George Ritson 1890-1954

[Gwil]

I can make a case that he was Regular Army man with Lanc Fusiliers. Bear with me whilst I gather the info.

Was his date of birth 4 8 1896?

[John Ritson]

Thanks Gwil, This is all new to me and I like your nice detective work with the service numbers. I suspect he took the Education with the hope of promotion but as things wound down and he was transferred to the reserves on 5th March 1919 it wasn't to be. I have a couple of interesting documents. (1) a Duty certificate with another number 2304555 with the Rank of Signalman, Unit-F comp.Signal Training centre Royal Corps Signals covering 27th March 1921 to 10th june 1921 and transferred to the reserves that date. 92) a Memorandum from the army pay office saying his service will expire 26th March 1929. (He was married in 1923)

[Gwil]

Ken has indicated either on this thread or the other one that he enlisted in the Militia 16 1 1908 as 3133. His age was given as 18 yrs (no months)

His record reads

5th Bn Attested 13 1 1908
Joined Depot 17 1 1908 - 5 3 1908 (49 days)
Joined Lanc Fus 6 3 1908

Going to Paul Nixons excellent Army numbering site

http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/lancashire-fusiliers-regular.html

1305 joined on 19th August 1907
1486 joined on 11th May 1908
1793 joined on 2nd January 1909
2015 joined on 8th February 1910

Therefore 1400 looks a nice fit for March 1908 I'd say.

(Read the blog to understand why such a low number was allocated in 1908. They had had to start all over again from 1 in about 1903)

{ Whilst I remember , where is he in the 1911 census?  Should be in a barracks somewhere.   }

Him being a Regular Army man explains why he went to France within a couple of weeks of outset of war.

Him being a Regular Army man explains this quote of yours
" His discharge certificate says that he served 11 years and 1 month with the colours and 11 months with the reserve. "

That is to say, in 1908 he'd have signed up for 12 years (5 with colours, 7 with Reserves or is it the other way round) The war of course interferred with his time on Reserves if indeed he went into Reserves


The reason I asked about his date of birth was because there is a G Ritson with the date of birth 4 8 1896 and an RE post war number in the list of files held at the MoD. I now realise it cannot be your George not least because he'd have been 8 yrs old enlisting in 1908!

[Gwil]

Ah, I see that you have his post 1920 number.

 The one I'd seen was 1926360.

I see that that number of yours is in the block allocated to RE Engineers.

Have a read of this regarding the 1920 Army renumbering excercise.
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/new-british-army-numbers-issued-in-1920/

I can't see that number in the aforementioned list but it may be well worth your while seeing if the MoD have his file. You might drop lucky and the WW1 stuff showing his movements will be with them. It takes time I'm told (some say about 12 months)
Here's the link (scroll to relevant section)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

[John Ritson]

George Ritson was born 29th December 1890 this means he joined the regiment when he was 17 years 4 months. I suppose he lied about his age. I can't find him in the 1911 census using Find my past, ancestry.com and other sites.

[km1971]

As Gwil says he went to France while with the Lancashire Fusiliers. Also, six digit numbers were not issued until  March 1917.

Ken

[John Ritson]

On the back of the photograph my father has written-"my Dad after his battalion was wiped out" I know this may be an inaccurate statement but any comments would be welcome.

[jim1]

Probably correct.
Can you ascertain from the back whether to photo was taken in the UK or France ?

[John Ritson]

It says Carte Postale so it must be France