RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: oldtimer on Tuesday 24 July 07 16:21 BST (UK)
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Hi, these are a couple of photos of my great uncle Bert during WW1. Can anyone tell me which regiment he was in please? What are the strange "holsters" they are wearing? Thanks very much. Oldtimer
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Great photos Oldtimer :D
The unit Bert served appears to be the Machine Gun Corp judging by the cap badge. He was obviously mounted, and would carry-out mounted duties for his battalion.
They are wearing a bandolier which were ammunition pouches and are carrying riding crops/whips.
Do you want to post his full name and where he was from, so that a forum friend might help you some more.
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They all look really young on the photos, is there not any other clues written on the back?
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Hi Atom! Thanks very much. His name was Herbert Leslie Allen, and was born in 1901, so he wasn't very old in those photos. He was living in Stockingford, Nuneaton at the time of the war. He lost two brothers in 1915. He survived the war, and in WW2 he was a petty officer in the RN.
Thanks again! Oldtimer :)
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Sorry Atom - I don't have the original photos - they are copies that were sent to me by Bert's daughter.
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:D Good news to hear that Bert survived WW1. Do you think his daughter has his WW1 medals? If so, and she looks on the rim it should tell you his number, rank name and regiment.
There is a Herbert L Allen with the RFA, number 14859. On the MICs (medal Index Cards), he's listed firstly as a Bombadier, then as a Sergeant (regimental number remains the same). He might have transferred into this as it was not so unusual for MGC to transfer into another unit, or vice versa.
What was his brothers names that died, and their regiments/units if you know?
Anne ::)
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Hi Anne
First, thanks again for the information. It seems highly likely that it is the Herbert Leslie that you found. I don't know if his daughter has his medals - I only communicate with her by snail mail, but I will definitely write to her and ask her!
I have been looking at some Machine Gun Corps sites on the web since last I heard from you, and found them very interesting. One of them, an old Comrade association, has asked for any old photos, so I think I will email them these.
I know quite a bit about his brothers from the Commonwealth War Graves Site. His brother Sidney died first, on 21st July 1915. I recently posted a photo of him to be restored on "Photo Restoration" and had some lovely answers. He was a corporal in the 7th battalion Kings Royal Corps. His service number was A/599. He was buried in the Bedford House Cemetery. I don't know anything about the circumstances of his death though, what battle it was etc. I have a photo of his gravestone, taken by my nephew on a school trip a few years ago. His other brother who died, Charles Henry Allen, died on 25th September 1915. His service number was 11391. He was in the 5th Battalion Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. Again I don't know anything about which battle he would have died in. He has no known grave, and his name is inscribed on the Menin Gate at Ypres.
My grandad, their brother George Albert Allen, was in one of the South staffordshire regiments, but thankfully survived the war. Unfortunately I don't think his medals have survived in the family.
Hope this is of interest to you!
Thanks again! Judy
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:) Hi Judy
Your story was extremely interesting, if sad. Thankfully your Grandad survived. I see that Charles died the same date as my relative. Here's Charles on SDGW:
Copyright image removed
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:)
Not forgetting Sidney:
Copyright image removed
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Here's a link to the 5th Ox & Bucks WW1, once into the link click on 14th (Light) Division:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ry/
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Hello Anne!!
Thanks so much for the details that you sent me from the SDGW, and also the link to the Ox&Bucks. It was very kind of you! :)
I was going to say that it was a bit of a coincidence that my relation died on the same day as yours, but when I thought about it, I realised that there were thousands of men dying every day, so sadly perhaps not too much of a coincidence. :( :(
Could you tell me please if and how I can apply for Herbert's medal card, and what it will actually tell me. Sorry, but I don't know much about military matters! :-\
Could I ask you another favour please? ::) Another of my great uncles, my grandma's brother, also died in the Great War. Would you mind looking at his details on SDGW for me? He was Fred Clegg, who died on 20th September 1917. He was in the 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He has no known grave, and is remembered on theTyne Cot Memorial.
