WW1 David Stewart or Hutchison born 05-08-1900

[hazelaberdeen]

David Stewart joined the army, he was born in 1900 but sometimes gave his DOB as 1899.  He was born in Lonmay Aberdeenshire.  No idea what regiment, but he served abroad while he was in the army.  He must have been very young or maybe lied about his age.  he could have been under the name of Hutchison.  I would like to know anything at all about his Army Records.

[KGarrad]

Two-thirds of all the WW1 papers were destroyed in a WW2 bomb raid!

Sod's law says your chaps papers are amongst those lost!

[hazelaberdeen]

I know, I read that somewhere, but some survived?

[millymcb]

Do you have any other clues at all?  There are a lot of David Stewart and David Hutchisons listed.

How do you know he was in the war? Just from family stories or do you have medals or photos or any documents? If so then they may help point you in the right direction.

Failing that:
Do you know his next of kin (at the time)? His address? Occupation pre war?  It is a lot of work - but you would need to open every single record and check to see if any of those details are on any of the service or pension papers. A bit of a needle in a haystack but sometimes brings results. If you started with just the scottish born ones who are born from say 1895 approx onwards it would narrow it down. Or, of course, you may turn up nothing for all your hard work

Of course, if you don't have any info on address, next of kin etc... you wouldn't know if you found the right records anyway.


Milly

[hazelaberdeen]

Hi Milly,
It's a minefield.  David Stewart born Lonmay 05-08-1900.  Mother next of Kin MaryAnn Stewart born Fraserburgh 1868, father James Hutchison died around the time of David's birth.  He had an Army education that he talked of, and he served abroad. Not much to go on.

[millymcb]

He may just have caught the end of WW1 and if he left the army before 1920 then his papers may still be found with the WW1 papers at Ancestry or National Archives. If he was army educated he may well have signed up as a regular after the end of the war or enlisted before the end of the war but stayed on beyond 1920 - in which case his papers will not be with that collection.

Post 1920 papers are not public and need to be applied for
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

But - for this you need to know his regiment and specific details and also to prove you are next of kin.

You could try a trawl through the WW1 records for anyone born 1899 1900 or enlisting late in the war - to see if you can spot anyone born Lonmay or giving Mary Ann Stewart as next of kin - but it is a long shot. You would need to open up each of the records and check the first page for place of birth and then look further into the records to find next of kin or his address on leaving.

Unfortunately, if you don't find him there then without knowing his regiment you don't yet have enough info to apply for post 1920 records.

Milly

[millymcb]

You could perhaps try the local Family History Society or records office to see if they can suggest any possibilities for a military education in the area.  Another long shot of course but if there is an obvious school there may be records or they may have fed through to a specific regiment.

However, he may just have gone to a normal school but was funded by the army - perhaps due to his father or other family member being military. Have you looked into that possibility?   

Do you have him in 1911 census? If he is at boarding school or an institution this may help.
Do you have a marriage certificate? Was he still serving when he married as this sometimes gives army details.

And another long shot.  Was there a funeral report or obituary when he died? This may make reference to his service.

Sorry - lots of long shot areas for further research - but I think you may be in for a long search to find anything concrete

Milly

[hazelaberdeen]

David married Mary Greig Forman at Phead Registray Office on 21-07-1919, but the marriage did not last and I don't know if he joined up before or after that marriage.  There is nothing on the marriage certificate that says that he was in the army.

[hazelaberdeen]

During the 1911 census when he was 10 years old, he was living at Berry Street Aberdeen with his mother and three young siblings.