Author Topic: Advice / help required  (Read 637 times)

Offline poohatbarton

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 79
    • View Profile
Advice / help required
« on: Thursday 20 October 05 09:00 BST (UK) »
Can anyone give me  advice as to which way to go with my research or have I an insurmountable problem. I am trying to trace my maternal grandfather, he was not married to my grandmother and what information I have is on a birth certificate, where the father is given as
Cpl. John Edward Smith R.A. labourer

The only other information I have is he is believed to have come from Stafford or Staffordshire, He was billeted in St. Albans in 1916 and I can only estimate his age as being 30+ yrs.  I understand that during WWI every regiment had R.A. attached to them.

P@B

Offline MarMnkly

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 963
  • Always looking back
    • View Profile
Re: Advice / help required
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 26 October 05 22:19 BST (UK) »
I suppose that he could have been awarded service medals for WW1? 

The national archives medal index lists a Medal card of 
Smith, John Edward
Corps: Royal Garrison Artillery
Regiment No: 29579
Rank: Corporal
1914-1920 WO 372/18

It is the only Corporal listed with the name of John Edward Smith

Margaret :)

Surname Interests
Massey, Munkley, Powell, Thompson, Thurkettle

Any census information included in this post is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline poohatbarton

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 79
    • View Profile
Re: Advice / help required
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 01 November 05 08:50 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for your help, thats a line I can follow. I realised after, that I had made an error on my posting. it should be R.E. and not R.A. I understand that the engineers were attached to all army units. It would appear that a large number of the troops billeted at ST Albans were Artillery Units.