a helluva man with a helluva story

[fergie171]

Just recently it came to my attention that my grandfather was involved in WW1 with the 4/5 royal scots fusiliers.... and with the RIC aux during the Irish war of independence 1920-22, then with the royal engineers during WW2...its a helluva complicated journey trying to get information on him...   i have his attestation papers when he joined for service in 1940 at the age of 42, he joined the RE , he was promoted to lcpl in  the 1st month of service before going out with the BEF to France on the 29th march 40, he was evacuated injured on the 19th may 40 to (writing is difficult to read,so could be a variation on my conclusion) to 16 mill sid (or SD) hospt ....  B2,3030/2T5... he was discharged 19th july 40.....the reason being...CEASING TO FULFIL ARMY PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS  (Para 383(xvi)tg)KR1935........  can anybody throw some light on why he was discharged......my grandfather died 1943 with cancer....regards Rob......................................................................his army numbers are 1914799 (on his attestation paperwork of 1940)...8318 with the royal scots fusiliers and 311256 with the northumberland fusiliers which i got from his medal index card

[MonicaL]

Hi fergie171

Welcome to RootsChat 

Unlike WW1 and attestment papers, WW2 is not available online so far  You have a lot it seems on the early stages of his army life, but the questions now seem to focus on WW2 and his life then.

You might need to post this on the Armed Forces Board here on Rootschat www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?board=300.0 or maybe, your post can be moved there. Will send a message to see if this can be done for you 

Monica

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome from me too

You will find some info here re: obtaining WW2 records

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=651361.0

[fergie171]

i only found out he was serving in WW1 due to seeing it on his attestation paperwork, i paid my £30 to historical disclosures but they only have very limited info, i went to national archives in Edinburgh hoping to get some info,but was told they don't hold military records and Kew held all or most military records, i really want to start the journey from when he joined the royal Scots fusiliers , he served 4yrs  267 days, his medal index card showed he was in Gallipoli,may 1915,what confuses me here is that he has an army number for service with the northumberland fusiliers...why would he have that if he served for the duration of the war with a Scottish regt ? ... the story then jumps to 1920 when he went over to Ireland with the black and tans (my grandmother got a pension for his service here until her death in 1988,i have the letter confirming the pension will now cease), my aunt also said he was shot in the hand by the ira....lots to find out but it seems there is brick walls everywhere i go...would this be due to him serving with the royal Irish constabulary auxiliary .... when i go to national archives,all i get is redirected to his medal index card (which doesnt show his WW2 army number ...confused confused confused lol

[Tyrannosaurus]

He probably lost his spot with the RSF when he was wounded and was moved on to wherever needed when he recovered.

The Scotsman (1860-1920) [Edinburgh] 02 Feb 1916
MEDITERRANEAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
The following casualties amongst non-commissioned officers and men of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force are reported under various dates:--
WOUNDED.
R.S. Fusiliers, 4th Bat. (T.F.)--Ferguson, 8318, R.

Territorials were renumbered in 1917 as explained here. 311256 Northumberland Fusiliers appears to be 7th Battalion. http://www.1914-1918.net/TF_renumbering_infantry.htm

The Army was renumbered to seven digit numbers in 1920 as explained here. 1914799 is one of the batch allocated to the Royal Engineers. http://www.1914-1918.net/renumbering20.htm

About 65% of WW1 British Army service records were destroyed during WW2 bombing. Surviving records are available at Ancestry.

Rex

[fergie171]

    ALL I CAN SAY IS .....AWSOME....WHERE DO YOU FIND ALL THIS INFO...THAT IS AMAZING.....IVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER A YEAR AND I MANAGED A MEDAL INDEX CARD AND VARIOUS LITTLE SNIPPETS FROM FAMILY...AND YOU GET THIS SO QUICK..... SHOULD CHANGE YOUR NAME TO ORACLE  ..... CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND THE INFO REFERENCE HIM BEING WOUNDED IN FEB 16 .... SORRY FOR BEING A PAIN

[Tyrannosaurus]

Here's the image from The Scotsman 02 Feb 1916. Grab yourself a copy.
http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s445/Tyrannosaurus12/Scotsman02Feb1916Ferguson_zps5e7a778a.jpg

Rex

[millymcb]

Hello Fergie - a belated welcome to Rootschat from me 

I hope your research is progressing well. If you need more help please don't hesitate to post - people like helping and answering questions - especially when it is for a life story as interesting as this.

Milly (Armed Forces Moderator)