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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: ang1985 on Tuesday 22 October 19 22:28 BST (UK)
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My great grandad was in the Royal Engineers during WW1, he was one of the lucky ones who survived. I have unsurprisingly been able to find a service or pension record for him, I am assuming due to the records being destroyed in WW2.
I have trawled the medal rolls and there is one that has come up that could be him but maybe not. His name was John Girdlestone Wright and he was born in 1891 in North Walsham, Norfolk. The record I have found is for a John G Wright- Transport 2nd Corporal- Regimental Number: 23881.
There is noone alive in my family now who could confirm whether this is him or not. Is there anywhere else I could go for any further information?. I have a picture of Great Grandad which I have attached, if someone could maybe make out what rank he was, that would be a great help. I have noticed he has three chevrons on his arm but I am not sure what that represents. Thanks ever so much for any help you can give me. i know the service record is a lost cause but I thought if I could find him in the medal rolls and find a battalion, I may be able to find war diaries. Thanks again
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There are in fact four medal records for men called John G Wright in the Royal Engineers. Service records have not survived for any of them.
However, he is wearing three stripes above which half of what may be a crown can be seen. There is a gap between the crown and the stripes which is where, with a Royal Engineer, a grenade badge is worn , it is off the picture. He is wearing medal ribbons. All this suggests a post war serving soldier with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
There is a record of a JG Wright with a birth date of 2 May 1893 with a service number in the Royal Engineer block of service numbers in the list of pre 1901 date of birth men still held by MOD.
There is a very good chance that this is your man but the birth date doesn't fit - is yours definitely 1891? His record would include his Great War record. If the date fits, then you would be able to apply for his record:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel
Otherwise, without other evidence, any one of the four could be your man.
MaxD
the crown
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Thanks ever so much for that information. I didn’t have a clue what rank he was so that was very helpful 🙂.
His date of birth is definitely 20th November 1891 as I have his birth certificate.
Thanks again for looking 🙂
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His date of birth is definitely 20th December 1891
Are you sure? His baptism record and death registration state his birth date as 20 November 1891.
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Neither date hits the jackpot on the Asset Listings.
MaxD
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There was also a Royal Engineers Transport Sergeant John G Wright 602071.
He qualified for the 1914-15 Star with 1st Bridging Train RE (at that time a II Corporal, number 20985) having embarked for France on 18 August 1914.
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His date of birth is definitely 20th December 1891
Are you sure? His baptism record and death registration state his birth date as 20 November 1891.
Whoops my mistake, read the birth certificate wrong, should have had my glasses on.. definitely November. i have adjusted my previous post! 😀
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My Great Grandfather John Girdlestone Wright served as a Sergeant with the Royal Engineers in WW1. Unfortunately like so many, his WW1 record was destroyed. I have discovered today through birth certificates for his children that he still served with the Engineers in the 1920’s until at least 1926. Would it be worth contacting the MOD to see if they have records for him for that time? I know I would have to pay but if there was a strong chance they would have something I would do it. I would dearly love to know more about his military experiences.
Many thanks 🙂
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Was his date of birth 2 May 1893? There is a record of a JG Wright held by MOD with a RE number .
MaxD
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Hi Max, I was looking at that one too, but online trees have a birth date of 22 November 1891 for John Girdlestone Wright.
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I see that we previously established his birth date as 20 November 1891
Threads merged.
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Thanks Shaun - I see we both contributed to the previous thread so twice round the buoy!!!
Ang1985 - The suggestion of the 1893 date was to eliminate (or not) someone whose records are known to be held. The fact that we cannot connect a service number to the name with certainty doesn't mean you can't apply for his records, as advised on the earlier thread. As long as you can quote a date of birth you don't need his number. Details of the process were given in the other thread.
MaxD
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Thanks all, I appear to have repeated myself a bit. Thanks for the help, I will see if the MOD has anything about him 🙂