Lost Military Service Record

[BrianClaydon]

I have found his marriage certificate and he is recorded as a packer, the same as his job in 1921.

Yes just saw that - Strange he  declared his Father as Henry George not Arthur Henry (Harry)

It certainly is. Charles has been quite a challenge. If you look though his father's census returns, it seems he went by quite a few names. On the 1921 Census for Charles Westrop though he has crossed out 'Leroy St' as place of birth, and that's where I have his father residing on the electoral register of 1893 - '8 Shakespeare House, Leroy Street'.

That side of the family also had a tendency to go by middle names on occasion just to add to the confusion.

Kind Regards,

B


 

[BrianClaydon]

Just had a look & there's a Charles Westrop at no. 7 Date St. Southwark
but he's not an Absent Voter so a civilian at this time.
Is this him?

That is him. Good find.

Kind Regards,

Brian

[jim1]

The SWB lists are not part of the burnt documents.
Maybe he lost his eye before WW1 & declared unfit to serve.

[BrianClaydon]

The SWB lists are not part of the burnt documents.
Maybe he lost his eye before WW1 & declared unfit to serve.

It is certainly possible. Thank you for ruling out the SWB list. Was SWB for Navy personnel too do you know?

Kind Regards,

B

[jim1]

For all armed services personnel.

[BrianClaydon]

For all armed services personnel.

Thanks for confirming that. It is certainly looking likely that he didn't serve in WW1. I just need to rule out service beforehand.

Kind Regards,

B

[jim1]

Prior to conscription the Army was a bit more choosey with
regard to who passed the medical.
After conscription men who failed previously were looked at again
& with the view to his age he would have been amongst the first
to get called up.
Looking at the AV list & the births of his children that didn't happen either.

[Jebber]

I have checked the National Archives just in case he was in the Navy, with zero results.

[BrianClaydon]

I have checked the National Archives just in case he was in the Navy, with zero results.

Thanks everyone here,

I already had my doubts about whether Charles Westrop had served in WW1, but given the extent of the burnt documents I sought confirmation here. It seems through all your united research it is highly unlikely he did. I haven't ruled out the possibility that he served in some capacity in the military before WW1, like his brother John Wallace Westrop.

Perhaps the origin story is that he lost an eye whilst in the Military and in time that became conflated with the Great War. Or perhaps he lost the eye in some other way and it became a convenient way to explain it away to a child. Or perhaps it is all mis-remenbered.

What is almost certain is that he lost or was born without an eye and that is a story I most unlikely will never unravel.

Thanks again all who took the time to Read/Research/Post. Extremely helpful.

B