Killed in the war or not?

[elldee]

If a person received a Certificate of Service and Discharge after WWI does that mean they survived the war?

My grandmother told my dad that her father died during WWI.  However, I have been given my gt grandfather's certificate of service from the Royal Naval Reserve which states he served from 1915 and was discharged in February 1919, the certificate itself was signed July 1920.  I'm now wondering whether what my grandmother said was true.

Thanks, Elldee





 

[avm228]

Hmmm... it sounds unlikely then that he died in, or immediately after, the war.

Have you searched for his name on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website just to be sure?

www.cwgc.org

Anna

[aghadowey]

It could be that he served in the War, was discharged but died sometime after July 1920 from injuries (like gas) received in the war. If this is the case he wouldn't appear on cwgc site. If you post some details like name, birthdate/place, etc. some of us might be able to find something.

[elldee]

My gt grandfather's name was Andrew Doyle and there is someone of that name on the CWGC site.  Unfortunately, there are no other details other than the date he died and the ship he was serving on.  He was also in the Royal Naval Reserve but this may just be a coincidence. 

All I know for certain about my Andrew Doyle is that he was living in Dublin when my grandmother was born in 1916 and according to her he was from Co Galway.  I have found someone which could be him on the 1911 Dublin census but will probably need to go over to Dublin to find out for sure.

If he was in the Royal Naval Reserve would that mean he had previously been in the Royal Navy or would he just have have seafaring experience? I did download a service record from the NA of an Andrew Doyle, born Kingstown, Dublin dating from the early 1900's thinking this might be my gt grandfather but again this doesn't tally with what my grandmother said. 

Elldee

[jorose]

Do you have the service number of Andrew Doyle from the discharge certificate? That should clear up if the one on the CWGC site is him or not.

I think most of the RNR came from a merchant seaman or fishing background.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=47 has some details on what records there might be.

[elldee]

Unfortunately the certificate is very tattered and the writing is very faded in parts.  There is a section that says Certificate Number but most of the number has been torn away - all I can see is perhaps the top half of a three.  There is no mention of a service number.

It looks like I'll just have to wait to see if any more info becomes available online from the National Archives before I can discover more about his navy service.

Thanks for your help.

Elldee.

[mmm45]

http://www.fleetairarm.com/researchindex.htm

Maybe send a letter or email here

Ady

[phildo]

Hi Elldee

I was amazed to find this thread. I am pretty sure we are searching details of the same great grandfather.

I've just gotten details of the same RNRF discharge certificate that you describe with the missing cert no.

Andrew was born in Wexford in 1867. He moved to Dublin and married and his details are on the Irish national census for 1911.

Andrew died in 1925 in Dublin and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Please send a private message for more information