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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 11:22 GMT (UK)

Title: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 11:22 GMT (UK)
Does anyone out there know this Uniform at all? All i know is that my Great Granfather lived in Aldershot area and served in both WW1 and 2 and this is him before leaving for France in WW1, I am currently serving in 6 Rifles. Thanks for any comments. Rfn Du Laic
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: ainslie on Wednesday 22 December 10 15:00 GMT (UK)
He looks to me more like a member of a civilian band than a soldier - perhaps a farewell pic before joining up.
A
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 15:04 GMT (UK)
Hmm, after looking at pages of cap badges and asking colleagues, it could be the case. He was a railwayman too, i had a brief look at Aldershot area brass bands linked to the railways but nothing right away. Thankyou for your comment
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Wednesday 22 December 10 15:15 GMT (UK)
hi rfn du laic
why not post his name and lets see if we can find his ww1 record or at best his medal card.
you say your in the 6 rifles are you home on leave ??
trevor


ps just being nosey but have you been in the current conflict
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 15:31 GMT (UK)
Hi Trevor thanks for input.

I dont have his number, he and his son and wife died just after the war and mother made orphan so we dont know. I have his daughters service or depot  number, she was a WRAF?  Can you make much out of this?

6 is Territorial. I have not but we have, a large cohort is in prep from our Btn right now god bless them, of course I cannot say more.

Luke
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Wednesday 22 December 10 16:27 GMT (UK)
me again
as you say god bless all who serve especially under such conditions as they face at this time it wouldn,t be so bad if we weren,t there just to help the yanks out as normal ,i hope all of them realise just how much we think about them all i,m sure i speak for all right minded people .
will see if i caan fathom something out for gt grandadfrom daus name i presume this is her maiden name ?
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 16:40 GMT (UK)
Hello again Trevor. Thankyou for your kind words, they are propelled by the good will of our citizens at home at all times and are assured by the mature generations kindnesses. We just want to get out there and finish the job.

Marjorie Woods is her maiden name yes, from her mother Emily who married James you see here.

 Thankyou for offering to help, I have huge amounts of study in Cyber Security and with my training ( I come top few in everything!) I have such little time that can be easily wasted as I have done a few times already.

Very much appreciated, my family will be happy for any news, its all quite sad for us.

The best jolly jingle bells to you kind Sir and yours too. :)

Oh for your viewing is James Woods after WW2, he died a short while after from wounds as did his son Tony who was a Lancaster tail Gunner, Emily his Wife is in the centre and Marjorie on the right.
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Wednesday 22 December 10 20:15 GMT (UK)
me again
i,ve had a look for james woods b aldershot and guessed at about 1886 for a birth date giving 5 yrs either side for a margin of era but the only jw and aldershot that shows died in 1918 so thats out  .then looked up the 1901 cen for a james woods b aldershot and found one but it would mean he was only 17 when he joined up now going by the photo you posted it cant be him
so looked for death records from 1945 to 1950 and there,s only one on FindMyPast for hants and thats dated sep 1947southampton dist age 64 now this is definately quite an age for a soldier in ww2 unless he lied about it but again going by the photo he,s no chicken on that so it may well be the one !!
does any of your family have any more names for brothers sisters or place where they lived anything may help to pin point him better , as to his poor son tony he drew a short straw  as a tail end charlie the worsed place to be on any bomber a braver bunch of lads i can,t think of and thankfully at last they look as if they will get the recognition they deserve .
i,ll have another look at this on the morrow .
best wishes to you and all your comrades and families
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Wednesday 22 December 10 21:08 GMT (UK)
Wow, incredible... how do you find all this... I will be off to my family in Norfolk tomorrow and show them all this. Its not easy for my mother, she gets very upset, but we must know. I will report back any comments on the morning of 24, going shooting so i presume around noon.. how can i repay you?