Thanks again for all your help!! Judy :)
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Hi Judy
I thought my relative died the same day as yours 25 September, 1915 (my died at the Battle of Loos). However, looking at the SDGW entry it was 29 May 1915 for Sidney, which seems more likely if he is in/near Belguim.
Get back to you soon ;)
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Hiya :)
Fred Clegg's entry:
MOD EDIT: Image removed for copyright reasons
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Hi Anne
Thanks so much!!!! :) :) :)
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Judy
The medal cards are downloadable for the National Archives at Kew. The download costs £3.50 and they come down as a group of six, ie your soldier and others with similar initials/names. I have sent a link below for two likely soldiers that can be yours.
The first is in the Machine Gun Corp Regt. No 13671:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01s2/
The second link is for a Royal Fusilier, Regt. No 14859:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01s3/
As mentioned, when you download the medal card you will actually get 6 medal cards, so check it out to see if you have got both these soldiers on it, before spending another £3.50.
You can post them here for someone to explain some details on it, if necessary.
Anne
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Thanks SO much Anne. I will definitely do that, and let you know how I get on!!
Judy :D :D
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Hi Judy
I am Linda's youngest son (Linda Bingel from Nuneaton). Herbert Allen was my grandad. It would be good to get in touch with you as I know that before my mother died you had written to her about the family history.
Hopefully you can get back to me via this link.
Pawel ( pronounced Pavel)
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Hi Pawel,
I have sent you a personal message ;)
Judy
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Hi, Bingel needs to make another 2 posts before they can receive and send PMs
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Thanks, Youngtug :)
Pawel, if you didn't get my PM, just post 2 more replies to this message, and then you will be able to send me a personal message.
Judy ;)
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Good to see family connections being kept alive from this old post. :)
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I know!! Good old RootsChat!!
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Hi Judy
This is Pawel -I contacted you a few years ago about my grandad, Herbert Allen, in Nuneaton. You used to write to my mother, Linda - I hope you remember me.
I was rooting around on my computer a day or two ago and turned up your Rootschat photos of Sidney Allen and Rosehannah Moore and it set me off thinking i should get back in touch with you to catch up on things 'Allen family wise'.
When I last emailed you I was still working and probably used my work email address, which no longer exists.
How are things with you? We are plodding along up here in Shipley and enjoying retirement - I retired in 2015 with Angela, my wife, having retired in 2012.
My daughter, Liz, is a school teacher and would be very interested in any info you may have on the Allen family because her school is preparing stuff for the 100th anniversary of the WW1 Armistice and they like to link it to real families, where possible.
Also I think you sent me a copy of something you had written about the Allen family in Stockingford. I recollect it had a few photos of Church Road in it - do you still have this?
We must keep in touch.
Regards
Pawel
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hi Pawel,
Nice to hear from you! I have taken down your new email address, thanks - you might want to delete it from your message as it is against RootsChat rules.
I will contact you on the new address later in the week.
Take care
Best wishes
Judy
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Hi Judy
thanks for the very quick reply. I find Rootschat very difficult to use - how do I delete my email?
Pawel
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Don't worry! I will ask a moderator to just remove the email address. It is just to stop spam etc!
I have lots to tell you and will try and write tomorrow :D
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Hi Pawel,
I have removed the email for you. If you have a another rootschat profile that you have used in the past I can update any old contract details that you may have had.
Regards
Sarah
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Hi Sarah
I did contact Judy a few years ago. I think I probably used my old works email address at the time, but I retired three years ago and that address was deleted. It was a Leeds Met University address (or possibly Leeds Beckett University). I cannot remember anything else about passwords or users I may have used then.
is this of any help?
Thanks
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Hi Pawel,
I found your old profile, it only just had the one post so I would not worry. I have turned off email notifications for your old profile.
Regards
Sarah