RootsChat.Com

Here in Canada, in recent times, I met a family for whom PM photos are a customary practice when a relative passes away.  The photos are part of the current family photo album.  At first I was quite surprised, as it's not something that was done in our family and I'd not heard of it before.  This thread has given me more understanding of what it brings to the family.  I appreciate the learning opportunity very much and thank all who've posted.

Thank you Spikey68 and Ken.  I appreciate your advice and time.  Marion

Thanks to folks here, I was able to find the document reference for my great grandfathers records with the Royal Engineers.  The estimate to provide them to me is 165 pounds.  With the current value of the Canadian dollar, it's quite a lot of money.

I'm just curious if this is generally what records often run or if it means there's an unusual amount of information in this file.  This is the gentlemen whose career was Home Service.

Thank you.

Ken, Thank you for your reply.  I found something in the London Gazette for a promotion to Quartermaster with an honorary rank of Lieutenant and there's also some records available at the National Archives that I've ordered.

I also obtained his medal card but I'm not sure what it's saying.  Would it be alright to attach a .jpg of the card so maybe someone can explain it?

I've looked for an outline showing the order of ranks to better understand his career but it seems like my relative did well, rising from a Sapper to a Quartermaster. We have a photo of him in uniform and he certainly looks official!

I'm very new to military matters and am having some trouble interpreting the information I find searching online. My great grandfather was a Royal Engineer. His dad was one, too, and I've located ggg's documents online describing his physical aspects, his discharge and pay.

I can't find similar records for gg online so would like to write away but to where? From what I see, searching here, I'd need to know the battalion and his soldier number? 

The 1881 census  shows he was at the School of Military Engineering in Gillingham, Kent. His 1886 marriage certificate says Royal Engineer. A document we have called a Warrant says that is appointing him to be a Warrant Officer in Her Majesty's Regular Forces from the 10th day of April 1897 ...and I've found a Soldier's Effects Registry document that relates to him and something called an Army Ardnance Corps that has his name and birthday but refers to Fathers Regiment so I'm not sure what it is. His death certificate (d 21 May 1917)  shows "Captain, Royal Engineers, D.O. Sheffield).  It doesn't seem that anything has his number on it.

There are numbers on some of the documents that I've tried putting into search engines but nothing turns up.  Should I copy the documents I have and send them somewhere with a search request or maybe there's something else to look up first?  Thank you for your time and thoughts. Marion