Tony we know even less about, was shot down twice and ended up in a really bad state from shrapnel wounds, my great Gran told me they flew the planes without armour to get deeper into Germany and that is how he got injured so badly.

If i can help you in any way- please, just ask?

Swift and Bold!

Luke
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Wednesday 22 December 10 23:46 GMT (UK)
hi luke
it,s all out there just different sites some have more info than others i,m always amazed at what is availiable personally if something new crops up and i don,t know where to go for info i always google it only yesterday someone wanted to find out about a rellie who died in a hosp in gib so i googled the name and place and up pops a site telling the history of hosp out there that brit military have used since wellingtons day so i put it in favs in case it comes in handy again later google is a brilliant resource for finding sites in my opinion .
as i say any small snippets of info you can glean may well help the cause as to repaying me thats not what this is about we all do it for the love of the challenge i,m sure ,i,ll leave it up to you re garding getting back to me but no rush after all this time a few more days won,t hurt ,your choice i,m on every day somewhere along the line as lots of others are  .
i can understand mum getting upset as we get older things get more harder to handle emotionally wise so be careful and don,t push her as the saying goes been there bought the t shirt !!just give her a big hug and tell her it would mean a lot to you to find out the facts it may well work  ;) .
as to tony again he sure had a more than enough of a rough ride and was certainly a very very brave man to get back up there and keep going, re the planes i,ve heard the fact that  a lot of the armour plating was taken out for weight saving and to help with the extra fuel loads this sounds like when they were going in to bomb berlin the furthest into enemy territory they flew .
when you say if i can help you in any way as i,m a keen bird man ( both feathered and not  :D ) when your out shooting think of those pheasants as lancs and your the ack ack try and miss as many as pos only they don,t have a shooting chance !!!!!!!!!!  .
enjoy the holiday and my love and best wishes to mum i know how she feels i,m sure speak soon
trevor 
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Friday 24 December 10 09:38 GMT (UK)
hi luke
been tring to link james - emily - margery and tony together as a family unit  , now i,ve found a marriage for a james woods to an emily e alden in farnham kent in 1911 then found a marjorie e woods mothers maiden name alden dated dec 1921 also a george  c woods mum alden 1916 both farnham but cant link a tony or anthony woods to them  , this lot may not be correct at all but must admit i thought i had something till i couldn,t find tony,s connection so now questions for you
does anyone know if tony or anthony was his birth first name only i go by my own dad he was bpt leonard but was always known even by his mum as jack his second christian name in memory of his mums , my gran ,s brother who was killed in the battle of jutland on hms defence 1916 i too carry with pride jack as my second christian name , i digress
how does your mum fit in , who were her parents and there names the reason i ask is that we may have to work back from known names and places to reach our goal
did marjorie marry ? only again i have found a death reg for an m woods which might fit and also any ideas when emilypassed on ?
 so far i haven,t been able to find a death reg for tony or james only the one i posted earlier in hants
 hope you and yours are having a good get together best wishes to all
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Friday 24 December 10 12:39 GMT (UK)
Hi Trev. This is truly incredible, i have no hope of fidsning such data, now it seems a reality reaserch of this nature is evediently a great alent, hatrs off to you. I am in Kings lynn today and have prirented this data and will present it to my Mother this evening, I spoke to her this mornionh and asked he to be preparted to recieve and think about some facts andes figures. So she is expecting.

 The shooting was you may be glad to know not involving any low flying birds.

Just meeting and greeting service fellows this afternoon.

The very best regards once more kind Sir.

Rfn Du Laic
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Tuesday 28 December 10 23:01 GMT (UK)
Hello again Trevor. Thankyou for your kind words, they are propelled by the good will of our citizens at home at all times and are assured by the mature generations kindnesses. We just want to get out there and finish the job.

Marjorie Woods is her maiden name yes, from her mother Emily who married James you see here.

