Help with search WW1 record

[historynut]

Can anyone help - my husband's father had four brothers who served in WW1 - two died, two survived.

We have CWGC record of memorials to two fallen uncles - and the War record for one of the survivors - but apart from a discharge card found by his grandson - can find nothing on the 4th Uncle.

Discharge card shows date and place of enlistment, and discharge and Regiment Name and number - he also had a Specialist Military Qualification - Chevrons 2 B - don't know what this means??  Trade qualification I suppose and I know they wore the chevrons lower left arm - inverted - but don't know what the qualification could be,

He also had one wound stripe - and I know they were worn lower left arm under the military qualification chevron.

Can't find any service records, pension records (he was injured) or medal roll records.

Where do i try next??

Please help - I have worked long and hard on the history of the twelve siblings and would like to fill in any gaps I can for the wider family members - particularly his four grandchildren and great grandchildren.

hope someone can help

[bernard_lewis]

The name would help some of the experts on here. Any rumour of which unit he served in?

Bernard

[km1971]

Without seeing the card I am pretty sure that 'Cheverons 2B' has nothing to do with his special qualification. It will stand for Chevrons - two blue, meaning he had two blue overseas service chevrons. If you served abroad during 1914 you got a red one. They were also worn on the right lower arm. The ones on the left lower arm were for good conduct. The wound stripes were under the GC 'badges' (stripes).

See - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/ORDNANCE/48b.htm It has a bias to the Army Ordnance Corps but should apply to your man as well.

Ken

The military qualification badge - crossed guns for markman etc - were worn over the GC badges

[historynut]

Many thanks for interest in my query.

This particular brother was HAROLD DAVIS, born in Somerset 1893 - (his record looks like 1892 - but his birth certificate states 1893) and ended up in Wakefield, Yorkshire.
 
He enlisted on 7th November 1914 in Wakefield with the 4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and as far as I can tell did his whole service under their colours.
His RegimentalNumber was 200940 and he attained Rank of Corporal.

As I said he had Chevrons - Two B (maybe two blue as one of you suggested)

He was discharged on 18th January 1919 at York paper signed pp for Officer in charge No. 2 records, York as being no longer physically fit for war service (Para 392 (xv1) K.R.) after serving four years 73 days with the Colours.  He had a scar on his right forearm and two of his nieces remember that he had restricted use in the arm and lost the flexibility in use and could not return to his former occupation - don't know what his former occupation was?

Hope this extra info helps someone to help me.

Desperate now?

If you canhelp with this one - will write up the other three brothers and see if I can get help there - I have the memorial details for the two fallen - but no idea as to when they enlisted or their records etc.

I have no photograph of Harold - the one that the grandsons gave me as possibly him - has the Leicester regiment cap badge - so can't be him - as the KOYLI badge is totally different - one of the other brothers was in the KOYLI too and I have that photograph will post that later because I can't tell what his badges are either.

Thanks a million

[mmm45]

Try searching 3157 Harold Davies on the NA Medal Rolls 

Ady

[forester]

There are two MICs for him on the NA (none on A***y).

As Ady says, one is under his old service number.
This is the link to both of them:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/041b/

Phil

[mmm45]

One is possibly for his 1915 Star as 3157 the other for British War and Victory Medals as 200940....Just love the 1917 renumbering confusion!

unfortunately as phil says it will cost £7 to get them
 cant find any pension record also!
Ady

[historynut]

Hi Ady and Phil

What superb guys you are -  I have already been to the site -ordered and down loaded the images - wow - I only joined the rootschat at 10.00 pm last night - can't believe this - had sent an e-mail to one of Harold's grandsons this morning - have to send another now - thanks so much.

How do we find his war records now??


Here's one for you all - Douglas Frank Parks - RAMC Private 2851 - the only information we have is he was in Farnham Surrey 1906, then to Norfolk 1910 possibly London area in between and home address Maidstone 1916 - this is the last record we have of him as he deserted the family -

His War record or anything else would be of great help.

Keep up the good work - we are very grateful


Rita

[km1971]

It looks as if he was given 3157 in 1914, renumbered as 200940 in March 1917 - http://www.1914-1918.net/TF_renumbering_infantry.htm - which confirms he was still in the 4th Battalion. They were in the 49th Division - http://www.1914-1918.net/koyli.htm. If you click on 49th Division it will take you to a list of the battles they fought in.

It sounds as if you have his papers. If so, does it mention the Silver War Badge (SWB)? If not where does the information you have come from?

Ken