Trying to find

[lrashford]

Hi!
My father gave me this medal which he said belonged to his great grandfather. I’m having trouble searching for him and have not found any war records on him. Could someone help me? Thank you

[KGarrad]

A picture of the front of the medal would help?

I think it's a 1914-1915 Star.
Awarded to Sapper A G Harris, Royal Engineers.

A Service Medal and Award Roll document is available on Ancestry.

Please remember that over 60% of the WW1 Service Records were destroyed in a WW2 bombing raid.

[lrashford]

Here is the front of the medal.

I’ve worked out what it means but I can’t link this AG Harris to my family tree. On ancestry none of the finds fit.

Was thinking 2219 could be his registration number?

[KGarrad]

2219 would be his Regimental Service Number.

Some info here re the medal:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1914%E2%80%9315_Star

[philipsearching]

The Medal Roll lists 2219 Sapper Arthur G Harris, RE

As he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, this means that he first saw active service in 1915.  It is most likely that he was a volunteer (conscription was not until 1916) but he could have been a regular soldier who didn't serve abroad in 1914.

With a name and number you might find his service record (if it survived - so many didn't) which could give his birth, when and where he joined up, and perhaps a next-of kin.

Good hunting
Philip

[crisane]

he has two service numbers which happened in WW1 if you were moved around There doesn't appear to be a surviving service record for him.
British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Alfred G Harris
Service number    2219, Rank Sapper, 494532
second service number 494532 rank   Sapper  Royal Engineers

Is the surname Harris one of your family names?

[philipsearching]

Service number    2219, Rank Sapper,
second service number 494532 rank   Sapper  Royal Engineers

I had a quick look on CWGC using both service numbers - no results.  It looks as though Arthur survived the war.

That doesn't help identify him, but it could eliminate a few possibles.

Your dad would have had four great-grandfathers.  Do you know all their names?

Philip

[MaxD]

A few more snippets (although none that link to a family!):

He went overseas on 6 Jun 1915.  His second number was allocated in the 1917 re-numbering of the Territorial Force.  It is in the block allocated to the South Midland Field Company RE which given the date overseas may have been 2/1st South Midland Company RE in 61st Division who went overseas in that month.

He was discharged normally on 30 Jan 1919.

MaxD

[lrashford]

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your replies!

KGarrad - I totally forgot about the documents being destroyed. I'm hoping this isn't the case but it's something to bear in mind.
   
philipsearching - my dad's great grandfathers were: AG Harris, John Redman, James Ashford and Thomas Thyer.

MaxD - such great information! Are those dates accurate for the medal or just general?

I should have included a bit more background in my original post, my apologies.

My father is Robert Frederick Ashford and his mother was Joyce Lilian Redman. Her father was Frank Redman who was married to Lily May Harris. AG Harris was Lily May's father.

The 1911 census shows 'Lillie Harris' being 7 years old and her parents as George and Emily Harris, ages 31 and 30. I believe this census to be true as it places George's birthplace as Bishop Sutton which is where a lot of my father's family come from. The 1881 census lists an 'Alfred G Harris' as being 2 and born in Bishop Sutton with his parents being William and Mary.

If I were to guess, I would say AG Harris is both George Harris and Alfred G Harris. The only issue is the dates from the census are a bit out.

My goal is the find out what AG Harris did during the war, but if his record was destroyed then that seems unlikely. MaxD gave some great information, I was just wondering if it was exact, so AG Harris went overseas on 6 Jun 1915 and AG Harris was discharged normally on 30 Jan 1919.

Thank you for all the help everyone