private j parkins north staffordshire reg, k.i.a 1916 previous army nr please

[gw0mow]

help needed  please    my grans sister , was married to private john parkins,  nr 7542 north staffs regiment, he was killed  in france 26 nov 1916 he was with the bef   and a local south wales newspaper  said he was a reservist at outbreak of the war  and had seen service in india and Africa, I have tried to find his earlier army records   but no success,     census 1911  he was living with wife and child in  nelson Glamorgan    it says born abt 1885 Oldham lancs    at present I have not been able to spot him on the 1891 and 1901 census    poss in army overseas 1901 ?   any help and advice appreciated  john

[MaxD]

His service number suggests he joined the 1st Bn as a regular soldier in 1904/05 (credit Army Service Numbers blogspot).  His medal card has no other number on it which it usually has if there was another one.  The 1st Bn was in India but returned to UK in 1903..
His sole legatee was one George Jenkins (presumably related to wife Eliza nee Jenkins?). Haven't been able to find any other records.
1901 has a Jno F Parkins born 1885 place of birth Saddleworth which Wiki tells me is a parish of Oldham.

Hope this helps?

maxD

[km1971]

Hi John

The 1st and 2nd Battalions were Regulars and shared the same numbering system. Regulars enlisted for 12 years. After initial training at the Depot in Lichfield recruits would be transferred to either the 1st or 2nd Battalion.  He would have served seven years in uniform followed by the balance in the Army Reserve. Reservists were recalled at the start of WW1 and were transferred to which ever battalion was serving at Home at the time. This was the 1st, but it does not mean he served with the 1st Bn in his first spell. In fact the 2nd Bn were in India from 1903 to 1914. Neither battalion served in Africa.

This could be him -
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1911wales&gss=angs-d&new=1&rank=1&msT=1&gsfn=john&gsfn_x=1&gsln=parkins&gsln_x=1&MSAV=1&uidh=e13&pcat=1911UKI&fh=1&h=524274&recoff=&ml_rpos=2&hovR=1 – you will need a subscription. Against this is the fact it seems he did not have his wife as a beneficiary.

Reservists did not normally record the fact on census, BMDs etc as they only served two weeks a year in exchange for half-pay.

Ken

[gw0mow]

to max D and km 1971  dear max and ken  thanks both for your help, 

[km1971]

I miss-read it. I see you already have him in 1911.

Ken

[MaxD]

You are very welcome - should have spotted the later John F !!

maxD

[gw0mow]

help needed  please     private john parkins,  nr 7542 north staffs regiment,  was killed  in france 26 nov 1916 he was with the bef    a local south wales newspaper  said he was a reservist at outbreak of the war  and had seen service in india and Africa, I have tried to find his earlier army records   but no success,     census 1911  he was living with wife and child in   Glamorgan    it says born abt 1885 Oldham lancs    at present I have not been able to spot him on the 1891 and 1901 census    poss in army overseas 1901 ?   any help and advice appreciated  john

    completed  thank you