WW1 Possible family member - help!

[DACH]

Hi
I have recently come across a WW1 and later soldier who may be related;

A 'Driver' LR HEATH Royal Artillery. Service number is L-40655

He later had the number 293021

Any help greatly appreciated

Ted

[ev]

Hi Ted ,

There is a Medal Card with those numbers for a Leonard R Heath , also another number Royal Field Artillery 1046082 driver.


ev

[DACH]

Hi Ev

Leonard, great. He should be entitled to a WW1 pair i think?

The other number was dug up by a friend (he couldn't find the WW1) and although the rank, and initials are the same the numbers dont match. Not sure why a new number was issued to him, later restructuring and formalisation?

Ted

[ev]

Is it Leonard Robert Heath ?
Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942 , event 1919 , born 1898(FindMyPast).


ev

[MaxD]

All three numbers are on the same medal card (National Archives) and are the same man.  His L/ number indicates he was in a Territorial Force unit, ie not a regular.  In 1917 the TF were renumbered hence the second number.  His third number was his 1919 signing on for 3 years service which finished in 1922.  He was born 1901/1902 East Ham, father William R Heath, on discharge went to South Lambeth.

MaxD

[DACH]

Ev,
Not sure of full name!?


MaxD,
I was aware that TF numbers were restructured to but not that it was preceded with an L. My GF was TF but simply had a 5 digit number! Thanks.

I have a strand of the family in East London - just need to join the dots
Ted

[DACH]

Thanks both;)

[MaxD]

For clarity - I should have said that his L/ prefix, because he was in the Royal Artillery, indicated a locally raised (hence TF) unit.  L/ had other connotations, best explained here:http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/p/number-prefixes.html. Thus, as with your GF, many many TF did not have the L/prefix.



MaxD

[DACH]

Thanks i thought as much;)

I'll take a read