Looking for 2 G'fathers army records

[Abiam2]

Hi,

I am trying to find out more about my two Grandfathers.

1. Joseph Leonard Dobson born 1858 in Hungerford Berkshire.
   He joined the King's Own Royal Lancashire Regiment aged about 17 until about 1865.  I think he served in Ireland, India and was wounded at the Battle of Conference Hill in South Africa.

2. Ernest John Wyse born 1879 in Maidenhead Berkshire.
    He joined the Oxford and Bucks Regiment
    I have an old postcard written by his wife with this address:

   No 3 (could be a 7) 727 Sergeant E J Wyse
   C Comp 83rd Prov Battalion
   L?nn Farm Camp
   East Mersea
   Essex

  Unfortunately the stamp has gone and there is no postmark to give me a date.  I have no idea when he joined up or was demobbed or if he served in any war.   He contracted TB was treated at Peppard Sanatorium near Henley and died at home (I think) in 1930 aged only 51.  I'm told he did quite well in the army considering he had a fairly poor start in life.

That is all I have, I feel this may be difficult to find but live in hope,
Regards, Abiam

[neil1821]

I think I have Dobson on the medal roll for the Zulu War:

1636 Pte J.Dobson, 2/4th Regt
There were very few casualties in the war from this particular regiment, and Dobson isn't listed among them.

His service record should be at Kew. Here are a few links you may find useful:
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/004KORR.htm
http://www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com/19thcent.htm
http://www.redcoat.info/sasdl2.htm

Neil

[Abiam2]

THANKS FOR THAT NEIL.  I'LL TRY THOSE LINKS.
REGARDS, ABIAM

[forester]

Hello Abiam,

This could be Ernest's WW1 medal index card

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6246176&queryType=1&resultcount=2

Phil

[Abiam2]

HI PHIL,

THANK YOU.  I HAVE DOWNLOADED THE INFO FROM THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.  I WONDER WOULD HE HAVE VOLUNTEERED OR BEEN CALLED UP IN 1914?  CALLED UP I IMAGINE.  AND IF I WERE TO BUY THE IMAGE FILE WOULD THERE BE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION?  FOR EXAMPLE WHERE DID HE SERVE?  AND WHAT DOES A MEDAL CARD MEAN?

WOULD HIS UNIFORM FIT WITH THE DETAILS YOU FOUND?  ALSO I WAS READING ABOUT THE BLACK BUTTON ON THE JACKET THAT SOMEONE THOUGHT WAS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR A BROTHER KILLED IN WAR.  THE OTHER EXPLANATION WAS THAT IT WAS COVERED TO PROTECT THE BRASS OF THE BUTTON FROM THE WEATHER WHEN A CAPE WAS ATTACHED. 
WHAT DO YOU THINK (OR KNOW)?  I PREFER THE FIRST BUT IMAGINE IT IS THE SECOND.

THANK YOU AGAIN,
ABIAM 
PS. I THINK I'VE ATTACHED A PHOTO ALTHOUGH YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL IT'S GONE!

[forester]

Abiam,

An expert on WW1, I am not.

There will be little additional information on the MIC, unless you are lucky.  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp will give you a general explanation.

 I believe that the 6 figure service number will mean that he did not serve overseas prior to re-numbering in 1917, although he could still have been on home service throughout.

I have also heard of the black button denoting the loss of a close member of the family, but not I've not heard the second one before.
The photo may hold some clues, but I'll definitely that to the experts.

Phil

[Abiam2]

Phil,

Thank you for your thoughts.  I will go to the link and see what else I can discover. 

Regards, Abiam

[Abiam2]

Phil,
I have now got Ernest J Wyse medal roll card.  I would like to find out where and when he served if this is possible.  And do you or anyone else know where East Mersea , Essex is?  He was definitely serving there at sometime.

I am completely stumped and any advice would be much appreciated, where do I go from here?
Regards, Abiam

[forester]

Hello Abiam,

East Mersea is south of Colchester. Just put Mersea into multimap and you'll find it. I can't find a L?nn Farm, but there is a Fen Farm, which is a (holiday) campsite.

Regards,
Phil