Can’t find Great Grandfather

[CES-genealogy]

I can’t find any records for my Great Grandfather in either wars.

He was Arthur Ernest Swain 1896 fromGrantham Lincolnshire.

Parents were John and Grace.

[nanny jan]

WW2 records are still with the MOD. Do you know if he was in any of the services?

Around 70% of WW1 records were destroyed in the Blitz in WW2.

[groom]

It could be that his WW1 records are amongst the burnt documents lost in September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store. Approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers' documents for the First World War were destroyed.

[philipsearching]

What do you know of him after his birth?

Have you found him on the 1911 census or the 1939 register?  Do you know when he married and when he died?

If you can find location and occupation this could point towards possible military activity.  Also, there might be press notices of marriage or death with mini-biographies.

Philip

[carol8353]

His death in June 1/4 of 1982 gives his DOB as 1st April 1896.

There is an A E Swain with a DOB of 1st April 1895,with a service number 1981833 in the UK military discharges list on Ancestry.

[philipsearching]

His death in June 1/4 of 1982 gives his DOB as 1st April 1896.

There is an A E Swain with a DOB of 1st April 1895,with a service number 1981833 in the UK military discharges list on Ancestry.

Carol - you star!  When was he discharged?

[jim1]

1981833 indicates still in post 1920 so docs. with MOD. It will cost £30 + a long wait.

[philipsearching]

The National Archive Medal Index Cards have:
Arthur Swain
pte 4018 East Kent Regt
gunner 186410 RGA
pte 168 Cyclist Corps
pte 330793 Royal Warwickshire Regt
pte 37522 East Surrey Regt
pte 28353 The Queen's Regt
pte 80108 RAMC
pte 241814 The Queen's Regt
pte 12768 Norfolk Regt
gunner 43134 RFA
pte 57729 Machine Gun Corps
pte 367337 ASC
lance corp 17712 York & Lancs Regt - also corp 533552 Labour Corps
pte 35165 East Surrey Regt
pte 94401 Notts & Derbys Regt
pte 13899 Bedfordshire Regt
pte 18/1453 Royal Irish Rifles
pte 32397 RAMC
pte 26210 Coldstream Guards
Arthur E Swain
pte 6677 South Staffs Regt
pte M2/131169 ASC
pte 70088 Cheshire Regt
- these soldiers are not listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, so are .likely to have survived the war.

CWGC also has:
Arthur Swain
pte 75465 Royal Fusiliers (d 1918)
lance corp L/15618 Middlesex Regt (d 1916)
pte 32637 Essex Regt (d 1917)
pte 8350 Lincolnshire Regt (d 1914)
acting sgt 18552 Notts & Derbys Regt (d 1916)
pte 18365 Royal Berkshire Regt (d 1915)

So it seems there are 22 potentials on the Medal Index Cards to investigate.  jim1's post on the service number is well worth thinking about, but a first step would be to check the names above for surviving records to see if they mention birth date or next of kin.


Philip

[[Ray]]

Review time?

I don't see the logic of this.

How did we get to A E Swain b189x with no proof/refs?

Why do we not have any agreed [ by c15wol / certs ]  refs fo any major point in his life?

Why do we assume that he served in any war? He may have valid exemptions.



Ray