a bit by 1914 but, as he had recently left the service, he would probably still have been on the reserve list, so would have been liable to be recalled in time of war.

However, this could work to your advantage, as his service records are more likely to have survived.  If you can get to the archives at Kew, you would be able to look at the original records which would give you enough information to sort out the right one.

Regards, Bill

[manchester regt]

kat,be careful about his death,he may not have died as a soldier,he could have been a reservist but rejected for active service cos of his job,hes in a occupation thats important to the war effort,he may have died as a civilian,you say his wife remarried in 1922,given the period of grieving and meeting and remarrying,its likely he died in the early stages of the war,mack

[kat2004]

Thank you all, I think the first step would be to contact the Cheshire Regiment and see what their records hold, meanwhile I will be going to Barrow records office and have a search through the local paper archives and see if if his name crops up there.

I would absolutely love to go to Kew and look up the WW1 records but I live so far away it won't be possible until we can book time away for a holiday, how do I request a Search without being present? Can I call Kew and have a search done by the staff? What are the chances of finding his records without a service number? Should I wait until I hear back from the CHeshire Reg?

Sorry to ask so many questions, last year I did'nt even know I had relatives that died in WW1, I found out just before November 11th about my gg uncle Herbert dying at Gallipoli and was greatly moved to see his name on Barrow cenataph, I'm trying to locate Thomas before this years Remberance day, I really feel like I owe to them both.

[Bill749]

Hi Kat

There are only 2 TW FISHER's on the CWGC site, but both are only 23 years old, so too young to be yours, so it begins to look as though he wasn't killed in WW1.

Regards, Bill

[kat2004]

Thanks Bill, I noticed that but I wondered if they sometimes didn't include middle names on the graves?  Nanna always said he died and his body was never found - could this mean he would be in an unnamed grave? Or if he died either abroad or in England post war as a result of his injuries how do I research that? When I searched the Gro army deaths overseas the search came back nil, I've gotta find his service number and take it from there, I'm sure I'll find him somehow!

Thank you all very much

[Bill749]

Hi Kat

If there is no known grave - his body was never found or could not be identified - but he was known to have been killed, he would be remembered on one of the memorials such as Thiepval or whichever was the nearest to the place where he died.  Many thousands are remembered in this way, but their names will be on the CWGC register.

I would normally expect to find a middle initial, even if his middle name was missed out, although it is possible it might have been missed completely.

I had a look in the London Gazette just in case he got promoted or won a medal but, although the name Thomas Fisher appears several times, the middle name is wrong in every entry.

If he died at home as a result of wounds, his death would be recorded in the normal GRO index.  Of course, if he died abroad after leaving the army it would be a different matter.  You definitely need to get his army records from Kew.  If you are unable to get there in person (its well worth a visit) then maybe some kind soul on this list might volunteer to do a lookup for you next time they are at the archives if you have his details form the Cheshires.

Good luck with your search - I hope you will let us know if you find him.

Regards, Bill

[kat2004]

Thank you Bill, of course I'll let you know - I'm determined to find him