WW1 uniform

[jim1]

I'll take a look at the CWGC.

looking at soldiers effects mentions mother Janet as guardian of his children's legacy.
Had she died?
This was 14/2/1919.

[Sutherland74]

I'll take a look at the CWGC.

looking at soldiers effects mentions mother Janet as guardian of his children's legacy.
Had she died?
This was 14/2/1919.

I've just checked and yes his wife died in April 1914. What is/are "soldiers effects"?

[jim1]

It's the war gratuity that families were awarded on the death of a soldier.
Who it went to was decided by the soldier himself. In this case it's been awarded to his children with his mother as their guardian.

[Sutherland74]

It's the war gratuity that families were awarded on the death of a soldier.
Who it went to was decided by the soldier himself. In this case it's been awarded to his children with his mother as their guardian.

Where can I find this information? I presume it's online somewhere.

[jim1]

Ancestry:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mla/

[Sutherland74]

Thank you jim1. How would the army have known to pay the gratuity to his mother and that she was the guardian of his children? Would that have been based on his will or some letter of instruction? Do you know if it's possible to see the form of the instruction given to the army?

[jim1]

Not seeing a will here:
https://www.gov.uk/probate-search
His service record would name his mother as NOK with her address.
It would also list his children.
All of the relevant information would have been in his record.

[Sutherland74]

Thanks once again jim1

[Sutherland74]

John's family is a sad story like, no doubt, many WW1 families. John married my grandmother's sister Elizabeth in 1909 and they had a son in 1910. They then had a daughter in 1914 and due to complications at the birth (family folklore is that her death was caused by a "careless nurse") Elizabeth died 3 weeks later. Subsequently John died in 1917 leaving his two children aged 7 and 3 orphaned. At this stage I don't know if his mother was left to bring up the children on her own or whether John's father was still alive. Off to do some more research. Thanks for all your help to date.