Did Charles Percival Thompson serve in the Messopotamia campaign in WW1?

[ColDownUnder]

I'm hopeful that someone will be able to solve the mystery of my maternal g grandfather's military service. Before my mother died in April she insisted that her grandad did serve. When she visited her grandparents in Little London, Horam, East Sussex in the early 50s as a 19 yo she remembers photographs of her grandad in uniform and once she heard him talking with an old mate about "Messpot". I believe her but can't find any military records, hope they're not destroyed.

My great grandad was born 1879 in Burwash, E. Sussex. He married Mercy Lusted in 1909. They had 2 sons. He died in 1966. I use to write regularly to my great grandparents growing up but the topics never touched on war service of course. Now that retirement has encouraged my love of family history research I kick myself that the interest hadn't been keener earlier on. So it goes.

I'd be grateful for any help and suggestions, thanks.

Cheers,
Col

[jim1]

Can see just 1 on the medal roll.
67489 Pte. Charles Percival Thompson MGC.
No other info.
Half a dozen Charles P's & more Charles Thompsons that you shake a stick at.
Ideally you need to locate the photos should they still exist.

[ColDownUnder]

Thanks jim1, that's something for me to chase up. Where did you find that? Haven't found anything on ancestry or findmypast sites. What's "MGC"? I do have a photo of my mum and her grandparents but that's some 40 years on from the war of course.

Cheers,
Col 

[jim1]

MGC=Machine Gun Corps. It came into being in Oct. 1915. The first 3000 numbers went to the motorised MGC so this man was the 64,489th. to join.
This came from the Medal Rolls on Ancestry.
There is no other information about him.
There is no other overseas Regt. listed & as he received only the British War & Victory Medals means he didn't go overseas until at least 1916.
It's quite possible this man first attested into another Regt. & was transferred to the MGC at a later date probably towards the end of 1916.

[ColDownUnder]

Many thanks jim1. I might try emailing to the British Army Records in hope of corroboration, any more detail maybe not picked up by Ancestry or released to them.
Cheers,
Col