Identifying a soldier from WWI

[Wendi]

Hi Liz,

Well at least that has helped you move forward with your research of him - at 46 he would not have been too old to enlist, but possibly not go aboard, and of course there are many kinds of uniform 

If you apply direct to the issuing registry office they will confirm information with you prior to issuing the certificate, thereby saving you £'s if the 1922 death isn't your man 

Good luck!
Wendi 

[LizzieW]

Hi Wendi

Thanks for the tip.  I always apply to GRO and waste £3 on the checking, so applying direct to the issuing registry office makes sense, especially as I seem to be ordering so many certificates, just for verification purposes.  I do wish the English entries were like the Scottish ones, it would save so much time and effort!

Yes, the uniform could have been anything, mum was born in 1911, so at the youngest she would have been 3 when she saw him and at the oldest 7, if he was in WWI.  Unfortunately, she is the only surviving member of her generation.

Liz

[Wendi]

Your so lucky to still have your Mom.  We've just had a 90th birthday in our road and I thought she was doing well !!!

Local registry offices will also do a 5 year either way search free of charge if you have enough info 

Wendi 

[harribobs]

hmmmm  btw the PS battalion of the royal fusiliers did recruit in Manchester and 46 isn't too old to enlist

let's have a dig around and see if we can find him

[harribobs]

no sign of him in soldiers died and i tried quite a few combinations of spelling

but there's quite a good match in the NA medal index

Description     
Medal card of Cockett, William J
Corps   Regiment No   Rank
Army Service Corps    M2 105989    Private
Army Service Corps    M2 105989    Private
Date    1914-1920

 

[LizzieW]

Hello harribobs

Sorry I didn't see your reply sooner.  I usually get e-mails when someone answers a subject I have been interested in, but have only had a couple or so this week and missed this and another thread where people have been very helpful. 

That sounds very promising, presumably I can get hold of this medal can I, if no-one else already has it, or at least a copy of his Medal Card.

I had wondered if he served in the Boer War, is there a list anywhere of men who were in that War?  He is on the 1891 census age 23 but not on the 1901 census, so I wondered if he was abroad somewhere.

Liz

[harribobs]

i can't see him on my manchester regiment lists but they are not complete 

[LizzieW]

OK, thanks for looking.

Liz

[harribobs]

no probs