Author Topic: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records  (Read 1928 times)

Offline DavidJP

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Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« on: Tuesday 25 April 17 22:06 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

Slightly bemused by this one, hoping someone can either help me with this one or confirm what I suspect!

Charles Frederick Challis (1879-1957) appears in the 'Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933' transcribed on FindMyPast with the following details:

Name: Challis, C.F
Service Number: 26038
Age: 36 years & 0 months (He was actually 38!)
Occupation: Tobacco Blender (Tobacco Leaf Liquorer on marriage records)
Attestation Date: 3rd January 1917
Attestation Place: Kingston (Surrey)
Unit or Regiment: Army Ordinance (Ordnance) Corps
Remarks: 6, Homeward Road, Mitcham (Matches the addresses on marriage records)

The above details apparently appear within volumes/registers of conscripted men.

He married twice, firstly in 1908 to Louisa Wolsey (1886-1909) who died in childbirth & then for the second time to Elizabeth Maud Hussey (1886-1972) in 1915 (my gt gt aunt). Both marriages taking place in Mitcham.

With the above military info, you would be forgiven for thinking that it would be at least fairly straight forward to locate further military records for him, medal index card, medal award rolls, service records etc. However, I can find absolutely nothing! Zip!

While I am aware that around 70% or so of the service records were destroyed during WW2 in a bombing raid, their should I thought still be one or two other records to be found.

Am I missing something or perhaps did he not go abroad thereby not qualifying for any medals?
 
Could someone have a look for me please or confirm my suspicions re not qualifying for medals?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

David
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Offline CaroleW

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 25 April 17 22:51 BST (UK) »
Haven't a clue - but could he have been conscripted then never actually served for some reason?
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Offline DavidJP

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 25 April 17 23:06 BST (UK) »
Hi CaroleW,

Haven't a clue - but could he have been conscripted then never actually served for some reason?

Its certainly possible I agree. I haven't come across this before, where other than the solitary recruitment record, there is then nothing in the usual records, hence my bemusement!

Many thanks.

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline Jomot

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 26 April 17 01:04 BST (UK) »
The recruitment register is different from the service record, which quite probably did not survive.  As there is no medal roll or SWB for CF Challis, the most likely answer - as you have already suggested - is that he didn't serve abroad and so would not have qualified for a medal.
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Offline mirl

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 26 April 17 04:42 BST (UK) »
I have a grand uncle for whom there is a photograph of in uniform taken at his battalion training location but there is no service record (probably destroyed) and no medal card. 

I think he got discharged quickly on medical grounds as he was an epileptic and cross eyed.

Maybe your guy got discharged quickly for medical reasons too.
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Offline newburychap

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 27 April 17 20:43 BST (UK) »
Enlisted fairly late in the war, at the elder end of the conscripts - probably not fit for the trenches - perhaps why he was posted to the Ordnance Corps (I duobt that blending tobacco would have given him many applicable skills).  Odds are that he served only in the UK and didn't qualify for any medals.

One place to look would be the Absent Voters' List, if one exists for Mitcham (assuming that is where he was living). If the AVL is lost check the 1918 electoral roll and see if he is marked NM - which indicates a man away from home on military service. If he is on the roll and not marked absent then he would have been discharged for some reason (probably fitness).

You could also check the original record behind the Surrey database - it might show his fitness classification.
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Offline DavidJP

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 30 April 17 20:38 BST (UK) »
Hi Jomot, mirl & newburychap,

Many thanks for your replies very much appreciated.

Jomot & mirl, many thanks for your replies & suggestions as to why C F Challis didn't qualify for medals, much appreciated.

Newburychap, many thanks for info & suggestions re other records to check, much appreciated & I will definitely check those records.

My thanks to you all once again.

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)

Offline Mick_Dolan86

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 21 May 17 11:05 BST (UK) »
There is a MIC for a Charles F Challis who served in the Royal Engineers, Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The numbers do not match however. If your Challis didn't serve overseas he would not have been awarded medals and so would not have a Medal Index Card.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6225751

Offline DavidJP

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Re: Charles Frederick Challis, Unable to Locate Army Records
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 21 May 17 20:00 BST (UK) »
Hi Mick_Dolan86,

Many thanks for your reply, very much appreciated.

I had spotted that Charles F Challis MIC myself, but as you pointed out the numbers don't match.

My thanks again.

Kind regards

David
Aitcheson, Aldred, Batty, Bauer, Bone, Brewer, Dean, Doyle, Durant, Fife, Finney, Gibson, Graham/Grayham, Hall, Harrison, Hersey, Hill, Holliss, Hudson, Hussey, Insley, Kelsey, King, Laver, Longmore, Luke, Mellor, Newman, North, Parker, Phillips, Porter, Read, Robinson, Rowel, Spink, Sproxton, Steer, Stevenson, Tanner, Witty/Whitty, Warburton, Wood.
(For more information on the above surnames please check the Surname Interest Table below.)