Genealogy Chat

Hi all.
I don't subscribe to Ancestry.co.uk and wondered whether any kind soul could have a look at the Military records for WW1 for me. My grandfather served in the Royal Engineers in the Anglo Boer War as well as WW1 but I, unfortunately do not have his service number. Not being sure what sort of information the Military Records will show, I can only use the personal information I have for him, as follows:
EDWARD THOMAS COLLINS
Born Brighton 10 March 1879
Parents:
WILLIAM HENRY COLLINS and ELLEN HARMAN
They lived at 62 Hanover Street, Brighton and later at 33 Maysoule Road, Battersea, Wandsworth.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Best regards
JOAN

There are only a limited number of WW1 military records on Ancestry.

Nothing on the Pensions list for Edward Thomas Collins

Nor on the Service records, for one whose details match your criteria.

His medal card (if relevant) should be on the National Archives site.........

Reg

Hello Joan, I have had a look for you. So far the only Edward Thomas Collins of about the right age enlisted in Battersea and his wife is called Rosina Collins nee Dodd.

have you looked on The National Archives site for medal cards?
Jennifer

Thanks Reg & Belle for getting back to me.
I must regrettably admit that I'm useless on the National Archives site and plain and simply just don't get anywhere ! Think perhaps I am not conducting my searches properly and have never learnt to master the site.
Belle, his family did move from Brighton to Battersea and I've picked him up on the 1901 Census at the Royal Engineers base at Gillingham, Kent, but they reflect him as age 20. He should have been 21 going on 22 then I would think. When he was in SA in the Anglo Boer War he sent for my Brighton born grandmother, Matilda Grace Maynard, and they married in Port Natal, RSA on her arrival. Edward took his discharge in SA but re-enlisted with the Royal Engineers on the onset of WW1 and was sent to France. He never returned to SA and a story passed down in the family was that one of his colleagues had told my gran that he had met a girl in France, deserted from the armed forces and they subsequently had twins. I can also not locate any death record for him in the UK and assume that he remained in France ??? This is the family mystery and I'm so eager to find some records for him to sort that out.
Thanks again for helping.
Kind regards
Joan

Joan, I had a look on the Nat Archives site and there is just 1 Edward T Collins/Royal Engineers. It would cost you £3.50 to download the medal card.

Description Medal card of Collins, Edward T
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Engineers WR/314199 Sapper
Royal Engineers 305755 Sapper

Date 1914-1920
Catalogue reference WO 372/4
Dept Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies
Series War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War
Piece Campbell H - Cooke W E
Image contains 1 medal card of many for this collection


Number of image files: 1


Image Reference Format and Version Part Number Size (KB) Number of Pages Price (£)
922367 / 35607 PDF 1.2 1 334 1 3.50
Total Price (£) 3.50


I can show you how to find it if you get back to me

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer
Thanks so much for what you have found. Really appreciated. I would love you to show me how to go about this myself as I've had absolutely not luck whatsoever with that site.
Thanks again
Joan

Hi Jennifer
Forgot to ask why he would have two service numbers. Any thoughts on this
Kind regards
Joan

Joan, just come onto GR. I can't be sure thta this is your man on the Archives site, it's just the same name. Also he is a Sapper which is the lowest rank (private) and I think in 1901 when I found him on the census he was L/Cpl.

I'll send you a PM with details of how to find him. The Archive site is not the easiest to navigate, it took me ages to work it out.

Jennifer