searching for info on WW1 soldier.

[marion.h]

I have found a relative who was in the armed forces during WW1.

I discovered he was in the Royal Army Medical Corps - army number 88918.
I got a copy of his medal  card, however his medal card only has a few details, his name Frank George Bibbs, his rank Private, his army number 88918, and his medal roll J/1/104 B22 page 8203. WO 372/2/133207 – 1914-1920.
There are no details on theatre served in or enlistment or discharge dates.

I cannot find his service record and know that he did not die during the war.

Can anyone offer advise on how I can find out any more details of his service.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Are you aware that around 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed in the Blitz in WW2? The records that survived are on Ancestry.


Nanny Jan

[AMBLY]

This may explain why you are unable to find any more than the medal card:

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/research/military-records/british-soldiers-ww1-service-records.htm
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/service_records/sr_soldiers.htm

Summarising: up to 60% of the WW1 soldiers records were destroyed in WW2 bombings.
Some records, abt 40% did survive wholly or in part - the so called "Burnt Documents.  The papers of Soldiers ranked Private were also much more likely to be amongst the 60% lost than those of the ranked Officers.

Cheers
AMBLY

[jim1]

His medal card doesn't show the 14/15 Star but he does have the rarer Territorial Force Medal.
This means he served at least 4 years prior to the war & had stayed in or rejoined by the outbreak of war & had completed 4 years service & volunteered to serve overseas between 1914-18.
Awarded exclusively to volunteer nursing staff.

[Gwil]

I assume he is the Frank George Bibbs from Pontardawe/Birmingham areas. (as per a Public Tree on Ancestry etc)

The conditions for issue of the Territorial as decribed by Jim can be seen here (scroll down)
http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html
I would say it is highly liklely he was with one of the 'Welsh Field Ambulance' units of the Territorial Force prior to transferring to 'Regular' RAMC.

He was certainly with the Colours in November 1914 as this Roll of Honour shows ( under Tareni Colliery, Godre'r Graig)
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4097923/ART87

He was home sick from France end of 1916 during which time he was presented with a wrist watch by the Church.
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3978711/ART69/frank%20bibbs

He was wounded by shrapnel to the nose in May 1918
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4115886/ART102/frank%20bibbs

I would say that the 88918 number is too high for a 1914 man and that he transferred to 'Regular' RAMC at some stage from his Territorial (TF) unit. This would be before he went overseas otherwise the TF number would be on his medal card. He would have had a number prior to the 88918 number.
If you want to pinpoint the transfer date then look for papers on numbers around it.
E g. In Pensions put 889* in Regimental Number and med* in Regiment and you will get about 6 RAMC men whose numbers start with 889 (ignore those not a 5 digit number) Repeat with 888* , 890* etc.  Bear in mind that his service will not necessarily mirror that of numbers near his in terms of units served.All this excersise does is give an idea of when that number 88918 was allocated.

The Colliery reference might be worth exploring. All told what with the TF RAMC link etc there's a good chance he was in their first aid/rescue teams. Might be worth seeing if the Colliery papers have survived in one of the Glamorgan Archives.
Gwil

[Gwil]

Re the Tareni Colliery angle (and with due apologies if you have already been down this route)

This website might be worth contacting
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamWest/Tareni.htm

There is a thriving Forum linked to the website
http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/forum/index.php

[marion.h]

Given the information here does the uniform in the attached picture support this.

I assume he is the Frank George Bibbs from Pontardawe/Birmingham areas. (as per a Public Tree on Ancestry etc)

The conditions for issue of the Territorial as decribed by Jim can be seen here (scroll down)
http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html
I would say it is highly liklely he was with one of the 'Welsh Field Ambulance' units of the Territorial Force prior to transferring to 'Regular' RAMC.

He was certainly with the Colours in November 1914 as this Roll of Honour shows ( under Tareni Colliery, Godre'r Graig)
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4097923/ART87

He was home sick from France end of 1916 during which time he was presented with a wrist watch by the Church.
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3978711/ART69/frank%20bibbs

He was wounded by shrapnel to the nose in May 1918
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4115886/ART102/frank%20bibbs

I would say that the 88918 number is too high for a 1914 man and that he transferred to 'Regular' RAMC at some stage from his Territorial (TF) unit. This would be before he went overseas otherwise the TF number would be on his medal card. He would have had a number prior to the 88918 number.
If you want to pinpoint the transfer date then look for papers on numbers around it.
E g. In Pensions put 889* in Regimental Number and med* in Regiment and you will get about 6 RAMC men whose numbers start with 889 (ignore those not a 5 digit number) Repeat with 888* , 890* etc.  Bear in mind that his service will not necessarily mirror that of numbers near his in terms of units served.All this excersise does is give an idea of when that number 88918 was allocated.

The Colliery reference might be worth exploring. All told what with the TF RAMC link etc there's a good chance he was in their first aid/rescue teams. Might be worth seeing if the Colliery papers have survived in one of the Glamorgan Archives.
Gwil

[jim1]

It's a bit blurry but it's the right shape.
His insignia indicates RAMC also.

[marion.h]

Please excuse my ignorance but what does being 'with the Colours mean'?

I assume he is the Frank George Bibbs from Pontardawe/Birmingham areas. (as per a Public Tree on Ancestry etc)

The conditions for issue of the Territorial as decribed by Jim can be seen here (scroll down)
http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html
I would say it is highly liklely he was with one of the 'Welsh Field Ambulance' units of the Territorial Force prior to transferring to 'Regular' RAMC.

He was certainly with the Colours in November 1914 as this Roll of Honour shows ( under Tareni Colliery, Godre'r Graig)
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4097923/ART87

He was home sick from France end of 1916 during which time he was presented with a wrist watch by the Church.
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3978711/ART69/frank%20bibbs

He was wounded by shrapnel to the nose in May 1918
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4115886/ART102/frank%20bibbs

I would say that the 88918 number is too high for a 1914 man and that he transferred to 'Regular' RAMC at some stage from his Territorial (TF) unit. This would be before he went overseas otherwise the TF number would be on his medal card. He would have had a number prior to the 88918 number.
If you want to pinpoint the transfer date then look for papers on numbers around it.
E g. In Pensions put 889* in Regimental Number and med* in Regiment and you will get about 6 RAMC men whose numbers start with 889 (ignore those not a 5 digit number) Repeat with 888* , 890* etc.  Bear in mind that his service will not necessarily mirror that of numbers near his in terms of units served.All this excersise does is give an idea of when that number 88918 was allocated.

The Colliery reference might be worth exploring. All told what with the TF RAMC link etc there's a good chance he was in their first aid/rescue teams. Might be worth seeing if the Colliery papers have survived in one of the Glamorgan Archives.
Gwil