Alfred Henry Cherry

[chrisjcherry]

Looking for WW1 Service details for my grandfather who was born in 1898 and I believe was in the Royal Engineers Warwickshire Mechanical (only details I can remenber from talking to my nan about him several years ago). One of his army pictures is with an army friend called  Frank Perry. My grandad would have only been 16 when war broke out. I also have a photo of him that says Salonika on the rear dated 23 June 1919. The last digit has been inked over so I don't know if this shouldn't read 1918. I have searched Ancestry for his war records and the only Alfred Henry Cherry I can find was in the Middlesex, five years older and address and mother are clearly not the Alfred I am searching for. Any help would be appreciated. I have also drawn a blank on his medal record.

[PaulineJ]

According to Ancestry's blurb on that particular databse.

Description:
This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. The type of information contained in these records includes: name of solider, age, birthplace, occupation, marital status, and regiment number.

So it could be that it either didn't survive or he re-enlisted.

Pauline

[chrisjcherry]

Thanks Pauline. He didn't go back to the army after ww1 so iguess the records are missing.

[jim1]

the Ancestry records are for those who received an army pension.For this you would have had to have been be wounded & retired from active service or time served ( career soldier)
                                             jim

[PaulineJ]

There are now both Pension records and service records on there, not just that database you are thinking of Jim.

Pauline

[jim1]

PS. 3/4 of service records for ordinary men were destroyed in a fire in WW11.
They are commonly known as "the burnt papers".Those that survived are held at The National Archives and are only viewable there.

[chrisjcherry]

Any ideas how I would find his war service details? All I know is that he finished the war in Salonika and came back after a dose of malaria!!

[jim1]

This is what it says:
"These records are unlikely to contain information on individuals who did not claim a pension."
The pension record would also contain the service record for that individual.

[jim1]

You may find this helpful:
http://www.1914-1918.net/grandad/grandad.htm