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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: GaznDon on Wednesday 01 August 18 20:24 BST (UK)
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Good evening everyone,
I would like to find out as much as possible about the Army career of my g-g-uncle, Harry Giles.
Harry was born in Walsall in 1877, and moved to Sheffield some time before 1891. He lived in the Grimesthorpe and Attercliffe areas, and he married Hannah (Annie) Elizabeth Marshall.
I know that Harry served in and survived WW1, but I believe he may also have served in the Army prior to that.
Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance. :-)
GaznDon
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Findmypast have service records for him. He attested in the Labour Corp in 1915, he had previously served in the Coldstream Guards in 1897.
Amended
There are an assortment of records for him, he was also in the York’s and Lancashire Regt.
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Statement of Service..............from 28-8-1914
Sandra
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Thanks very much indeed, Jebber and Sandra. I've just realised that I put the wrong birth year down for Harry, it was 1876, December quarter. Sorry about that.
Sandra, that will keep me busy for quite a while, thanks again! :-)
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Oops.
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Thanks very much for that, jim1 - that explains why there was a baby born in the middle of the war, with two middle names which I strongly suspect are his real father's names. Sadly though, the child didn't live very long. :'(
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I notice in April 1918 he's granted 21 days leave. I wouldn't want to have been in her shoes.
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Did Harry see out the entire war then, Jim?
The child in question died around the time the war ended. :'(
I wouldn't have wanted to be in her shoes either, though it seems to have been a common occurrence!
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He went onto the Z list (reserve) in 1919 so back to being a civilian.
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Thank you. Probably back to the iron works for him then, if they would take him back.
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There's a certificate from the company stating that his job was reserved for him when he was demobbed.
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Pleased to hear it - at least something went right for him then!
Thank you. :)
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He survived everything that the Germans, Turks & mosquitoes did to him so was probably happy with that.
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So I'm guessing he had malaria then. Was he at Gallipoli?
Thanks.
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Salonica & then involved in fighting in Turkey until 1918 when he was one of a number to return to France where he was posted to the Labour Corps. This followed a bout of malaria which rendered him B1 fit so no longer fit for front line service where a man had to be A1.
I don't suppose he was complaining.
He was posted to 278 & then 279 Area Employment Company.
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Thanks very much indeed, Jim. Am I right in thinking that Harry had previous service in the Army, before WW1, please?
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Yes, Coldstreams.
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Thank you again - and I'm glad to say that Harry lived until he was 65, so I think he did pretty well, all things considered.
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Yes, Coldstreams.
Thanks very much indeed, Jim. Am I right in thinking that Harry had previous service in the Army, before WW1, please?
I answered this yesterday.
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Thanks Jebber, and yes, you did indeed answer my question, but as there were two people called Harry Giles, born quite close to one another at roughly the same time, and who both served in the Army, I just wanted to check with jim1 that the person who served in the Coldstreams was definitely 'my' Harry Giles.
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GaznDon
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Sandra ;)
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*Sandra*
That will be a great help - thank you very much for letting me know!
GaznDon