Uniform identification please

[annie24b]

thanks Pete, Gobby, Ady.  I'd be very grateful if someone could look it up please? Or is it available online at all?

David Robert Baxter  b1869 Whitby.
 Married Margaret Johnston 1904 and they lived in Sunderland

[annie24b]

Managed to find 1 record in medal card register for a David Robert Baxter b 1874 Whitby.
 I know that my David was born 1869 - I have his birth certificate. I suppose he could have lied

[Pete Keane]

Does it say what Regiment or Corps he was in - I ask this as it may help to eliminate the record, it will hopefully give dates of service etc.

Using his dob would make him 45 at commencement of the war, whereas the later dob would be 40 - I wonder what the age restrictions were for Kitcheners volunteers - if it was 40 then it is quite likely he lied in order to volunteer.

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Here we go - in May 1915 the age limit was raised to 40, so giving a dob of 1874 and using a late month ie after May, would have him just in the age range.ie under 41.

Whats the betting the record is for a man with a birth month in the second half of 1874....

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWrecruit.htm

Pete

[annie24b]

Many thanks Pete.
I've now bought the record, and it is indeed my grandfather!! So he did lie about his age. The address that the medals were sent to is on his son's birth certificate.

They were a Mercantile Marine Ribbon, Mercantile Marine Medal and it also says: British Medal  R.N.R.T. - do you know what this was please?

At the top of the card it has 'Certif or Dis.A.'  211554
Would that be his service number, and should I be able to find more about him using this?
thanks again

Anne

Edit: re the birth date, it isn't on the card, but his real birthday was in September, so easy for him to remember should anyone ask him!

[mmm45]

Heres your link to (R)oyal (N)aval (R)eserve (T)rawlerman emergency Reserve

In 1917 RNR(T) emergancy reserve was set up to bring all the remaining fishermen under naval discipline. It was suddenly discovered that fish were a good supply of food and as many trawlers had been lost and fishermen taken up into the RNR(T), they needed to keep some trawlers actually catching fish!

Source of Info: Great War Forum.

Ady

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Annie

Merchant Seaman had an official record kept of their voyages and they carried an official discharge book that also held these records.  The Dis A number is his Discharge number, which was on his book, and also should help you to find him in the archives of the merchant service.

The medal card suggests that he saw all his war service either on a merchant ship or on a Royal Navy Reserve Trawler - these were used for mine sweeping and convoy protection.

All the best

Gobbo

[Pete Keane]

Does this answer the question about the photo ?

The man is wearing an army private dress, was this also supplied to the Merchant Marine or RNRT, anyone know?

Did you grandad have any brothers?

Pete

[Pete Keane]

Found this link about the Trawlermen

http://www.harry-tates.org.uk/history1.htm

Does show them in naval rig....

Pete