Looking for a fresh pair of eyes on finding info about my great grandfather

[deetur]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Association
Here is some information about the “China Association”. One wonders if there was a family connection which helped Joseph gain a position there?
Their archives are lodged with the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. I wonder if they might have any records for the name Balmer or Twigg.

Thanks, will definitely reach out to them and ask. 🙂

[deetur]

I have already seen that military record that you found on Family Search. It has not been transcribed correctly. It is the same that you see on Ancestry. On the original document the number 17652 has been crossed through and the correct service number is 19182. (Just some clerical slip up at time of attestation). There is no mention of Carlisle. The addresses given are Joseph's at 99 Cannon st, and his brother at 21 Mereman st De Beers, Kimberley.

It does seem that Joseph resigned his post in China at the outbreak of the war and headed 'home' to sign up to fight. Why he then deserted 8 months later is curious.
My other thought is that he may not have been completely truthful about his age when he attested - perhaps wanted to appear either younger / or older than he actually was?

He attested for the 10th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion was in Aylesbury training from Nov 1914 to May 1915, and then returned to Halton Park (Buckinghamshire) for a couple of months. Joseph deserted just before the battalion left for Witley camp (Surrey) in preparation for proceeding to France.
A little information here.
https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6225

Thanks for clearing that up, I thought perhaps the cross out might have been an error or perhaps a previous number but seeing it with that number confirmed that it's not any different so one less thing to look at, thanks.

I wonder whether the fact my great grandmother was pregnant in 1915 with Joseph's child as they were having an affair had anything to do with him deserting. Guess that's something we'll never know. The child was born in the December if that year.

[deetur]

Doesn't offer anything new, but have just found in a list of volunteers who have "come home from China to enlist" Supplied by the Secretary of the China Association (who were at 99 Cannon St).

"Pte. D Twigg-Balmer 10th Yorkshire Regt., Aylesbury, Bucks."

Someone's error of "D" - I'm assuming this is Joseph.
14 May 1915
Publication:  North China Daily News Online

Can't see any other mentions of him in North China Daily News

Excellent, thanks 🙏🏻

[deetur]

Wonder if this is linked at all... we have Mason records of him being in India around 1908-1910. His brother James died in Rangoon in 1921.

Name   Joseph Balmer
Service Date   1920-1935
Service Place   India
Campaign or Service   India
Regiment or Unit Name   2/4th Battalion The Border Regiment
Regimental Number   200642

[deetur]

Name   J H Balmer
Gender   Male
Departure Age   46
Birth Date   abt 1873
Departure Date   31 Jul 1919
Departure Port   England
Ship Name   Gloucestershire
Shipping Line   Bibby Line
Search Ship Database   
Destination Port   Rangoon, Burma
Master   E Robin

[jonwarrn]

Hi, don't know whether you have it, there is also a freemasons entry for Joseph Turigg Balmes (Madras)

It seems that the existence of Mr Twigg Balmer or the two Twigg Balmers can only be verified from 1904 to 1921

Some questions!
Who registered the birth of your grandmother, Joseph or Elizabeth?
Do we have Joseph's last known outward voyage from the UK, presumably circa 1919?

And (sorry to harp on about him!), do you have the birthdate of Joseph Twigg from Frizington (the SA one)

[jonwarrn]

Name   J H Balmer
Gender   Male
Departure Age   46
Birth Date   abt 1873
Departure Date   31 Jul 1919
Departure Port   England
Ship Name   Gloucestershire
Shipping Line   Bibby Line
Search Ship Database   
Destination Port   Rangoon, Burma
Master   E Robin

Isn't that where James died in 1921?

[deetur]

Hi, don't know whether you have it, there is also a freemasons entry for Joseph Turigg Balmes (Madras)

It seems that the existence of Mr Twigg Balmer or the two Twigg Balmers can only be verified from 1904 to 1921

Some questions!
Who registered the birth of your grandmother, Joseph or Elizabeth?
Do we have Joseph's last known outward voyage from the UK, presumably circa 1919?

And (sorry to harp on about him!), do you have the birthdate of Joseph Twigg from Frizington (the SA one)

Thank you, yes I have that freemason record 😊. I think there are three entries for Twigg Balmer for the freemasons.

Absolutely, the first record (that I've managed to find so far) that mentions Twigg Balmer is the 1904 journey from England to SA.

We have a 1917 from England to Nigeria.
I have reference to him via the newspaper articles highlighted here in Penang in 1920.
We have the potential one to Rangoon in 1919 (although that could be James).

I'll just check the other records to see whether I have anything

It appears it was Joseph who registered my grandmother's birth.

Birth date of the Joseph Twigg who's parents were William and Mary is 6th August 1882, Parkgate, Frizington.

[deetur]

Name   J H Balmer
Gender   Male
Departure Age   46
Birth Date   abt 1873
Departure Date   31 Jul 1919
Departure Port   England
Ship Name   Gloucestershire
Shipping Line   Bibby Line
Search Ship Database   
Destination Port   Rangoon, Burma
Master   E Robin

Isn't that where James died in 1921?

Correct, it was yes.