Born Abroad

[coseley]

Can anyone help me with this one please? My husband's grandparents went to USA in 1893 and came back in 1900 when my father-in-law was five. He volunteered for army service in 1914 and served throughout the war in spite of being mustard gassed in France and losing a finger.

I have found his medal record card on National Archives on-line but would like to find further War records. Unfortunately, if I type in Harvey, Illinois as place of birth I get all the American War records. I have tried typing in the address of where he lived at the time of enlisting but I don't get anything for him. I appreciate a lot of records were lost I sent an e-mail asking National Archives about this but the answer I got was long, involved and didn't appear to answer the actual question.

He didn't have a birth certificate as we know it, just a small piece of paper saying he had been born in Harvey, Illinois. As a baby I presume he wouldn't have had any papers to come into the country as his parents were English anyway and they were coming home.

He served his country well but didn't get a service pension until just before he died at 82!

Thanks

[Geoffers]

Can anyone help me with this one please? My husband's grandparents went to USA in 1893 and came back in 1900 when my father-in-law was five. He volunteered for army service in 1914 and served throughout the war in spite of being mustard gassed in France and losing a finger.

Is he any of the chaps mentioned in these pension records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=harvey+AND+g.s.w&txtfirstdate=&txtlastdate=&txtrestriction=PIN&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=20&image1.y=11)at TNA (all for G.S.W - general service wound) or this record (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/searchresults.asp?SearchInit=0&txtsearchterm=harvey+AND+finger&txtfirstdate=&txtlastdate=&txtrestriction=PIN&hdnsorttype=Reference&image1.x=31&image1.y=13)at TNA (for loss of finger)


I have found his medal record card on National Archives on-line but would like to find further War records.........I appreciate a lot of records were lost I sent an e-mail asking National Archives about this but the answer I got was long, involved and didn't appear to answer the actual question.

There might be further records, but as you appreciate many records were either damaged or destroyed. Do you know his regiment from the medal cards? Are any war diaries for his unit available on documentsonline. They are highly unlikely to mentioned your chap by name, but still provide a fascintating insight.

[coseley]

Thank you very much once again Geoffers. There is plenty there for me to look at. I have his regimental numbers and quite a few details but the problem I find is that when I try to look the first thing I am asked for is the address of his place of birth. As soon as I put in Harvey, Illinois I get Americal Military records. However, I shall now try the links you have kindly suggested. Thanks again.
Regards,
Barbara

[Peter Goodey]

Barbara
1. Restrict the search to the database you're interested in.
2. For preference don't enter any place of birth.
3. If you have to enter something be less specific eg USA.

Database names:-

"British Army WWI Pensions"

"British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920"

The latter is only partly digitised so far.

[coseley]

Thanks Peter, lots to try there.
Regards, Barbara

[bwarnerok]

He didn't have a birth certificate as we know it, just a small piece of paper saying he had been born in Harvey, Illinois. As a baby I presume he wouldn't have had any papers to come into the country as his parents were English anyway and they were coming home.



By law, by being born in the USA, he was an american citizen. At that time I imagine there would be a birth certificate for him in Illinois. Usually it's the State that will have that.

Also, in the US passports were in effect at that time and a baby or child should be on the passport. Passport applications are starting to show up online now (at A******) but I don't think they have the year you're looking for as yet.

If parents applied for US citizenship, it would be listed in the County records of where they lived.

Betsy

[coseley]

Thank you Betsy for taking the trouble to reply. The information you have given is useful and interesting and I can now follow up the American side of things. I have now found his War records and am about to reply to Peter.

Thanks again,
Regards, Barbara

[coseley]

Peter Goodey I can't thank you enough. What an emotional afternoon! I typed in British Army WW1 Pensions as you suggested and there in the list was Joseph Andrew Harris. The list didn't give his place of birth but I clicked on the entry and found pages and pages of information such as when he left France, which hospitals he was in and when, and even a form he had filled in himself. I think seeing actual handwriting can be particularly moving. The forms did refer to him being born in Harvey, Illinois so I know I have the right one and other details match. I can't believe how long I have been searching and how simple it is when you know where to look. I would never have found all this info without you.

Thank you very much,
Regards,
Barbara

[Peter Goodey]

Barbara

Glad you found what you wanted.