 Thankyou for offering to help, I have huge amounts of study in Cyber Security and with my training ( I come top few in everything!) I have such little time that can be easily wasted as I have done a few times already.

Very much appreciated, my family will be happy for any news, its all quite sad for us.

The best jolly jingle bells to you kind Sir and yours too. :)

Oh for your viewing is James Woods after WW2, he died a short while after from wounds as did his son Tony who was a Lancaster tail Gunner, Emily his Wife is in the centre and Marjorie on the right.

Hi Rfn Du Laic,

Welcome to Rootschat, if you post these super pictures on the Photo Restoration Board they can be cleaned and repaired for you too !

Happy New Year everyone  :D

Rabbit B  :)
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Thursday 30 December 10 13:18 GMT (UK)
Hi Trev, Back yesterday. I have ore information but it gets a bit private now. Can we continue by email? (*) is me.

Best regards, happy new year.

Luke

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Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: scrimnet on Thursday 30 December 10 21:38 GMT (UK)
The WW2 pic is Home Guard, so 60 odd is not beyond the wit of man

The Cornet player is in a civilian band as noted, not necessarily a brass band, could be in a wind band

He has medal ribbons on his HG uniform, so he has seen some service with someone, but not in that band! ;D
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Thursday 30 December 10 22:24 GMT (UK)
The WW2 pic is Home Guard, so 60 odd is not beyond the wit of man

The Cornet player is in a civilian band as noted, not necessarily a brass band, could be in a wind band

He has medal ribbons on his HG uniform, so he has seen some service with someone, but not in that band! ;D

Hi scrimnet,

Happy New Year to you and yours.  Nice to get some info on this chap.

Rabbit B  ;)
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Thursday 30 December 10 22:56 GMT (UK)
hello scrimnet
just to add my thanks too for the info thats going to take one piece of the puzzle out of the equation  dare say luke will be in to add to this i,m sure .
happy new year scrimnet and to all the mods  ;)
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Thursday 30 December 10 23:10 GMT (UK)
Hullo Gentlemen. HG is unlikely, he passed away in 1967 and in early 20th C and living and fighting in two world wars, it is unlikely he would be  60 in this photo; Marjorie on left passed on in 1948 making him 81 in '67. Most unlikely to live that long, he was injured too.

He had 4 medals in total, two  bronze stars, one with swords- 1914-1915 star WW1- i know he lied about his age to enlist, say 17 in 1914 makes him ideally an age of 51 in the corporal photo at latest taken 1948.

Second bronze star most likely 1939-45 medal, awarded for active service only, he could of been 42 in 1939, with previous service likely to be section commander.

What makes you sure this uniform is HG Sir? Did HG still stand for some time after WW2?

Thankyou all for your kind attention. Luke
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: scrimnet on Thursday 30 December 10 23:53 GMT (UK)
Well...His age and the shoulder title (just make out "ARD") and the FSC....even if 42 in 39 I would expect HG

This pic would have been taken prior to 1944 for HG

The Regs undid their collars and wore ties from 1944, and only coloured FSCs were worn at the whim of the CO, as they didnt want to be confused with HG who wore the FSC (chip bag) at all times.

the uniform is the early "37 ptn" many many more variations were issued thence after, and post WW2 he would have a later ptn one on

If you have a name DOB date of death and the sig of the NOK you can apply for his records from Kentigern Hse.

As for his gongs....Do you have them or access to them?

The HG were, apres WW2 awarded the defence medal. He would not have got the 39/45 star without any others.
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: scrimnet on Thursday 30 December 10 23:54 GMT (UK)
Oh and over 2500 HG were KIA/injured during WW2  ;)
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: xxx xx xxxx on Friday 31 December 10 00:01 GMT (UK)
Fantastic. ARD ?? FSC ??  there is no next kin living, only my mother...

I have a '37 BD :-)  where HG demobbed in 44? after D Day i suppose no threat of invasion?

 great detail about the style of dress... I am currently enlisted in the Army, so can gain intra-MoD access to records surely?

