Ascertaining which of several WW1 men with the same name is correct.

[nicdigby]

Hi,

I'm looking for WW1 records of Frederick George TURNEY born Jul 1883 in Chelsea. Chauffeur. There's a gap in his children from 1914 to 1919 so think he could have been away at war, but I'm not sure how to rule men with the same name out?

I've ruled out the one who died in the war as I know my ancestor lived. Is it correct to rule men out whose regiment name was miles away from London and look more carefully at eg the Middlesex one?

Or are there signing up records showing his name, parents name etc?

[CaroleW]

Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz.  Those that remain are on the various subscription sites

The Medal Roll Index is also available but if there are several entries - without a service number it is difficult to determine the right entry

Can’t see an MRI entry for a Frederick George

[nicdigby]

Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz.  Those that remain are on the various subscription sites

The Medal Roll Index is also available but if there are several entries - without a service number it is difficult to determine the right entry

Thank you, I did know about most of the records being destroyed but hope to come across something. As you say, my issue is knowing which man is correct when I don’t know much about him apart from date of birth plus residence, and that he was still alive after the war.

[Ashtone]

Or are there signing up records showing his name, parents name etc?

Usually the man's service record will indicate his birth year, place of birth, and occupation. But if it no longer exists, you'll need to keep digging. If there's a Pension Ledger card for him, that might contain an address.

Are you searching Ancestry or FindMyPast?

I've got a similar issue: relative with a common name, and a war years gap between his children.
Yet no surviving service records for anyone with his name, etc. Just various Medal Index Cards, for chaps with the same name, which don't confirm anything for me. So I just keep digging.

[Ashtone]

If you have an Ancestry of FindMyPast sub, try searching for these men:

Frederick TURNEY, service number 142053
Army Service Corps

Frederick TURNEY, service number 15193
Army Ordnance Corps

Both records above appear to be in the First World War Service Records 'Burnt Documents' set.

Given that your chap was a chauffeur, the ASC regiment is a possibility (as a "driver").

[nicdigby]

Or are there signing up records showing his name, parents name etc?

Usually the man's service record will indicate his birth year, place of birth, and occupation. But if it no longer exists, you'll need to keep digging. If there's a Pension Ledger card for him, that might contain an address.

Are you searching Ancestry or FindMyPast?

I've got a similar issue: relative with a common name, and a war years gap between his children.
Yet no surviving service records for anyone with his name, etc. Just various Medal Index Cards, for chaps with the same name, which don't confirm anything for me. So I just keep digging.

Thanks for this. Had a look on ANC and FindMyPast but several possibilities turned up. I’ll have to have a look when I’m less tired I think and see if I can methodically rule them
in or out.

[Ashtone]

Nic - see my Reply #4

Try also this man:

Frederick Turney
306746
Labour Corps

You'll probably find these records on FindMyPast.

[nicdigby]

Nic - see my Reply #4

Try also this man:

Frederick Turney
306746
Labour Corps

You'll probably find these records on FindMyPast.

Thank you very much, yes these are the ones I had found. Trouble is working out which is ‘mine’!

[Ashtone]

If there is limited personal info on these or other records, look for someone who was a "driver". Sometimes men who had driving related jobs, prior to the war, became drivers when they enlisted.

Also, your man might not have served. The gap between births might just be a coincidence.