Genealogy Chat

i found my grandads army medal card and it had a former number on it, so i looked up the former number under his name and nothing came, i eventually put in just the number and it comes up with the correct number but it has two people of different names-why? i'm really confused, did he change his name or something?

How meny numbers were there . If less than 5 or more than 6 its unlikele to be a services Number so could be just an index and there are 2 men on that page or card. If not (but unlikely) could be 2 different servises Army - RAF/Navy

his original number was K1036777 he got general service medal and clasp iraq and he was in the royal horse artillery and it says on medal card former number 257727 there are 6 other people on the same medal card page, does that shed any light on it?

As far as I know, service numbers do not have a letter in them. At least UK ones. I think you will find that 257727 is his Service number. The K1036777 looks like a ref No. My own Army No. from the 1970s was only 8 numbers long so the K No. can not be from WW2. as service numbers go up in numerical order (100. 101. 102. and so on) That would of put that No. in the 1960s working backwards from mine.

been on national archives site looking for him under 257727 but nothing comes up, have some of the army records not been done yet? the number comes up on its own but it's the wrong names i'm after harold william knight

If you go to this site it might help it explains about Army numbers. So that you know what to look for, there is a list of service numbers at the bottom of the article, but the whole thing explains the numbering systuem. (sorry about that, computer whent mad on me) heres the web site, www.purley.*demon.*co.*uk/1-rbr/g1473njmb.htm remove*

How meny numbers were there . If less than 5 or more than 6 its unlikele to be a services Number so could be just an index and there are 2 men on that page or card. If not (but unlikely) could be 2 different servises Army - RAF/Navy I have come across many four digit WWI service numbers, I even think I have seen three digit numbers. I have a list of 1920 service numbers and they go up to eight digits, can't remember how long WWI numbers were but will look at some tonight. MB

I have E-mailed the MOD to see if they can help. I will get back to you.

Mandy It is possible that there is a mistake on nos. particularly for the Second World War. I looked for my father's service record in TNA a few years ago as he had joined the Navy in 1919 and the number given for my father in the Index was actually assigned to someone totally diiferent. I aked people at TNA to help me but they were mystified. I eventually wrote to the MOD to obtain his 2 W War record and then discovered another number which also turned out to be wrong. When I finally got his medal entitlement they then told me the correct number which did actually coincide with a number given on a sibling birth certificate. I do now have the correct number but I would say that in the heat of a wartime situation going on for 6 years as did the 2 W War, that this sort of mistake is quite easy to happen. Janet

thank you all very much for your help, if you come up with the answer please feel free to email me direct. living relatives are sometimes a mystery but the ones that have already passed away are even worse!!!

Up until the 1920's, regimental numbers did not follow a serviceman if he was transferred between Regiments or Corps, even Battalions. Therefore it is quite possible that the same number could have been issued to different people in different units. It was quite possible for a serviceman to have two, three or even more numbers. There was quite often a letter with some depending on Corps etc, but the reason for it escapes me for the moment. Paul

i wondered if i applied for his army records under the 1036777 number which i have a medal card for if that would shed any light on the mysterious former number? anyone know how much info i would gain by getting his records?

That depends on what year we are talking about. WW2 will give you lots. postings, injurys, charges (If any) things like that WW1 Lots of the records for this war where lost in bombings in WW2. If its ferther back than that I'm not shore but they seem to get less info the ferther back you go.

i'm pretty sure it was between the years 1914-1920

You should get some thing of intrest by getting them. But as I said above A lot of records from that time where destroyed (or badly damaged). So its pot luck if your relles servived or not. Have you tryed this site. theres a chance you might find him on it. www.ww1photos.*com/index.html remove the *

yes i have had a look at the photos, he's not there but i did get to see the uniform he would have worn as a driver in the royal horse artillery so it was very interesting

Try the BritRegiments group on Y A H O O. Some people there with lots of knowledge of the British Army. http://groups.y a h o o.*com/group/britregiments/ MB This is ridiculous, GenesReunited censors any reference to Y a h o o and corrupts the URL by truncating it where that word appears.

Hi Mandy Like you I too am researching WW1 war records. My father-in-law was in both the Boer War & WW1 for which we have his service medals. He too was a Driver in the Royal Field(Horse)Artillery. If you are able to obtain your grandfathers service medal you will find an inscription on the rim i.e. Number-DVR Name-R.A. Hope this helps wish I knew more but I will follow your thread as more expert advice comes in. Goodluck, JudyNZ

so far as i know you can't get the actual medal-please tell me if i'm wrong

Hi Mandy All servicemen(Army,Navy & Air Force)who Served oversea 1914-1920 were awarded the British War Medal and those who also served in a theatre of war 1914-1919 received the Victory Medal.I am not sure where you could get info re obtaining medals as my father-in-law left his to us, however we'll keep looking for you. Meantime two sites worth looking at are www(.)1914-1918(.)net and www(.)british- genealogy(.)com/forums Goodluck, JudyNZ