William Merrill, KOYLI

[PaduaG]

Looking for William Merrill born 21/3/1892  Sheffield
I looked up somewhere and found these two numbers
service 2207  and 20083  but now I can't remember where I found these:)
He was as far as I know in the KOYLI and then after being discharged joined the ASC - any help would be grateful  live in NZ and this is for my husband - his father - Hubbie is 81 in April in a rest home and I am hoping to 'make his day' would love to know the medals etc  William was a 'army drive.

He played in the Goldthorpe Wesleyan Silver Band - trombone in the 1930's

take care  and thanks

[jds1949]

There is a medal index card for a man William, Merrill Yorkshire Light Infantry 2207 available to download from the NA website - see here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4209283&queryType=1&resultcount=1

It will cost you £2and there will be the cards of five other men on the sheet. It won't tell you much, but it will tell you what medals he was entitled to.

jds1949

[forester]

Hello PaduaG and welcome to Rootschat,

The two you mention are two different men, but I don't think either are your husband's father.

Private 2207 KOYLI was discharged 29/4/16, due to sickness or wounds (awarded Silver War Badge).
Private 20083 KOYLI was killed in action 1/7/16.

There are medal index cards for 11  William Merrills with no middle name. Two of them saw active service with the ASC, but not KOYLI. However, they can't be discounted, because they may have served with the KOYLI prior to being sent overseas.

Phil

[PaduaG]

My word what speed my answers are coming down here - thank you everyone.
William signed up TWICE  He was sent home and apparently re enlisted
 He married on the 1st July 1916 so was save on that fateful day.

His name is MERRILL  without an S - that may eliminate some.
Funnily enough I have found his father Samuel whose name was MARRALL -
It may have been a romantic notion that William served in the KOYLI. 
He seems to have been an army driver.   All like an Agatha Christie 
Padua

[forester]

Hello Padua,

Sorry about that, I missed out the apostrophe. 
There are 11 William Merrill's.

Of the two in the ASC, it is not M3/1426. His service record survives. He was born about 1890 and married a Kate Walton in 1910.

The other one, Private M2/150499, is a possibility, but I can't find any further information to verify it.

Phil

[PaduaG]

Kia ora Phil
I was being picky- sorry
William married Evelyn Mawson in 1916. In 1919 shown on daughter's birth cert. Motor Lorry Driver Ex Army living at 83 Watery Lane Sheffield.
I have sent for the card- from the Nat.Archive.  thanks once again

Padua

[forester]

Padua,

That was quick off the mark  You will have found out by now that the NA medal index card images are poor quality PDF's of the front only. The Ancestry versions are full colour of both sides, although the back is normally blank, unless an officer.

The only thing I can add, is that IF Pte M2/150499 is your husband's father, he would probably have joined at the ASC Motor Transport Reserve Depot, Grove Park, in SE London around the end of November 1915.

What you could really do with, is him on an Absent Voters List.

Phil

[PaduaG]

Thank you for your reply-  how does one look up the 'absent voters listing.
William Merrill or Merril ) born 21 March 1892 Sheffield Yorks Died 1950 (?)
Married Evelyn Mawson 16 July 1916 ( on leave ? or discharged?)
Described Army Lorry Driver
Father Samuel Marrell (enumerator spelling)
Served Army -  was discharged and rejoined

About all I know
thanks

[Peridot]

Absent Voters Lists if they still exist for the address where a soldier lived in 1918 will usually be available in either the Local History Library or the relevant County Record Office for the same area. Unfortunately many were destroyed.

Good luck

Peridot