William Raymond Batchelor 984 Saergent 7th Essex

[Martin Daley]

Hi trying to find as much as I can about the above individual. He joined up on March 1909 and was invalided out on 08 March 1916. He then stayed as a territorial and appears to have been called up in 1939. If anyone can give me any info individual or battalion level I would be grateful.

[jim1]

I take it you can't find a service record.
From a quick viewing he was awarded the 15 Star for entering the war (2B) on 11/8/15.
2B = Gallipoli.

[Martin Daley]

Hi. Thanks for that. I have an Ancestry family tree and a copy of an entry for Silver Star Medal and the Victory Medal. Saw it said he had been abroad but wasn't sure where. I know 7 Essex became a territorial battalion but unsure what they did in the ww1.
No I haven't got a service record yet. It will be interesting as family lore said he walked out on his family and eventually got kicked out of the army for embezzling MESS funds.

[MaxD]

His service record appears to be among the 70% of Great War records destroyed in the Second World War bombing.
His medal entitlement was the 1914-1915 Star (as Jim says, service at Gallipoli arriving there on 11 Aug 1915), the British War and Victory medals and, as you know, a Silver War Badge having been invalided out in March 1916. 

The 7th Essex became a Territorial Force battalion having been until 1908 a Volunteer battalion  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Battalion,_Essex_Regiment.  The link describes also what they did after Gallipoli.

As there is no service record for him, his service, if any, after invaliding out cannot be established.  Equally, a record for any service in World War Two would still be held by MOD and can be applied for https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview

maxD

[jim1]

Unfortunately the 7th Batt. war diary hasn't yet been digitalised.
You can request a copy but I doubt it will be cheap.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7357902

[Martin Daley]

Thank you guys. All very helpful. Turns out world events have helped his desire to hide as he was a slippery fellow. Think it was sAid he lived under an alias in the late 30s ha ha

[MaxD]

The National Archives own records are out of date!  They have in fact digitised the 1/7th Essex Gallipoli diary (I've been in touch with jim1).  You would need to contact Kew direct about it because their record as it stands doesn't give you the ability to download it for £3.45 like all others. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7357902 covers Gallipoli.
It is on Ancestry if you have a sub at http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/60380/42871_1831101456_11764-00001?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d60380%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing  otherwise send me a PM with your direct email.

maxD

[Martin Daley]

Excellent Thank you MaxD