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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Studham56 on Monday 30 August 21 20:24 BST (UK)
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I am having trouble finding any reference to my Grandfathers service record. He was a police officer at Portsmouth City during the outbreak of hostilities and there is a break in his police record. There was some suggestion that he had joined the military police. However, I remember my father mentioning that he was in a Rifles brigade. I have tried searching but come up with Ernest Studham another relation who I believed was killed during the war. My Grandfather returned to the Portsmouth City Police after his service and was promoted to Sargent then about 4 months later to Inspector which was not unusual for that time due to shortages from losses and retirements.
I would appreciate any ideas on how I can discover his regiment and service record.
Thank you Richard
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The newspaper, The Hampshire Telegraph (12 March 1915) shows that he was a witness in a court case concerning a deserter called James C Yates.
The newspaper, The Plymouth Evening News (11 May 1915) run an article about the number of Portsmouth policemen who had enlisted. Amongst the list headed 'Volunteers' is Constable E. E. Studham, King's Royal Rifles.
If you subscribe to Find My Past, the links below will take you to the articles.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000290%2f19150511%2f027&stringtohighlight=studham
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0001973%2f19150312%2f056&stringtohighlight=studham
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I have searched all available military databases on Ancestry and Find My Past and I can not find any trace of him. I have used various combinations of his name and also used 'wild cards' in my searches but to no avail. There is one possibility and that is for you to contact the Hampshire County records Office who may have the Portsmouth Absent Voters list for the period 1915 to 1919. If they have it, you should be able to find him on it, his entry will give his service number and regiment.
Also, are you aware that over 60% of WW1 military records where destroyed during the bombing of London during WW2.
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Thank you Allan thar is great news. I am on find my past and looked at the papers but limited it to Portsmouth. There are several articles about cases in court but had not seen the Kings Royal Rifles and Plymouth so Many thanks for your help. Other relatives I have checked had their service record damaged by fire so what you said makes sense.
Thanks again for your help Allan.
Best Regards
Richard
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Hi Richard,
Please have a look at this link to Find My Past -- It looks like your grandfather. His service number was 13/9937 in the 18th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps and when you look at the original record (it is a list of men granted leave for the 24 and 25 September 1916) you will see that he was a Sergeant in 'A' Company.
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2FSUPP%2F538068
Allan
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Perfect! Many Thanks again Allan. That might explain the rapid promotion on his return to the police force.
Best Regards
Richard
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Is he the Ernest Edward Studham who married Maud Elizabeth Clarke on 12 January 1918 in the church of St Martin, Kensal Rise in the parish of Willesden? If so, his occupation is given as soldier, with his usual place of residence given as Halefield Barracks, Wendover, Buckinghamshire. His age certainly seems to match the Ernest E Studham who is a police constable in Portsmouth in the 1911 England census.
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Hi Craig,
That's him OK! He joined the Police in February 1909, then joined HM forces April 1915. He Married Maud in 1918 and returned to the Police force 5th February 1919. His Police service card was continued so I assume his years service as a Police officer continued and retired in 1934 which made it 25 years which is normal in Police force. He then became Security Manager at George Wimpy.
Thanks for the information Craig.
Best Regards
Richard
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Richard, as he does not appear on the Medal Index Cards or the Medal Rolls, it suggests that Ernest never served overseas. In your first post you mentioned 'there was some suggestion that he had joined the military police' -- as he was a police constable with several years experience, he could have been an ideal candidate to be based at a barracks to look after 'the lads in trouble'. Just a suggestion!
Allan
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Hi Allan,
That was my thought as well. I don't know if it was normal practice to include wartime service in the police service. It seemed strange that he did exactly 25 years with the police if you include the war time service. There was never a mention from my father that his father served overseas but so many people did not want to talk about it.
Best Regards
Richard
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Richard,
Thanks to a fellow WW1 researcher on another forum, I can confirm that Ernest's battalion, the 18th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps never served overseas, the battalion was a home service only unit. The following is the assistance that I was given from another forum:
14th and 15th (Reserve) Battalions
Formed at Sheerness in October 1914 for K4 (Kitchener's New Army) and came under orders of 92nd Brigade of original 31st Division. Moved to Westcliff-on-Sea.
10 April 1915 (see below): converted into a reserve battalion. Moved in May 1915 to Belhus Park and went on in October to Seaford.
1 September 1916 (see below) : 14th Battalion absorbed into the Training Reserve Battalion of, and 15th became 18th Training Reserve Battalion of, 4th Reserve Brigade at Seaford.
How long 18th Training Reserve Battalion remained at Seaford is of course another matter. After those who joined the unit on its creation as trainees had moved on, the new crop of trainees would have worn the general service cap badge, breaking the link to the KRRC.
In May 1917 it became the 18th Young Soldier Battalion.
Note: (my addition to above assistance) -- Ernest's police service record shows that he joined up on 26 April 1915 this would put him in the 14th and 15th (Reserve) Battalions and by May 1916 he would have been at Belhus Park and then Seaford in October. The 1st September 1916 saw the 15th Battalion become the 18th Training Reserve Battalion - this ties in with the information that I gave you about his 2 days leave granted on 24 & 25 September 1916. The Battalion were still at Seaford.
Allan
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That is amazing Allan, thank you for that and please thank your friend for his help too. It is quiet amazing as my wife's family all come from Seaford they have been there for generations and I don't live to far away from there now I know they have a museum there so must pop in to see if they had any photos or data.
Once again
Many Thanks Allan
Best Regards
Richard
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You are more than welcome Richard, I hope that you find something at the museum.
Best wishes,
Allan