William Henry Spurr - No service records?

[happydays347]

Hello,

My Great Grandad was William Henry Spurr, born in 1901 in Nottinghamshire.

The family are aware that he fought in World War 1, and was mustard gassed.

I have found his WW1 Pension Records on Ancestry, which are from 1919, stating he was fit to fight in 'a matter of national emergency'.

However, I can't find any WW1 Service Records. Does anyone know an alternative place to find these? I just feel as thought they must be somewhere, as he served in the war.

Many thanks

[Jebber]

Nearly 70% of WW1 records were lost in a fire in WW2, it is quite likely his records were amongst those lost.


Jebber

[happydays347]

Thank you!

I suppose there's no way to find out.

[Jebber]

Sadly no.

[happydays347]

Such a shame!

Thanks for your help anyway.

[GR2]

One thing that's worth doing, however, is to check the local newspapers for any information about his service. It is not uncommon to find details, for example when someone was wounded.

[happydays347]

Thank you! Will give that a go.

[mmm45]

Do the family have any medals to him? On that record he states as not served before.. he would have had to lie about age to enlist prior to 1919 if he wasn't born until 1901.So he may have enlisted under different name?

Interesting service though he served in the Schleswig Holstein dispute in 1920 on Danish border.
Ady

[happydays347]

No medals unfortunately. I saw he stated he had not served before, but the whole experience with mustard gas was said to have driven him mad. Surely that would stop him from serving? And obviously, the war ended the year prior to the record, so the mustard gas part can't have happened between 1919 and 1920.

By far, the most confusing family story/record search ever!