Great Grandad Medal Card

[Kevin Malley]

Thanks for that Comberton  looks like I have the wrong medal card

He was definitely born in Greenock 1892

[ShaunJ]

Birth of John Bresland in Derry 18 September 1888 (not 1887) (number 183):

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1888/02496/1925695.pdf

[jim1]

The Medal Roll shows just 1 John Bresland which is the above.
He went on to serve up until 1924.
It looks like your man didn't volunteer or was never sent overseas
so wouldn't qualify for campaign Medals.

[Kevin Malley]

Yes it's pretty clear it's not my Great Grandads medal card, thanks for help.
Looking over family certs he was present at his Father's and Mother's deaths in 1915 and 1918 in Greenock. So that suggests he wasn't overseas, like you said.
On his mother's obituary it does say he was a soldier however and he met and married my Great Gran in Frizington, Cumberland. So he may of been in Cumberland as part of his duties.
Need to look into that more. Maybe a home guard or reserve training going on in Cumberland

[Kevin Malley]

Hello again,
Spoke with my mum and she says he was a soldier and he was based in barracks near Cleater Moor but unfortunately thats all she knows. Looking like he was possibly involved something in that area during the war

[AllanUK]

Hello again,
Spoke with my mum and she says he was a soldier and he was based in barracks near Cleater Moor

As far as I can make out there wasn't any Army barracks in or near to Cleator Moor during the Great War. However, there was a Prisoner of War Camp holding between two and three hundred German prisoners. The camp was situated at Rowrah some four miles from Cleator Moor. The camp was run by soldiers of the South Wales Borderers. I know that your great grandfather was born in Greenock and you may think that he wouldn't be in a Welsh regiment but from 1916 onwards, men were placed wherever the Army needed them. It is also possible that he wasn't deemed fit for service overseas hence him being stationed in the UK.

[jim1]

There was a POW camp near Cleator Moor.
you beat me to it.

[Kevin Malley]

Hi

Yes I noticed that Google searching that there was a POW camp in that area. That's interesting maybe he was there. He was a very short man(looking at pics)and died in his 40s of heart condition so maybe wasn't fit to fight abroad. Prison guard may have been a way of contributing. Was there height restrictions with recruitment at the time

[jim1]

At the outbreak of war there was a 5' 3" minimum height which was soon discarded
by the introduction of Bantam Btns. so height wasn't a bar to joining, health was.
The classifications were A1 & B1-5.
B3-5 were suitable for home service only.