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Author Topic: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?  (Read 268 times)

Offline Jardiner

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Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« on: Wednesday 10 April 24 15:41 BST (UK) »
For many years now I've been aware that my grandfather took part in WW1 and indeed I knew he was a POW but actual dates were not forthcoming, That is until recently and now it's thrown up a new set of questions.
He was Michael Alfred King, Born 1897 in Belfast. Living at Queen Victoria Street. It would appear he signed up in 1915 / 1916 and joined the Royal Irish Rifles. The documents I have are very faded photo copies so inaccuracies will exist. From research I have done shows he was in a Reserve regiment based first at Holywood and then to Clandeboye (both Northern Ireland). The regiment then moved to England in 1918. However this is confusing as the faded document indicates he was posted, somewhere, in 1917. We then have a gap in the information and then we now found out he was indeed a POW @ St Quentin, in France on 23/05/1918 and indeed data shows he was a POW from 21/03/1918 - 04/01/1919.However we have some, unverified, information that he may also have been at Stendal The German Empire POW camp just west of Berlin.
Can any military experts help fill in the missing pieces? Any info at all would be both helpful and interesting.

Thanks Jardiner

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 15:53 BST (UK) »
What was his regimental number?
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Offline Kiltaglassan

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 16:02 BST (UK) »

Was he known as Alfred King?

House 12 in Queen Victoria Street (Pottinger (part of), Down).
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Pottinger__part_of_/Queen_Victoria_Street/229142/


Researching: Cuthbertson – Co. Derry, Scotland & Australia; Hunter – Co. Derry; Jackson – Co. Derry, Scotland & Canada; Scott – Co. Derry; Neilly – Co. Antrim & USA; McCurdy – Co. Antrim; Nixon – Co. Cavan, Co. Donegal, Canada & USA; Ryan & Noble – Co. Sligo

Offline Jardiner

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 16:20 BST (UK) »
He was indeed know as Alfred. His regiment number was 18th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and his number appears to be 749.

Jardiner.

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 16:29 BST (UK) »
When he was captured at St Quentin on 21 March 1918, he was with XIV Platoon, D Company, 12th Battalion RIR. This is a combination of information from contemporary Red Cross search requests and the Stendal PoW list. Both agree on the battalion and the date.
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Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 16:40 BST (UK) »
Odd that his number stayed as 18/749 when he was serving with 12th battalion
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Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Did my Grandfather see any action in WW1?
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 10 April 24 17:03 BST (UK) »
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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