Military records / Sarah Gurney.

[carol46]

I've looked up on a ww1 site from Luton about a William Gurney he was in WW1 and died in 1916 I've seen a photo of his grave on the site plus details of where he's burried in Crawley Green Rd Luton. But i'd like to know is there anyone who knows more about this sort of thing. Would there be any chance of finding out what medals he may of obtained. Also would there be any chance in finding a photo of him in some army records. Also i think he could of been in the boar war as think He was 40 when he died and the family lived 1guildford Street Luton. Thankyou

[iluleah]

So is this your man? http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2746128/GURNEY,%20W

[iluleah]

http://www.worldwar1luton.com/individual/corporal-william-gurney

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/4981/royal-engineers/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=first-world-war

Many WW1 records were lost ( burnt) during WW2, so it depends on if this persons records survived or not

[groom]

Possibly this is the same man?

Name:   William Gurney
Age:   19
Birth :   abt 1877
Birth Place:   St Marys, Bedforshire
Service Start Year:   1896
Regiment:   Grenadier Guards
Regimental Number:   5728

[Mean_genie]

Your best chance of finding a photograph would be in a local newspaper; military records don't contain photographs, only a physical description (if the record survives at all). It might be worth looking on Ancestry family trees, someone from another branch of the family might have uploaded a picture in their possession. It's a long shot, but worth a try.

[MaxD]

The Great War man 97201 Cpl Gurney buried in Luton died in the Red Cross Hospital in Newark on 4 October 1916.  His unit was No 8  Depot Royal Engineers.  He left a widow Winnie or Minnie.  He has no medal record which suggests he didn't serve overseas in that war.  There is no detailed service record for him - as iluleah has indicated it was probably among the 70% lost in WW2.  Can't find him in the Boer War records.  Service records didn't have photographs but he may have appeared in a local newspaper?  (Just saw your post mean_genie)

maxD

A William Gurney married a Minnie Wheeldon in Luton dist in 1904

[carol46]

Thankyou i've got details of who he married. It did mention he had 2 medals unknown what they were for. Theres a museum in Luton maybe worth a look in there for photos i suppose.Not come across anyone else reseaching this family before.

[Christine53]

Possibly this is the same man?

Name:   William Gurney
Age:   19
Birth :   abt 1877
Birth Place:   St Marys, Bedforshire
Service Start Year:   1896
Regiment:   Grenadier Guards
Regimental Number:   5728

The record for this man states service from 1896 - 1908 , including a period in South Africa 10.99. - 01.03.
Medals : Queen's South Africa Medal with Clasps - Belmont, Modder River , Dreifontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill and Belfast
              King's S A  Medal with Clasps 1901 and 1902

Next of kin : father , Peter, Albert Road , Luton
                   mother , Annie

[MaxD]

The man that groom tracked down has father Peter, mother Annie and siblings James and Sarah at Albert Road Luton.  Served 1896 to 1903 with the colours including the Boer War where he was awarded two medals.  On the reserve from 1903 to 1908 (classic 7 years plus 5 engagement).  There are a number of books recounting the service of the 2nd  and 3rd Battalion Gren Gds in South Africa.

If the family information ties him to the one who married Minnie In 1904 he would have been in civilian life while on the reserve) then he joined up again to serve only in UK in the Great War in the Royal Engineers.

Well done Christine, crossed in the post but leaving it for small amount of additional info.
maxD