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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: lisduggan on Wednesday 27 June 07 19:13 BST (UK)
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Hi cheshiremog
sorry to but in its about my grandfather who was in the royal irish regiment 1914/1918.war serverd in france he was taken as a pow then he ended up with the royal fusiliers he died 29/5/1920age 40 what we dont know is where he died he is buried in waterford ireland is it possible to find out more about him he has a cwgc headstone it reads
private M Fitzgerald 140437 royal fusiliers thers is no other record to be found
Iwould appreicate your help on this..
irish..
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Dear Irish
I have looked on the Soldiers Died CD which covers deaths from 1/1/1914 to 31/12/1921 but an M Fitzgerald dying in 1920 does not come up. As with all of these records there are errors and omissions. Also someone dying after the war had ended is, I believe, less likely to appear. Neither am I sure where deaths in Ireland may have been recorded. I have tried the freeBMD but no mention of him.
Can you let me have his first name as I could try to find him on The WW1 death index.
Also I would post your question as a new topic in the armed forces board as someone else will probably be able to help you.
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HI cheshiremog
Michael Fitzgerald
3 May lane
waterford
His date of death 29/5/1920 age 42
He was born 16/6/1878
our records show his death as 3/6/1920 ??
thank you for getting back to me
regards
Irish..
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Hi Irish
I have found one of your posts in the Waterford section and therefore worked out that he was called Michael. I have checked the WW1 Death Index and sorry - he does not come up - 8 Michael Fitzgeralds appear but they are all serving with different regiments and none of them died in 1920, and all have the wrong service number.
There are also the Army Chaplain Records which can be found on a pay as you view site
http://www.findmypast.com
At least you are working to a date so your can search quite specifically. I found my grandfathers marriage and the birth of his children on there whilst serving in the army in India.
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Sorry I forgot to say that my grandfather was also an Irish Catholic serving with the British Army and his records were on the chaplains roll
OR why not try actually phoning the GRO to ask if they can do a search for you
I think it may cost £10 rather than the usual £7 and they will search but I would check that with them first. They hold the overseas records and military records as well.
And finally have you tried to get hold of his full service record ? These are now being released gradually by ancestry - they have only done surnames A-B so far. I think if a person left the army on a pension it is more likely the record survived so if he was ill, which I would guess he was, probably dying from wounds/illness/injury contracted during the war then he may have been pensioned. These records are held at Kew but a lot were destroyed by fire in the WW2 Blitz - but I was lucky enough to get my grandad's and great granddad's as they were both pensioned out due to injury.
Good luck - I really hope you find out what happened.
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Hi cheshiremog
sorry to but in its about my grandfather who was in the royal irish regiment 1914/1918.war serverd in france he was taken as a pow then he ended up with the royal fusiliers he died 29/5/1920age 40 what we dont know is where he died he is buried in waterford ireland is it possible to find out more about him he has a cwgc headstone it reads
private M Fitzgerald 140437 royal fusiliers thers is no other record to be found
Iwould appreicate your help on this..
irish..
British War Mememorial Project website has more details:
Private M. Fitzgerald 47th Battalion Royal Fusiliers #140437
29 May 1920 age 42
husband of B. Fitzgerald of 3 May Lane Waterford
Commemorated Ballynaneashagh (St. Otteran's) Catholic Cemetery, Waterford
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hi aghadowey
thank you for that information re/ my garndfather.
regards
irish.
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Hi Cheshiremog
I will get on to the GRO they might have the information I need about my grandfather the CWCG records have his death as the 29/5/1920 but the records in waterford differ the have 3/6/1920 place of death is not recorded is it possible that he died in england in a military hospital?
once again many thanks
regards
irish..
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Dear Irish
I have seen dates of death differ before. Sometimes the cwgc says one date and a grave mentioning the casualty or a local newspaper report gives a different date.
As for dying in an English military hospital - I suppose anything is possible - I suppose it depended on how ill he was - if he couldn't be moved- he may have had to stay in England. He certainly died some time after the war ended - I do not know - but a likely cause could have been the effects of gas poisoning. We had a soldier in our village whoe served with the Sherwood Foresters, in 1918 he was transfered to the army reserve due to the effects of gas poisoning and discharged from Litchfield but did not die until March 1921. He died when back home with his parents. If you could get your grandfather's service record you may find out when he was discharged.
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Dear Cheshiremog
what iI have of my grandfather is his medal card It reads Seragent michael fitzgerald royal Irish regiment 5915 /Private M fitzgerald royal fusiliers140437 it seem he was in two regiments we then have the medals record or roes he was awarded despatched8/6/1920 but were returned4/2/1925 I dont understand why this came about most of records were lost duning ww2 that all the informaion we have but I will keep looking and hope to find out whare he died thank s for all your help
regards
Irish..