Genealogy Chat

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice on finding service records for someone who fought in WW1. I posted a thread yesterday but nothing could be found on my rellie. I was given the address to send off for records. Is there another way to get this information??

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Julie

Hi Julie

I didn't read your thread, but as I understand it many of the WW1 records were burnt. There would not be any way of getting them if that happened to your relative's.

Julie

Post up a few details here and I or someone else will have a look for you.

Give as much information as you have - there are a lot of soldiers listed with the same name so any help to narrow them down does help!

Thanks Petrina

What a shame.

Thanks Snowdrops

Thomas Ellis Edward How born 1898 in Durham
Durham Light Infantry Regiment No. 39460
Leinster Regiment No. 15237
I have his medal card.

He married Ethel Stobbart
Died in 1980

Try Snowdrop's suggestion. I'll have a look for you later, but the builders are calling for tea!

Parents name Alfred How and Isabella Ogle.... if that helps at all Snowdrops

Ok Petrina.
Thank You

Julie

I've had a good look through all the possible records for 'How' on both the pension and service records and cannot find anyone with those details.

Have tried looking on CWGC but I'm not able to access it for some strange reason - is anyone else able to have a look?

Thanks for looking Snowdrops.
It is possible How may have been spelt Howe...i know the e was dropped previously.

Julie

I covered that too Julie - even looking at the possible use of oneof his middle names as his first name - nothing came up to match him I'm afraid.

Kim

Thanks for trying Kim.
I'm off to work now but will check back later.

Julie

If he might have stayed in the Army after 1922, his records would still be with MOD.

Hi Snowdrops

Can you tell me what CWGC stands for please?

Thanks

Hi Tetley,

CWGC stands for Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Hollyd

Tetley

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a database of men who died during the period of the Great War (which includes dates up to 1921).

If you have a relative who died (or need to check if they died) you can log in their details (as much as you know about) and their database will tell you when they died and where they are buried (or commemorated if they have no known grave).

They can often tell you how old the man was and who his parents were - but this isn't always the case so it's taken as an added bonus.

You can google for the address using the acronym cwgc and take it from there (it's also an extremely interesting website for anyone interested in knowing more about WWI)

Kim

CWGC also covers Second World War so if you lost a relative in that this too is the place to look

Thanks Sarah I will try that.

Ann, I believe he left the army after the war but maybe worth a try anyway.

Julie

Didn't you say he died in 1980? His record wouldn't be with the CWGC in that case.
There is a very useful link on medal cards given on here somewhere and it seems not all the records are on Ancestry yet.

I have a copy of his medal card........given to me by his son (my gf brother) but it doesn't say a lot just the corps he was in, the medals and that he was a private.

I will keep looking Petrina.....you never know what tomorrow will bring.