WW1 soldier's records

[Ghosthunter50]

Help!! This is the 1st relative I've had to search any army records for. None of my grandparents fought in WW11, they worked the land or worked in the munitions factory.
So the 1st relation I come across is a 
Thomas Powell b 1888 Fochriw, Gelligaer, Glamorganshire. He was married at the time. His uniform/ cap badge shows him serving in Monmouthshire Regiment. I don't know any numbers etc. I have no living relation to ask for any info. He lived til 1959.
I am of the understanding that 60/70% of records were destroyed during WW11. I am hoping it's my ineptness that's eluding me.
If you require more info, I will try & be forthcoming with it.
T.I.A
Jayne

[CaroleW]

The Medal Roll Index has 6 entries for his name - all 6 served with the Monmouthshire Regiment.  At least 5 were Privates

[tonepad]

If Thomas was awarded any WW1 medals and they still survive in the family, the medals may have his service number engraved on them.


Tony

[Ghosthunter50]

If Thomas was awarded any WW1 medals and they still survive in the family, the medals may have his service number engraved on them.


Tony

Thomas had 13 children now all dead, I'm only in touch with 1 of his grandchildren of the many he had & she says he wasn't a nice man & wasn't talked about by his children so I think they don't exist anymore. I'm doing this journey on my own via the internet.
Jayne

[MaxD]

I am of the understanding that 60/70% of records were destroyed during WW11. I am hoping it's my ineptness that's eluding me.

Of your two thoughts above, I doubt it is ineptness but the first part which applies.  Medal records have no personal info to separate one Thomas Powell from the next and the one pension record that has a residence places him in Blaine Monmouthshire .

MaxD

[Ghosthunter50]

Thank you Maxd but alas that is not my Thomas 😔. Mine is from Fochriw/Bargoed/Pontlottyn . That is the next valley over very close. This is why I've held off tracing this side Powell is a popular surname in the valleys in South Wales & probably inter related. I've got a huge task on my hands.
Jayne

[MaxD]

Worth noting that the Monmouthshire Regiment was an all Territorial Force regiment.  Of the 10 battalions, only three served overseas so if he was a member of one of the seven that didn't then there would be no medal records either. 

MaxD

[Ghosthunter50]

I'm lucky enough to live near The SWB museum so took off there today. The curator confirmed my soldier was at time of photo a member of the Monmouthshire Regiment. She's going to find a bit more info for me. It was interesting looking at all the artifacts etc & seeing the actual cap badge etc.
Next trip the Monmouthshire Regiment museum. I've already checked their website & see they hold an enrollment register & found a T Powell 7102 who signed up for WW1 just need to try & find more info.
Jayne

[MaxD]

T Powell 7102 was a Royal Engineer.  While it is possible for another man to have the same number (numbers were not unique then), it is too much of a coincidence for both name and number to be the same.
Only a medal record exists for T Powell 7102, no identifying pesonal info.  Possible of course that the man served in the Monmouthshires before transferring to RE, but his Mon number would have been different.
As CaroleW has pointed out, there are 5 or 6 T Powells in the Monmouthshire medal records only one has identifying info, he came from Newbridge.

MaxD