Thanks again for an experts opinion :-)

Rfn Du Laic
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: scrimnet on Friday 31 December 10 07:45 GMT (UK)
Fantastic. ARD ?? FSC ??  there is no next kin living, only my mother...

I have a '37 BD :-)  where HG demobbed in 44? after D Day i suppose no threat of invasion?

 great detail about the style of dress... I am currently enlisted in the Army, so can gain intra-MoD access to records surely?

Thanks again for an experts opinion :-)

Rfn Du Laic

ARD as in GUARD as in the Home Guard  :D

FSC Field Service Cap

The intra MOD access isnt as brill as you may hope...There is some provision for scholarly work via the Prince Albert Library in Aldershot, but we still have to pay as per the civvies.

You mum as nearest NOK will have to sign

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/MakingARequestForInformationHeldOnThePersonnelRecordsOfDeceasedServicePersonnel.htm

As for the number of cuts of BD, there was 1937prn, 1940, Austerity, Private Purchase, American War Aid, 1946, 1947 and 1949ptn to name but the main ones! Some are "unofficial" names to differentiate betwixt the official but not named cuts!
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Saturday 01 January 11 18:30 GMT (UK)
me again
i,ve had a look for james woods b aldershot and guessed at about 1886 for a birth date giving 5 yrs either side for a margin of era but the only jw and aldershot that shows died in 1918 so thats out  .then looked up the 1901 cen for a james woods b aldershot and found one but it would mean he was only 17 when he joined up now going by the photo you posted it cant be him
so looked for death records from 1945 to 1950 and there,s only one on FindMyPast for hants and thats dated sep 1947southampton dist age 64 now this is definately quite an age for a soldier in ww2 unless he lied about it but again going by the photo he,s no chicken on that so it may well be the one !!
does any of your family have any more names for brothers sisters or place where they lived anything may help to pin point him better , as to his poor son tony he drew a short straw  as a tail end charlie the worsed place to be on any bomber a braver bunch of lads i can,t think of and thankfully at last they look as if they will get the recognition they deserve .
i,ll have another look at this on the morrow .
best wishes to you and all your comrades and families
trevor

Hi t mo

Happy New Year.  I got lucky and found three census for this family! I am not sure if they are the right ones yet! Have to get them checked!
No luck yet with medal cards though  :( no doubt your eyes are sharper than mine :-\  keep looking!

Rabbit B  :)
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Saturday 01 January 11 18:43 GMT (UK)
hello rabbit 
don,t you be so sure about sharp eyes , as i sit here with me glasses perched on me nose it,s been many a moon since i was sharp at anything  :D  thanks for looking up censuses wait on you for that i,m hunting army air force stuff but not much about cos it,s ww2 but it keeps me off the streets  ;D
a happy new year to you and yours rabbit
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Saturday 01 January 11 22:09 GMT (UK)
hello rabbit 
don,t you be so sure about sharp eyes , as i sit here with me glasses perched on me nose it,s been many a moon since i was sharp at anything  :D  thanks for looking up censuses wait on you for that i,m hunting army air force stuff but not much about cos it,s ww2 but it keeps me off the streets  ;D
a happy new year to you and yours rabbit
trevor

Hi Trevor,
I am sitting here laughing at the mental picture of you, specs on nose hunting WW2 stuff, why don't you ask us oldies!  Te he!  Happy New Year to you too m'dear.  Some of us wuz there!

Try this one,  http://www.rootschat.com/links/07t3/ Loads of stuff on here.  there are loads of interesting bits and bobs on this one!  I have another I will look out for you too

Good hunting!!

Rabbit B  :)

Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Saturday 01 January 11 22:16 GMT (UK)
Yer Tiz!

