Will I ever find Jimmy Holmes?

[Hanan]

I wonder if you Roots-chatters could advise me on a search, I am doing for a family member who died during the First World War.  If anyone has any helpful suggestions as to how we may be able to progress our search, or advice on what the most common regiments were for people living in Ayrshire area to sign up for would be wonderful.   

I am looking for James (Jimmy) Holmes who was taken in (possibly adopted) by my g grandmother Wilhelmina McIntyre early 1900.  He worked in the shipyards at Ardrossan before signing up and going to war.  Here is what else I have on him.

BORN: the Glasgow area.  (Date unknown)
ADDRESS AT THE TIME OF ENLISTMENT: care of Mrs McIntyre, Harbour Place, Ardrossan. 
AGE AT DEATH: 19
NOTIFICATION OF DEATH WAS SENT TO: John & Wilhelmina McIntyre in Ardrossan

As you can see, we do not have a lot to go on.  With this little information, am I ever likely to find out where he was killed and buried?  I know many soldiers died unknown but when a telegram is sent, doesn’t that mean he was known to be dead?

Thank you

[aghadowey]

The telegram would have been sent to person he listed to be notified in case of injury, death, etc. Does it actually say killed or is it missing presumed killed?
CWGC website lists 207 'J. Holmes' kiled in WWI (www.cwgc.org).
Any more information like service number, regiment, date (even date of telegram)? If he was killed the date of telegram and date of death would be helpful.
The more information you post the quicker someone will be able to look in places like Soldiers  Died in the Great War.
Local newspapers often had articles (sometimes a special column) for service people- visiting home, wounded, missing, etc.

[Hanan]

Hi aghadowey,

I do not have a date or anything for the telegram, it was destroyed.  I know my g-grandmother was offered a monetary compensation because of his death (she refused it, so no paperwork for that either). 

I have no idea of his service number, regiment or date of death this is what is making my search so difficult.  I am wondering if anyone could advise me as to what the most common regiments were for people living in Ayrshire.  Was it the done thing that all the people in the one area signed up to the same regiments?

I've tried the CWGC who were very helpful but they couldn’t find any J Holmes with McIntyre’s listed as next of kin.

[mmm45]

http://www.snwm.org/cgi-bin/db_w1.pl
This may help get the number down...From SNWM.

Theres also a Scottish War Memorials Discussion Forum that may be able to help.

Ady

[mmm45]

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot.html

Heres the other link.

Ady

[Hanan]

Thanks for those websites.  I've registered with War Memorials, waiting for them to get back to me.

The SNWM website does seem to give me more info on some of the soldiers that CWGC doesn't, so that's useful - thanks . It will help get the number down, I'll compare them.

In you Rootchatters expert opinions do you all think I'll find Jimmy with the little information I have?  Should I keep at my search?

[mmm45]

It may take a wee while but local papers have been my best source as well as the help from forums like this...stick with it.

Ady

[howdee]

Hi H

Have you considered, he may have used the name McIntyre?

Howard

[atom12]

Hi 

I've been pondering over your James.  Assuming he went under the name of Holmes there seemed to be 3 possibiles on SDGW, with one discounted as his parent's address was Barrhead on CWGC.

The other two that I could see are: