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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Marinablue on Thursday 20 March 14 10:11 GMT (UK)
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My great grandfather's brother was Walter Gay died at the POW hospital in St Quentin, France on 04/06/1918.
He was a soldier (private) for the 10Th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, army number 204026.
Sadly, Walter's existence was never mentioned within our family, living relatives are puzzled by this.
Being a complete novice, I have a copy of his death certificate, but where can I gain any other documents connected to this young man who fought for our country.
Plus I would like to know whether Walter Gay has a gravestone somewhere; maybe in France, Gloucestershire.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you
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Here is his grave info - St Souplet British Cemetery in France
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/320691/GAY,%20W
regards,
Ros
adding : And here is a photograph :) http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=2624337
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There's a medal card for him stating he received the Victory & British Medals.
It appears he may have been captured during the German Spring offensive 1918.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0yjq/
If you scroll down the page you will see British POW's at St. Quinten.
jim
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Hi Roz,
Thank you so much for your help to find Walter's resting place. Your help is greatly appreciated and my family will be pleased. kind regards, sian
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A pleasure to help Sian :)
But I was just finding web links and the ones who we need to thank are the wonderful volunteers who photograph the headstones. It is so wonderful to find a photograph of a headstone for a relative who has died so far from home. ( It brings a few tears to my eyes ... well perhaps I have a cold )
regards,
Ros
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Ros,
What a lovely surprise about the head stone for Walter Gay; it is a tear moment as my eyes did fill up. Very moving and I am truly thankful to the volunteers who took the photograph.
Take care. Sian
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Hi Jim,
A big thank you. The link definitely gave me a greater insight of Walter's duty as a soldier and the battle he met. I will document this info and pass it on to present and future relatives.
I wonder if you can explain the medal card, the medals; sorry to ask but this is overwhelming at times but so interesting.
So, can I request/apply to 'a particular' organisation to gain why Walter Gay was rewarded these medals.
Kind regards
Sian
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The British War Medal was issued to all those who served in a theatre of war 1916-18.
Prior to this the 14/15 Star was awarded. As he didn't receive one of these you know he wasn't overseas before 1916.
The Victory Medal was issued to all serving soldiers.
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Jim,
Thank you again for the info and the explanation of the medals. My family and I feel a lovely connection to Walter and he will be remembered.
take care, Sian
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"....I have a copy of his death certificate, but where can I gain any other documents connected to this young man...."
Is your interest confined to his military record?
Find My Past has details of his death and gives his birthplace as "Kingswood, Bristol". I think I have found him on the 1911 Census but Rootschat rules preclude posting details of the 1911 Census..
This leads to the 1901 Census (RG13 2350 8 5)
Joseph Gay, Head, Marr, 39, Shoemaker
Esther Gay, Wife, Marr, Shoe Maker
Children - George 16 (Tram Conductor), William 12, Earnest 8, Ethel 3, Elizabeth 21, Frederick 18 (Tram Conductor),
Ann Jeffries, Aunt, Single, Cotton Weaver
All born Kingswood, address Hanham Road, Kingswood
Was Walter christened Walter E(a)rnest? I can find him as Walter in 1911 but there is no Walter in the 1901 family - only an Earnest with the same year of birth as the 1911 Walter
FreeBMD has a birth record for a Walter Ernest Gay, Keynsham, Mar 1893, 5c 588 (Kingswood comes under Keynsham Registration District)
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Hi,
Walter Gay was my Great Grandfather's brother. So I am 100% certain of his parents and his siblings. Walter was not Walter E Gay and the 1911 census you chosen is not the correct one.
But thank you so much for your support and inquiry.
I was looking for information about Walter's military records, as I am a complete novice, hence my request.
Take care
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extract from register of soldier's effects :(
St Quentin
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204026 was in a block (starting 200001) allocated to the 4th Gloucesters in March 1917. They had 1st/4th, 2nd/4th and 3rd/4th Battalions in 1917 so they would have taken the first 2000 or so. 4026 suggests a very late joining date. He would have started in the 3rd Bn 4th Gloucesters for training. He may have been with the 2nd/4th in France for a while. Or was sent straight to the 10th Battalion in France. By this time they did not change the six-digit numbers when a man was transferred.
According to http://www.1914-1918.net/glos.htm they were disbanded in February 1918 so he must have been captured before then.
Here is the 10th's last War Diary - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7351896
If you have the time you can look for records that have survived for men with nearby numbers, to discover when he was conscripted.
Ken