Am I doing something wrong?!

[sarahofford]

I am searching through the WW1 records on Ancestry.co.uk trying to find our more about my Great Great Grandfather Frederick George Latimer. I have found a record of his death in service at the Battle of Delville wood between 16th and 19th August 1916. I know he was a lance corporal with the 10th battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I have found his death record and his roll of honour, but I cannot find his service record??!!
Am I just one of the unlucky ones whose ancestors records have been lost, or am I looking in the wrong place?
Any help would be gratefully received!
Sarah

[Colin D Gronow]

"The British Army World War One Service Records are War Office (WO) records also known as the WO363 records and the ‘Burnt Documents.’ In 1940 there was a World War Two bombing raid on the War Office in London where the records were held. During this raid, a large portion (approximately 60 per cent) of the 6.5 million records was destroyed by fire. The surviving service records have become known as the ‘Burnt Documents’.

Although many of these records suffered water damage following the bombing raid, all surviving service and pension records were microfilmed by The National Archives, where both collections are held, as part of a major TNA conservation project."


That's an awful lot of lost records & yours is probably among them. Strangely my Grandfather & his brother both served in the same regiment, in the same places so you would think their papers would have been close together (bundled together) Grandfathers was destroyed, his brother perfectly intact, not even water damaged.

It's the luck of the draw (or War)

[Gwil]

Sarah

Given the fact that his papers haven't survived the best you can do is piece together a story from the available material.
The Soldiers Died Great War database has him as Born Islington, enlisted Holborn. Killed in Action.

The 10th RWF are one of those rare Battalions whose War Diaries (typed version) contain a daily list of their casualties including those wounded. I can tell you that Frederick does not appear on any list previous to this attack. In fact he is actually shown in the wounded list for that attack.

He may not have been with the 10th Bn throughout his overseas service though. I base this on the fact that his medal card shows he went over 3/12/1915. The 10th went over late September 1915. His number and the fact that he is a Londoner leads me to think he may have gone over with the 15th Battalion (known as 1st London Welsh) as part of the 38th Division. At some stage he was transferred to the 10th Bn. This usually happened to men who were wounded, sent to UK to recover and then on going back over allocated to a different Battalion. The only way to know this for certain is to look up the actual Medal Roll at Kew (the J2...etc numbers on his Medal Card)
His number is consintent with those who enlisted late Oct/early Nov 1914.

The original diaries for both units are available  for 3.50 from the online NA site. However before going down that route and buying the 15th Battalion it may be prudent to test/confirm what I say by seeking out that Medal Roll.

RWF Battalions

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

10th RWF Diaries
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8199313&queryType=1&resultcount=9

15th RWF Diaries
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8199426&queryType=1&resultcount=9

Gwil

(PS. Gwerninion. I take it that you have researched your g/dad and his brothers' involvement with the Battalion re Diary etc. If not let me know their numbers- either here or by PM

[Colin D Gronow]

Hi Gwil,

Re reading what I wrote, I may have unintentionally mislead you both, I didn't mean that my Grandfather & his brother were in the same regiment as Frederick Latimer, just that they were in the same regiment as each other, sorry if I confused things

But thanks Gwil, for a kind offer

[latimers]

I am searching through the WW1 records on Ancestry.co.uk trying to find our more about my Great Great Grandfather Frederick George Latimer. I have found a record of his death in service at the Battle of Delville wood between 16th and 19th August 1916. I know he was a lance corporal with the 10th battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I have found his death record and his roll of honour, but I cannot find his service record??!!
Am I just one of the unlucky ones whose ancestors records have been lost, or am I looking in the wrong place?
Any help would be gratefully received!
Sarah

Hi Sarah ,

Frederick George Latimer was my great great Grandfather too. He's records are available I actually have a copy of his records he had 3 medals and his burial place is Thiepval Memorial in somme France. if you want know any more just message me.

From

Sarah aka Sara(I changed my name with a h and now its the same as yours)

[IMBER]

Just to point out that he is not buried at the Thiepval Memorial - those named there have no known grave. A very impressive memorial which I have visited several times.

[latimers]

Hi Yeah thats true I ment his mermorial place and plaque.

Im taking my mother to it for the mermorial service 1st july, as she never knew it existed!

sarah