Help Royal Marine WW1

[lethel_wood]

Hi
Can anyone help me find out about my grandfather William Dargie who was a Marine in WW1? He was born Co Monaghan in 1871, and at that time his name was William McGrath. Whether he changed his name or the Marines did that, the family don't know. He came over to Scotland around 1897 but was known to be in the Leeds area in 1913.
He is supposed to have served for either 8 years in the Marines and 4 as a reserve or 4 years in both. He was given 2 medals from WW1 - 1 a silver colour and the other a gold coloured. I think these medals may have been issued to everyone who served in the war. They came in a box but my grandfather picked his name off the box, only to discover someone else's name underneath.
The reason I can't give many details is that my mother didn't know any, in fact when he died in 1953 she had to ask her cousin for family details.
Ethel

[Geoffers]

The medals you mention are probably shown (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp)here

What is written around the rim of these medals?

This TNA research guide tells you about where RM service records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=56)are held.

This guide tells you about how to find a division (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=57)

[lethel_wood]

I have looked at the medals and I think it is the Victory Medal. It says on it "Great War for Civilisaton 1914 - 1919. Around the rim is written Pte W Dargie 14054 (S) at least I think its and S or maybe an 8.

Another medal says it commerates the Royal Visit to Dundee 10 July 1914 of George 5th and Queen Mary and I am led to believe he would have had to be in the forces to receive this.

I am new to this and I keep going round and round in the National Archives because I don't know what I am looking for.

I'm really sorry to bother you but could you maybe point me in an easier direction.
Ethel

[Geoffers]

First question then is, do you know where he was living when he served in the Marines?

[lethel_wood]

I am going to have to say that up until yesterday the answer would have been no but yesterday I found out that in 1914 he was living in Dundee, Angus Scotland. Whether he enlisted with his address as Dundee I don't know. It is reported that he lived for a short time (possibly before this) in London.
Should I contact Deal for his service record, seeing as how I can't work the Archives? I would be willing to pay them for it - maybe not a fortune.
Ethel

[Geoffers]

I think your best bet to begin with is The National Archives, either in person, or if you know someone who lives not too far away, who would be willing to check the records for you. Do have read through the reseach guide, to which I previously gave a link.

If your chap stayed in the RM after WW1 and the records are not held at TNA, then you will need to apply direct to the Royal Navy, see this link (http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/royal_navy.html).