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A military mystery with my ancestor Ernest James Wells, born 1881, Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of Sarah Wells. He was a labourer/gardener by profession. (I have records/censuses/first marriage/divorce 1881 - 1911)

In 23 December 1898 he joined the militia (according to  his attestation) - 4th Bedfordshire regiment. Service No: 3913. He undertook training over the years to 1908.
Entries  include -
"Embodied 16 January 1900
Dismissed home unfit - 22 February 1900
Posted to 3rd Beds 18 June 1900"

 I also have seen his attestation for the Army/Special Reserve in 1908.

He joined up in the First World War, (according to his transfer from the army to the RFC/RAF), on 17 Aug 1914, then  transferring to the RFC/RAF  4 August  1917/1 April 1918, service number 88397, as a labourer/ mechanic. Home address/next of kin - Mrs Ada Wells, Titania (Titian) Avenue, Bushey. There is no information about where he was serving in the army before his transfer.

I can find nothing for the time between.

There is however,  a marriage certificate for Ernest James Wells (aged 45) and Ada May Bunce at Chatham  in 1916 where the profession is given as "Lance Corporal, 5th Middlesex Regiment", residing at Lower Barracks , Chatham". If this is the same man, this is were the mystery lies.

He wasn't always truthful about is age etc (gave his year of birth as anything from 1871 to 1881) and by 1950, he sometimes used the Christian name Thomas. A newspaper report of his remarriage to is first wife in 1950,  said "he was in the Boer War" and "in the army for many years". But I take that with the proverbial pinch of salt!

I would like to try and fill in the missing years, if anyone can help or advise.

Thanks in advance.

JJQ

Hi
My grandfather James William Sutton 1867-1951 was variously described as:
French polisher
Masterman cabinet maker
Scientific instrument casemaker.

Lived in Clerkenwell  till the 1930s when he moved to Edgware, Middlesex.

Said to be in business with his brother, Joseph Robert Sutton, as Sutton Brothers.

My query is...would he have served an apprenticeship? I have been unable to find any guild records etc. so far.
Any suggestions for avenues of research would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Hi

My ancestor Herbert Henry STONE was a pre-war Regular soldier in the South Wales Borderers (No: 7222). It is believed he was on Reserve when the First World War broke out., and was with the 1st Battalion SWB, entering a Theatre of War on 26 January 1915.

Later, he was a CSM with the 12th Bn SWB at Bourlon Wood in November 1917 and awarded the MC

But, according the Medal Roll, it says that between these two events ,  he was with the 1/Garrison Battalion RWF and the 14 Battalion RWF - army number 33629.

Any guidance on how to "fill the gap" of  his time with the RWF , would be appreciated. There are no Army service records for him apart from his attestation papers in 1902.

(I have a lot of information about the movements of the South Wales Borderers and especially his time with the 12th SWB from the History of the SWB in the First World War. )

Regards
jjq

 My great great uncle Frederic George Quarry,  (who served in World War One) moved from Hertfordshire to Ripley after the War . He lived at 9 Providence Street, Ripley but later died on 27 December 1921. 

I did a search to see if I could find where he was buried and came across  these websites about war memorials -
http://derbyshirewarmemorials.wikispaces.com/Ripley

and

 http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DBY/Ripley/war_memorial.txt

On the first  website it lists "F G Quarry" and on the  other it says "F C Quarry",

Now, Quarry is a rare name and I am wondering  Is there any further information that will help me prove/disprove if this is my ancestor? Also, where he could be buried?

Thanks in advance