guisborough - need a regiment!

[Intrados]

Hi , My question is . If a man enlisted in guisborough N/yorks, for the great war (1914/15 period)would it be a local regiment he joined or would he be sent to one ? I see there are several northern regiments named on the local memorial . Would any record survive of men enlisting from the area and where would I look . I have tried emailing 'local newspapers' but they dont reply ! Anyone here with local military interest who may help ?

[Geoffers]

A better way to look is to start with the name of the man and then to try and identify him in:

1. Medal Card Index (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1) on documentsonline

2. The National Roll of the Great War (it doesn't includ everyone) which is available on the pay-per-view site, findmypast.

3. Did he die in WW1? - Try CWGC (http://www.cwgc.org/)

4. If he died, also try the Soldiers died in the Great War database, also on findmypast

5. Was he captured in WW1 - try PoW interviews (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=20&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1)on documentsonline

6. Burnt and unburnt records are being put online, see this news item on TNA (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/stories/166.htm)

7. Do you have any family medals or uniform photos?

8. Could he have been in the RN - try their service records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=15&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1) and records of the RN Divison (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=19&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1).

[Intrados]

Thanks for the advice but after all the above i am still at a dead end ! If I search the medal cards (no number ) on name only there are too many , and as you will know there is not much info on most of them .I need to narrow it down somehow. I posted a photo on the great war forum but without any luck , ( not clear enough for positive id.) I know the theatres he served in but still leaves a lot of regiments to search, even may have been transfered at some time used to happen . I am afraid I am stuck with this one ! Trev

[Geoffers]

after all the above i am still at a dead end

Curses

What name are you looking for?........and P-L-E-A-S-E don't say 'John Smith'

Did he have any middle names, when was he born?

Any siblings who are known to have enlisted?

Did he contract an illness, or was he injured in the war?

Did he remain in the forces after the war?

[Intrados]

Thanks for your reply and interest ! Ok then my man is walter wilson (my grandfather, no middle name)born 1892 guisborough. lived in 8 union street. I have listed all walter wilsons on the medal cards and have even bought several online taking 'pot luck' with likely regiments, but even if I had him I wouldnt know, as I have nothing to cross check with. Walter was in cairo , salonika , and at Ypres where he was gassed (survived) . this fits nicely with a KOYLI battalion I have been reading about in their regimental history during ww1.I have also been reading the Yorkshire rgt. (green howards ) history during ww1. I have lists of the regiments serving in salonika but apparently Walter was also in Aden . This throws a rather large spanner in the works as no yorkshire rgt. was in Aden at that time . Which makes me think maybe he was transfered to another outfit as I have seen this happen before . Walter had at least one brother in the army , Arthur (known to be at gallipoli - leg wound . went on to be a teacher in whitby, had trouble standing for long periods because of injury) regiment again not known . In the photo the buttons on the tunic seem to show a crown above a hunting horn so I know its infantry , but again it could be one of many but I think KOYLI. Man at KOYLI museum thinks not ! Its a real merry go round. Trouble is there is nobody left with any more info . I am planning to go up to guisborough and see what I can uncover but need some direction for my search.

[v.wells]

Thread hard to read BUt who were his parents? Wife's name? They may be listed as next of kin. If gassed in war would be eligible for army pension. Are you sure of the date of birth?

[Intrados]

Hi Vanessa, thanks for your interest. I am sure of date of birth , also have mothers and fathers names : John Wilson and Jane Hoy. Wife was Mary jane Shaw (1888) from Great Ayton.
It has been suggested I try the local newspapers as early in the war they printed the names of men enlisting, maybe I will find what I need to know there if I am lucky. Trev

[v.wells]

If you don't already have birth cert, get it. It will have his full name on it. He would have been listed under his proper name I think. A daunting task - I have been looking at army pensions WW1 for you but it is a huge task. Guisborough is in Redcar and Cleveland county is it? or was it Leicestershire?

[Intrados]

Yes vanessa , youre right guisborough is in cleveland and most of their records are in redcar library I believe. Thanks for looking for me , of course there is the risk that some of the information on record was part of the 'burnt or lost documents ' but I will perservere and leave no stone unturned ! : ) thanks ,Trev

[Geoffers]

my man is walter wilson, born 1892 guisborough. lived in 8 union street. I have listed all walter wilsons on the medal cards and have even bought several online taking 'pot luck' with likely regiments, ...Walter was in cairo , salonika , and at Ypres where he was gassed (survived).....this fits nicely with a KOYLI battalion.....Walter had at least one brother in the army , Arthur (known to be at gallipoli - leg wound.

The problem with names that occur frequently, is in identifying the correct person. I notice that the medal card index has:

Arthur WILSON = Northumberland Fusiliers and KOYLI
Walter WILSON = Northumberland Fusiliers and KOYLI.

Are these by any chance two of the medals cards that you have purchased? If they are, do either of them indicate that they were injured - e.g. award of the Silver War Badge?

[nina]

You may find this website useful. It contains war memorials etc for guisbro'. A brief look shows there is an Arthur Wilson mentioned

http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/war-memorials-north-yorks-g.htm

Good luck
Nina

[Intrados]

Thats interesting , I will look for those thanks very much !

[Intrados]

Thats interesting Geoff , I will look them up . Thanks for that !

[Spinner]

My Grandfather came from Guisborough and he served in the Durham Light Infantry and the Royal Fusilers.

Information came of the medal card.

Best regards

Spinner

[Intrados]

Thanks for that too ! I may have seen your grandfathers service record . I have been looking up all men from g/bro serving in the great war. If you dont mind what was his name . Do you have his service history as I have regimental diaries if you want to know more ,cheers trev

[Spinner]

Hi

My grandfather was Robert Boughen he served between 1914 and 1920

Best regards

David