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0b0w/

 :D
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Saturday 01 January 11 22:28 GMT (UK)
hey rabbit
until you put up that last post i thought i was an oldie ,blimey you must be knocking on a bit me old shiner if u waz there where abouts were you i,ll see if i can find yer  ;D ;D
no seriously no offence meant what reg were you in then and what did you get up to i,ve noone else to ask now
would love to hear all about it  ;)
trevor

ps have to finish now me quill wants sharpening !!
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: dolly dimples on Saturday 01 January 11 22:43 GMT (UK)
  Hey Rabbitt, many thanks for the memory,
  Went to Devon years ago, saw a plaque with those words on it,bought it cos it was nice, but had no idea what it meant,

  Later that day on a trip out was looking for toilets,
            a group of other trippers walking behind, one shouted loudly and pointed out "Yer Tiz2"
               
I howled with laughter, thanks  Dolly   

.
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Saturday 01 January 11 22:54 GMT (UK)
  Hey Rabbit, many thanks for the memory,
  Went to Devon years ago, saw a plaque with those words on it,bought it cos it was nice, but had no idea what it meant,

  Later that day on a trip out was looking for toilets,
            a group of other trippers walking behind, one shouted loudly and pointed out "Yer Tiz2"
               
I howled with laughter, thanks  Dolly   
.

'Yep theym good at that en um!' Dolly!  8)

You keep hunting Trevor its all on there m'dear!  It will keep you out of mischief! :-\

Rabbit B  :)
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Saturday 01 January 11 23:04 GMT (UK)
ere rabbit are you playing this down now just when i thought i,d got some good stories coming my way what a disappointment i used to love listening to my old dad now he,s gone and i,m left with just the memories , but at least i,ve got those i spose hey ho
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Sunday 02 January 11 00:17 GMT (UK)
ere rabbit are you playing this down now just when i thought i,d got some good stories coming my way what a disappointment i used to love listening to my old dad now he,s gone and i,m left with just the memories , but at least I've got those i spose hey ho
Trevor

Sorry Trevor but you have to do it yourself now! 

There are loads of brilliant stories on those sites!

Rabbit B  :)

Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Sunday 02 January 11 09:14 GMT (UK)
morning rabbit
ok  will have a look through those sites you posted , but i do hope you didn,t take offence at anything i wrote only i know my silly sense of humour isn,t to everyones taste i,d never intentionally want to upset anyone just to gobby sometimes thats me .
best wishes
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Sunday 02 January 11 11:10 GMT (UK)
morning rabbit
OK  will have a look through those sites you posted , but i do hope you didn't take offence at anything i wrote only i know my silly sense of humour isn't to everyones taste I'd never intentionally want to upset anyone just to gobby sometimes that's me .
best wishes
Trevor

Hi Trevor,

I was laughing too! It is easy to let other people do all the work, only by your own experience can you learn things. ::) I am sure that you know that anyway!  I will help all I can but that is not the same thing!
 
You can't upset/offend little me, life is too short for that!  I have a huge sense of humour!
I do hope that you enjoy the stories on those sites.

Rabbit B  :)

Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: maidmarianoops on Sunday 02 January 11 13:20 GMT (UK)
http://www.ibew.org.uk/vbbppc01.htm


you may find your answer on this site
sylvia
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Sunday 02 January 11 14:14 GMT (UK)
whato rabbit

thanks for that your a gooden obviously looks like i,ve got a lot of home work now , i,m sure i shall enjoy reading up stories on those sites you take care now me ole partner  ;) hopefully we,ll speak soon
trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: t mo on Sunday 02 January 11 14:19 GMT (UK)
and sylvia
thank you for that site on the bands looks even more like homework now hey ho  :-\  but anything you find may well help 
god bless

trevor
Title: Re: Identify a Soldier
Post by: Rabbit B on Sunday 02 January 11 15:39 GMT (UK)
Hi Trevor,

Well it will keep you out of mischief at least

What a good site Sylvia, excellent for reference!

Rabbit B  :)