Returned Medals

[Nick Williams]

Hi, just found this forum, and I am hoping someone can answer a few questions for me. I have been researching my family tree, and have found two Great Uncles( Brothers) who served with the 10th Battalion SWB. Thomas and William Reed. Thomas was killed at Mametz Wood, but William survived the war and was discharged on 13/1/19. Now I can find no trace of him after that date. On his medal card, it says medals returned, 16/8/23. Is this date a long time after they were issued? If so, is it likely he returned them himself? Is there a way of finding out the reason for the return, Army code number etc? The numbers, 1743 (12) and C R V 291/P, 1842/ Aat or Aut, appear on his card. One other interesting thing. On his Army Roll Card, he is named as Charles Ewart Reed, when his name was William Hewitt Reed. Service no20893. I can't work that out, he was 19 when he joined up inDecember 15. Many Thanks, Nick.

[jim1]

The jargon C R V 291/P, 1842/ Aat or Aut,is the return voucher number. They may have been returned for correction or he may have moved house & not forwarded his address.

[MaxD]

The SWB soldier with the number 20893 was Charles Ewart Reed and is the only Reed with that service number.
That leads to suggesting that your William H Reed is not 20893 but another man.  There is one medal card for William H Reed (no middle name given) who served with the SWB and a number of other regiments besides.  There are William Reeds (no middle initial) in the SWB.  Do you have other information that says your William H has the service number you quote?

maxD

[Nick Williams]

I was given information from another source that this was my man, but I could be chasing the wrong chap. I have a photo of my William H Reed from a Welsh newspaper, which says. Drummer W H Reed, son of William Reed, 56 Princess St, Abertillery. Enlisted in the SWB, January 1915 and has been in France since November of that year. I know this is the correct man. But I now realize, the dates don't match the Charles Ewart Reed. 3/12/15. Any help much appreciated.

[jim1]

Have to say I was thinking along the same lines as Max. If he went overseas Nov. 1915 he will be a 15 Star recipient which narrows it slightly.
did he survive ?
I can see just two candidates however neither went overseas in Nov. 1915.
21034 William H L/Cpl. KIA 1916. Went overseas 3/12/15
Effects to Mother Martha & Mrs. Susan Reed.
Does this ring any bells ?
The other is 14533 Sgt. William Reed (no middle initial) went overseas 23/9/15.
Born 1880 & gave this address:
Westhall House, Courty Ville Terrace, Norport Mon.
NOK George Reed.

[MaxD]

I have not (yet) been able to find a William H Reed SWB who went to France in late 1915 (and thus would have a 1914-15 Star) and who survived the war.

Some of the SWB battalions had secondary titles (Brecknock, Gwent) do any of these figure anywhere? 


maxD

Crossed in the post again Jim

[Nick Williams]

Basically, all I know is from the information from the photo. Neither of the two men you have found is correct. He was born in Abertillery in 1896. Father, William Reed, Mother, Mary Ann Reed. I will have to find the info that made us come to the conclusion he became Charles Ewart Reed. Sorry, I thought this was going to be a simple question!!

[Nick Williams]

OK, gone through all my old emails, and found the one that gave me the info. Absent voters list of Abertillery 1918/19. William Hewitt Reed, Drummer, SWB, no20893, 56, Princess St, Abertillery. This makes him Charles Hewitt Reed! Confusing eh.

[MaxD]

The dates you gave originally do fit 20893 Charles Ewart Reed, to France 3 Dec 1915, discharged 13 Jan 19.  Served in the 10th battalion SWB. The first name differs and the middle one sounds the same but why or how can only be speculation, perhaps the returned medals were looking for Charles and din't find him because he was William or vice versa!  Interesting that Ancestry cross references from the military record to to William Hewitt Reed in the 1911 census at 56 Princess Street.

Nothing wrong though with you accepting he is "yours" despite the confusion of names.

maxD