What a bit of luck

[jamajo]

Today on the Berkshire forum someone posted a website about Abingdon. When i looked into WW1 records i found my grandfathers brother was also in the war. What i would like to know  is what does it mean when it gives his status as RETURNED. It states he was in the 11th battallion of the Worcestershire regiment at Salonika. Ive never heard of this place can anyone explain anything about this to me please.
                                               Regards
                                                   Sue

[Tati]

Hi Sue,

Any use? 
http://www.1914-1918.net/salonika.htm

[jamajo]

What some great reading and info from that site. I now know all about Salonika.You dont very often hear about these places or i didnt know anything about it. Hope im not showing my ignorance tati. I suppose when it says he was returned  he must have been one of the lucky ones to come home safe. Thanks for your help.
                                       regards
                                         Sue

[manmack]

hello sue.
before the war started,many soldiers had signed up for a certain period of time,once their period of service was over they were returned home as TIME SERVED,they are no longer oblidged to carry on serving even with a war on,most re-enlisted,it also could mean he was RETURNED wounded/sick from the front
mack

[jamajo]

Hello mack,
               Thanks for the info. Hope im not showing my ignorance but can you tell me something please. Could soldiers choose which regiment they went in only my grandfather was in 2/4th royal berkshire regiment and his brother was in the worcestershire regiment. Cant understand why William moved so far away from family.

                                      Sue

[manmack]

Hello mack,
               Thanks for the info. Hope im not showing my ignorance but can you tell me something please. Could soldiers choose which regiment they went in only my grandfather was in 2/4th royal berkshire regiment and his brother was in the worcestershire regiment. Cant understand why William moved so far away from family.

                                      Sue

yes sue,in the early part of the war,a man could join any regt or corps he wanted,but later in the war when men were conscripted,they were sent anywhere,your uncles army number should be able to tell you if he was a volunteer or if he was conscripted,mack

[jamajo]

Thanks for the info Mack.
         Can you tell me where i can get his army number from and who to ring to get his records please. Im doing my family tree for my 3 boys to give to them when they older and hopefully they will pass on to their children. The more i can piece together hopefully the more they will understand.
                                           Sue
   

[susanemily]

Sue,  If he was in the Army you will need his MIC (medal index card) prior to starting out research.  or at least to get the regiment number from it.  Hopefully, he wont have too common a surname.  Also is helpful if you know where he came from (as if he joined early in the war he would have joined a "local" - to him - regiment)......  otherwise as Mack says if he was conscripted he would not have had a choice which regiment to join.

You can download it from:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1           

or if you post his name (in full) here I will look it up for you as best i can.  Hope this helps.

Susan.                   

[jamajo]

Hello Susan
                  I would be grateful if you could find out for me. His name was William Dance born in Abingdon Berkshire, address West ST Helens Street.
                                     
                                          Many thanks
                                              Sue