Tracing ancesters

[Lesanne]

 I had to do some searching on that too. In the Armed Forces posts.
    All I had to go on was a big furry hat.   
 
     There was some good info in that post.

                   Lesanne 

[Valda]

The 1901 census says he was a sapper in the Royal Engineers, which would fit well with his mechanical background and occupation from the 1891 census. A sapper was often involved in construction worker particularly tunnels. He could of course have re-enlisted or been conscripted for the First World War, but he would have been getting on a bit for the Grenadier Guards, as he was 44 in 1914.

If you have a photograph of him in uniform it is possible for the army experts on Rootschat to help you with his regiment. His army records will be held by The National Archives at Kew London.

Regards
Valda

[pblaws]

Valda, I Don't Know about JW senior But BelieveD him to Be Dead by WW1 JW Junior Was Supposed To be in Gren Guards But also was led to believe he was following family tradition but that seems disproved as his father was in the royal engineersso
I am nolonger sure.
Thank you Peter.

[Valda]

According to the medal rolls for the First World War, there were 11 John William Tomlinsons who received medals. None of them appear to have served in the Grenadier Guards.

Your choices are

Sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery
Corporal in the Labour Corps Northern Command ex East Yorkshire Regiment

All the following were Privates
Dragoon Guards
Border Regiment
Army Service Corps Motor Transport
Cheshire Regiment
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment
Reserve dragoons
Labour Corps Northern Command ex Manchester Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment

And one Sapper
Royal Engineers!

Soldiers records for the First World War were bombed in the Second World War. Most were lost. Because of fire damage it has been impossible to view the remaining third of the records but they now can now be seen (what's left of some of records) on microfilm at The National Archives at Kew.

John William Tomlinson junior would have been around 20 at the start of the war, so it is likely he did serve. If he joined the army before the First World War his attestation papers are far more likely to have survived. He could have joined the Grenadier Guards before the war. Because of losses during the war I believe soldiers transfered regiments when the army needed to rebuild different shattered battalions. The medal rolls will reflect the regiment the soldier finished the war in, not necessarily the one he started it in, but the army experts on Rootschat will beable to advise you on this better than I can.

Regards
Valda

[pblaws]

Sorry Valda,I missled You,I rechecked what I have and it was probabely Dragoon Guards at least during WW1 I'mnot sure before that. farily stories go That before the war he joined th army for india and was too young and his sissters caused him to either be kicked out or leave as his father was supposed to have been killed there but again only draw blanks.
Thank you for all the help
peter. 

[pblaws]

Hi Valda, Since we spoke last i have recieved more definite info on my ancestors.
I now have a copy of G Grandfather's marriage certificate which shows his father as John Tomlinson-Police constable 1890.
From this I have been able to trace back more acurately and this added to the info from you was a great help.
If anyone out there is researching along any of these lines the info is as follows:
Grandfather John William Tomlinson b-1893:Medway Kent
Married Edith Minnie Mackerness 1919

GGrandfather John william Tomlinson b-1864 :Little Chester,Derbyshire-Steam engine fitter/Sapper;Royal Engineers
Married Beatrice Sarah Brown Daughter Of Samual Brown :Master R.N& Dec in 1890.

GG Grandfather John Constable b-1844? Belper Derbyshire
wife-Mary ? b Normanton Derbyshire.

Still no info Except Royal Engineers and 7th Dragoon Guards
no dates.
regards pblaws

[Valda]

1881 census RG11 3406 folio 17
39 Kedleston Road, Derby St Alkmund, Derbyshire 
John Tomlinson 37  Belper, Derbyshire, Head  Married Police constable
Mary Tomlinson 36 Normanton, Derbyshire, Wife  Married Police constable's wife
John W. Tomlinson 17  Derbyshire,  Son Apprentice locksmith
Frederick R. Tomlinson 11  Derbyshire,  Son 
Mary S. Tomlinson 6 Derbyshire, daughter
James Tomlinson4  Derbyshire, Son 
Annie E. Tomlinson 2  Derbyshire, Daughter 
Frances A. Tomlinson 9 mths Derbyshire, Daughter 
George W. Gatliffe 36 Wisbech, Norfolk, Visitor Married Commercial clerk

1871 census RG10 3562 folio 82
Canal Side All Saints  Derby Derbyshire   
John Tomlinson 27 Belper, Derbyshire, Head  Married Ostler
Mary Tomlinson 26  Normanton, Derbyshire, Wife  Married
John Wm Tomlinson 7 Derbyshire, Son   
George A Tomlinson 5  Derbyshire, Son   
Frederick Tomlinson 1  Derbyshire, Son
James Foulkner 20 Austow, Staffordshire, Boarder  Unmarried Railway station labourer
James Kidd 17 Newborough, Staffordshire,  Boarder  Unmarried General labourer

1861 census RG9 1954 folio 5
The Rectory Norbury Derbyshire
John Tomlinson 19 Belper, Derbyshire, Servant  Unmarried Groom

Regards
Valda

 

[pblaws]

Valda, Thanks for the info,This ties into what I have. I have sent off for marraige & birth certificates for definate connections wihch will tie together any loose ends which was how I found out that correct GGf was John and not Jabez.What would be the best website be for military records? Again thanks for the assistance and have a good week.God bless and see you later.
Peter.

[Valda]

Individual men's military records are held by The National Archives. Their research guides are here

http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researchguidesindex.asp

You need to look under British Army.

There are plenty of websites about regiments and their histories an if you put a query onto the armed forces board on Rootschat I'm sure they can direct you to lots of different and useful websites, but in the end if you read the resarch guides for the National Archives - try particularly

British Army: Soldiers' Discharge Papers, 1760-1913 (bearing in mind most men did not complete their service so were not discharged to pension)
and
British Army: Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, c1730-1898
and
British Army: Soldiers' Papers, 1914-1918, First World War

you will see to get further information about an individual man's service the only way to access their records is at The National Archives. During the Second World War First World War soldiers' attestation papers suffered bomb damage. Two thirds of all soldiers' papers were destroyed. The remainder of what was left have been microfilmed and again are at The National Archives. So the chances of ordinary soldiers' papers surviving from the First World War (as opposed to officers' papers) are less likely, but you may be lucky. As I said the research guides will give you a thorough understanding of what is available.

Regards
Valda