world war 1 documents

[janet two]

Hello can anyone advise me please.

 I have just discovered my Grandfather Herbert Ellis born in Doncaster 1884 served as a private in the 15th Battalion of the Notts and Derby Regiment of the Army during the first world war, from 1914 to 1918. He also worked as a pit stricker and coal miner and I believe most of the men serving in this regiment would have been from similar backgrounds

I would like to find his Army documents, and I have tried Ancestory and  ArmyArcives websites with no joy. Would this regiment been a sort of homeguard of its time. Can someone please point me in the right direction to obtain these papers. many thanks Janet

[mmm45]

Hi Janet
There are 5 lads called Herbert Ellis who have medal index cards at the NA and served with the Notts and Derbyshire Regiment.
The ones on ancestry arent complete yet so it will cost £3.50 to download a card from NA however we need to establish which one he was.Do you have anything with his Regimental Number on...Medals? Letters photos as this can guarantee its the correct card.
Only 30% of service records survived Luftwaffe bombing during ww2.so it may not survive 

15th Batt was raised early 1915 as a" Bantam "battalion these were lads who were smaller than average and were probably turned down in August 1914 as been too small to fight!!


Ady

[mmm45]

http://www.1914-1918.net/notts.htm

This link will tell you what they were up to.If you open scroll to 15th Batt there is also a link to the unit war diary of the 15th Batt from 1917  to 1919 which will tell you exactly where they were.

Ady

[janet two]

hello Ady
thank you for such a quick reply. I am afraid I dont have that much to go on  Herbert had ten children in all and my mother was the second youngest so all photographs I have are taken in about 1940 onwards. However I am interested in what you say about the 15th battalion being a bantom set. I remember my grandfather as being a very small and quiet man. I also remember my grandmother telling me he loved music and played during his army days but I was just 12 when he died and 16 when Grandmother died. that I am afraid to say is very long ago!!!!!!

I have just bought a birth certificate one one of his daughters, my aunt which states him as being in the Notts and Derby regiment and the 15th battalion. She was christened Priscilla Florence and they lived 81 south end,thorne, Doncaster at this time. I have another certificate for his daughter Vera in 1919. He is discharged by then and living in Nelson street Rossington Doncaster

[mmm45]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=3644678&queryType=1&resultcount=1

At a guess i would say this is his Medal Index Card.Ive just gone through Soldiers Died in the Great War with 15th Batt Notts and Derby Regiment looking for close numbers with the Herbert Ellis off the NA Medal Rolls.
There are 15 lads in the unit all with similar service numbers to 24140
The other Herbert Ellis listed 31576 has two lads with similar numbers the other Herberts numbers no one was killed serving with 15th Batt with similar numbers so have discounted them.(its much easier researching casualties theres more of a trail!!)

Its probably worth waiting for the cards to be put on Ancestry as this is guesswork Sometimes certificates had numbers on them.It unfortunately looks like his records were burned by luftwaffe.

There may be items in the local papers of the time Enlistment lists etc around early 1915 so if you can get access to Donny papers you may land lucky.

Hope this helps good luck in your quest.

Ady

[janet two]

thank you for taking the time to research for me Ady
I had tried the National Archives myself but find it  very difficult to find my way around the site.

 My grandfather lived through both wars and died in 1965. I dont think he recieved any medals but the family were so disjointed in later years there is no-one to ask however I will take a trip to Doncaster soon as you suggest. Again thank you so much Janet

[janan]

Hi Janet

The five medal index cards for Herbert Ellis's serving in the Notts and Derby Regiment are now on Ancestry - they must have just had an update.

Jan

[janan]

Hi again

You are in luck it looks as if they have just loaded his record  - under the WW1 Pension Records there is a Herbert Ellis born c1885 with 5 pages and another 3 pages. When you go to the images address is 81 South End, Thorne  

Jan

[janet two]

hi again
well would you believe it!!!!! That is most definate my Grandfather  I have searched Ancestry inside out over the last few days.

Thank you all I am a very happy bunny