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Topics - Uncle Reff

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1
World War One / Whare was the 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers in May 1918?
« on: Monday 15 August 11 07:56 BST (UK)  »
I am researching a relative who died of wounds on 24 May 1918 in Rouen:-

Thomas Rattle; Private 225094 1st Battalion (City of London) Royal Fusiliers

I presume that he was being taken injured back to the UK but died on the way. I would really like to find out where he was when he was injured, but have been unable to find out where the battalion was in May of that year. There are no surviving service records of course...

I would appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction. Below is a tribute page on my website with the full details:-

http://www.reffell.org.uk/WW1/thomasrattle.php

Many thanks in advance - John

2
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Are these military people?
« on: Monday 07 June 10 19:37 BST (UK)  »
I have also found this photograph in my recently deceased aunt's album and have no idea where the picture was taken or who the people in it are.

They seem to have a little of a military air about them, so could this possibly be WW1-ish I wonder?

I also wonder if anyone could kindly improve the photograh, which is quite small in size, in order that someone may possibly recognise someone...

Thanks in advance - John

3
Occupation Interests / Any train spotters here?
« on: Monday 07 June 10 19:29 BST (UK)  »
I have found this photograph in my recently deceased aunt's album and have no idea where the picture was taken or who the people in it are.

Has anyone any idea as to where this train may have been, clearly it is not in the UK, but any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance - John

4
World War One / What is a Garrison Battalion anyway?
« on: Sunday 02 May 10 17:52 BST (UK)  »
Please excuse my military ignorance  ???

I am researching a man who died on 18th September 1918 and is buried in the Suez War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. He was enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and I have seen online that during the First World War it raised 30 battalions. My man was in the 1st Garrison Battalion which was formed at Weymouth in August 1915 and moved to Egypt.

I have two questions which I hope some kind person could help with:

1) What is the distinction of a 'Garrison' Battalion as opposed to an 'ordinary' one?

2) Would there be any way of finding what the battalion was doing there at that time, other than going to Kew as I will not be able to get there for a couple of months?

Needless to say his service records have not survived, but his medal card shows that he recived the British War Medal and the Victoria Victory Medal.

All help appreciated!

John

5
World War One / Why the Royal Dublin Fusiliers for a Suffolk lad...
« on: Tuesday 20 April 10 19:13 BST (UK)  »
My grandmother's brother was killed in action at St Julien in April 1915.

I know that in the latter part of the war that men could be assigned to regiments without any resemblence to where they enlisted or lived, but this chap enlisted (I am told at Gravesend during 1908) into the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

I find this somewhat surprising as he came from Woodbridge in Suffolk and as far as I know never left the county until he enlisted. There are no Irish connections at all in the family, so i am wondering why he should end up in an Irish regiment.

In 1911 he is a Lance Corporal in said regiment stationed at the Marlborough Lines Aldershot.

Needless to say, his service record has not survived. His medal card shows that he was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 star.

I would appreciate any views as to why he ended up in the 'Dublins' and not say the 'Suffolks'.

John

6
World War Two / Bertie Charles TACCHI - Died 22/9/1943
« on: Saturday 03 April 10 20:46 BST (UK)  »
I have come across this distant relation (3rd cousin) who died during the Second World War.

I would appreciate any pointers as to how i could find out how he died, I could not find anything on Google (but that then could be me...)

From CGWC:-
Name:     TACCHI, BERTIE CHARLES
Rank:    Gunner
Regiment/Service:    Royal Artillery
Unit Text:    502 Bty., 79 Searchlight Regt.
Age:    32
Date of Death:    22/09/1943
Service No:    1579497
Additional information:    Son of Louisa Maud Tacchi, of Brixton.
Grave/Memorial Reference:    Square 27A. Grave 44202.
Cemetery:    STREATHAM PARK CEMETERY

Possible death:-
Name:     Bertram C Tacchi
Death Registration Month/Year:    1943
Age at death (estimated):    31
Registration district:    Reading
Inferred County:    Berkshire
Volume:    2c
Page:    384

Many thanks in advance - John

7
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / More in hope than expectation...
« on: Friday 02 April 10 19:45 BST (UK)  »
... as this is a very faded photograph taken just after my grandfather entered the London Underground railway around 1920.

Any improvements would be greatly appreciated!

Kind regards - John

8
World War Two / RAF WW2 Death - 158 Squadron
« on: Wednesday 20 January 10 17:22 GMT (UK)  »
I have come across the death of an air gunner who died around Lincoln during the Second World War.

I have shown the details from the CWGC website below, I wonder if anyone could look up any likely aircraft losses on that date please.

Name:     REFFLES, ALBERT WILLIAM
Rank:    Sergeant (Air Gnr)
Regiment/Service:    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text:    158 Sqdn.
Age:    21
Date of Death:    22/06/1943
Service No:    1350043
Additional information:    Son of Albert Edward and Elizabeth Reffles, of Southsea.
Grave/Memorial Reference:    Plot G. Row 12. Grave 2.
Cemetery:    PORTSMOUTH (HIGHLAND ROAD) CEMETERY

Thank you very much - John

9
The Common Room / BT 159 - Deaths at Sea
« on: Saturday 16 January 10 08:29 GMT (UK)  »
I have found an ancestor on the recently digitised National Archives BT 159 series - Registers of Death at Sea of British Nationals, 1875-1891.

The image that I have been able to download contains the person's name, the name of the ship, age and 'page'.

Presumably being a register, the 'page' refers to some other document, but I could not find anything about what this could be on either the NA or the BMD Registers websites.

Does anyone know what this refers to and if indeed still exists?

Ta - John

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