Trying to locate my grandfather Thomas John Roberts

['Trish']

My grandfather Thomas John Roberts (Born 1879/80, son of William Roberts) fought in the 1st world war, & from what my mother (his daughter says) that he was awarded medals.  Thomas John Roberts was living in Blaina with his wife & six children.  When Thomas John Roberts was reported missing in action/possibly dead, his wife Sarah Ann allowed her best friend Cissie to bring up Horace who was only a matter of months old.  Sarah ann was hospitalized for some considerable time before & after the birth of Horace.  After the 'adoption' Thomas was found in a French hospital.  I am told that he fought at the Somme.
Please could anyone tell me how I go about finding his Army records & confirm where he fought, and also find out what medals he was awarded.
My mother is now 78yrs old & would dearly love to find out about her father. I believe he belonged to the South Wales Borders(?)

[aghadowey]

If he survived the War there's a chance he might have had a pension- Ancestry has some of the surviving files (however, try searching there several ways as yesterday I had to look 4 different ways for a record that I knew was there).

['Trish']

Thanks will check it out!

[mmm45]

Hi
Do you have a service number for your Thomas? There are two Medal Cards to Thomas J Roberts  South Wales Borderers online however he may have them under T Roberts so can be hard to confirm without numbers

Ady

['Trish']

Hi,  Unfortunately I dont, I know he was awarded medals, my mother saw them many years ago, but cannot remember what they were only that he was awarded them in the WW1.  He must of been around the age of 33/34 (there is a discrepancy with his age?  My mother says he was born Aug 14th which isnt the date I have.  Hence 1879/80)  I am told he was awarded them for Gallantry at the Somme(?)
Of course you are right, he could be just T Roberts or T J Roberts.  Any help would be more than appreciated.  I am told that I may need to search the Absent voters list to find his number.  Regards Pauline

[mmm45]

Yes the AVL if it survived for that area would be an excellent tool
Theres a difference between gallantry and campaign medals ...In cases of Gallantry they are gazetted and it sometimes gives place they come from...Ill see if theres anything.

Ady

[mmm45]

Couldnt find anything

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?searchType=browserefine&query=first_name%3Dt%7Clast_name%3Droberts%7Ccorpname%3Dsouth%20wales%20borderers&catID=10&pageNumber=1&queryType=1&mediaArray=*

Heres the campaign medal list.

['Trish']

Thanks for looking for me.  So, I must plan a trip down to south Wales to have a look at this list, if this is the only way for me to find Thomas John Roberts army number.  Thanks again Regards Pauline