Help: Court Martialled & Missing in UK, Capt: Albert Edward Harrison AIF

[Craven-Harrison]

Dear all,

I have attached a draft list of MIC cards that I hold and have previously researched

1: This is a draft version and requires a lot more work, but is Ok for basing additional research work, or using to reject or confirm possible candidates.

2: Some of the Christian names appear to be a long way from A E or Albert Edward, a good example is Sydney Albert, this is the name given to AEH's first son and there are other similar excursions that I have taken over the years. There are some name excursions that haven't made the list, for example the surname Miller, AEH's mother's maiden name. The experts suggest that many men who change their names use their mother's maiden names.

3: The TNA MIC card downloadable records come as a set-of-six. Some of the names in this spread-sheet are part of those sets-of-six, the additional names have sometimes become of interest because of numerous factors

4: Some of the names will appear to be the same and arn't. Some actually are the same people who have multiple TNA files with different file numbers, obviously, multiple MIC's??
As I built the list, which was from several sources, there were obvious similarities between some men, I have removed as many as I could without wrecking the integrity of the data

5: Some of the men on this list have issues with the spelling of their Harrison surname and this is borne out in the London Gazette also. I will make some more of this issue later on with spelling permutations such as Harrinson, Harrisson, Harris etc

5: Most importantly, I don't believe that the MIC cards are enough on their own to determine a man's identity, this list certainly does show what I hold and to some degree some of the men's details, if any of them appear interesting I can send them on.

I have started a list of London Gazette entries which are quite interesting and will have these finished ASAP

Cheers

Ian

[Redroger]

Ian, If this has not already been done I think it important to establish whether there is a birth record for the A Harrison whose date of entry into the rank of 2nd Lt. is the day following the GCM. If there is then he can be eliminated, if not, then I think he may well be our man. His past record could readily have been cobbled together by the military, but I very much doubt if they would be able to insert a birth record.

[Craven-Harrison]

Roger,

I understand your drift, if he's in the BDM's with a birthdate of 1889 then he is a real A Harrison born and bred in the UK, however if there isn't an A Harrison then he's an imposter, my AEH

I agree, we should consult the BDM's for this fellow

Ian

[jds1949]

Ian and Roger,

Just had a quick look on Freebmd [which is not complete] and there is no Andrew Harrison with a birth registered in the last two quarters of 1889. There is one at Prescott for the June quarter, but that can not be this man if he was not born until 29th July. There are several others in the five year period either side of 1889. Part of the problem will be that Andrew Harrison could be a real person but his date of birth was wrong. In my experience there were a significant number of men serving in the army who, for one reason or another, had birth dates which were suspect. This actually reflected society at large at the time where significant numbers of people were hazy about their birth dates.

Roger, it looks like I shall be OK for Kew on Thursday of this week - does that suit you? I usually get there about 11 am.

jds1949

[Redroger]

So, with the usual caveats we may be on to something with the guy from the Buffs. My father enlisted in 1915 aged 16, having put his age up three years to do so, but though there are other reasons that wouldn't apply to a  man still of military age.
jds thursday will do nicely,please pm me details, I can make it for 11am approx, subject to train punctuality.

[Siamese Girl]

I haven't anything to add to this as I know nothing about military records at Kew, but I'm still following the story with interest.

Is there any sign of Syd's will? I'm still hoping he might have said something about Albert in it.

Carole

[Craven-Harrison]

Hi Carole,

I'm still waiting for Brian AEH's grandson, to make contact, I think he's still shell shocked with what you found out about Syd.

I'll give him a ring and ask how he's going and get back to you ASAP

Cheers

Ian

[Siamese Girl]

Just a thought about Andrew Harrison - I don't want to throw a spanner in the works but there is an Andrew Harrisson (two Ss) birth registered Hollingbourne Dec 1889. He's in the 1891 census living with his parents Albert and Sarah at Otterden in Kent. Exactly the right place to live to join the Buffs.

Carole

[Craven-Harrison]

Hi Carole,

Bingo!!

Looks like the fellow Roger has been chasing, and further evidence of the spurious spelling issues associated with this matter.

I am always being asked if I spell my name with one S or two S's, the interesting thing is there are very few Harrison's with two S's and probably the problem started with a transcription error in a Parish register anyway.

However this is exactly the sort of smoke screen that could allow AEH to use his old Commission qualifications and yet be invisible to enquiry from the AIF,  one simple "S" would do it

Thanks Carole,