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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: poohatbarton on Thursday 20 October 05 09:00 BST (UK)

Title: Advice / help required
Post by: poohatbarton on Thursday 20 October 05 09:00 BST (UK)

Can anyone give me  advice as to which way to go with my research or have I an insurmountable problem. I am trying to trace my maternal grandfather, he was not married to my grandmother and what information I have is on a birth certificate, where the father is given as
Cpl. John Edward Smith R.A. labourer. 

The only other information I have is he is believed to have come from Stafford or Staffordshire, He was billeted in St. Albans in 1916 and I can only estimate his age as being 30+ yrs.  I understand that during WWI every regiment had R.A. attached to them.

P@B

Title: Re: Advice / help required
Post by: MarMnkly on Wednesday 26 October 05 22:19 BST (UK)

I suppose that he could have been awarded service medals for WW1? 

The national archives medal index lists a Medal card of 
Smith, John Edward
Corps: Royal Garrison Artillery
Regiment No: 29579
Rank: Corporal
1914-1920 WO 372/18

It is the only Corporal listed with the name of John Edward Smith

Margaret :)

Title: Re: Advice / help required
Post by: poohatbarton on Tuesday 01 November 05 08:50 GMT (UK)

Thanks for your help, thats a line I can follow. I realised after, that I had made an error on my posting. it should be R.E. and not R.A. I understand that the engineers were attached to all army units. It would appear that a large number of the troops billeted at ST Albans were Artillery Units.