Here is a link to an image of my grandfather's medal card. (I know it's correct as both his sons are still alive, my uncle wasn't sure where he'd put the medals and it took ages to find them but the numbers match. Very lucky!) I can't understand what is written in the 'Remarks' column. The other 5 cards - all for George JONES, 1st Monmouthshire - that came with the download have nothing in the Remarks column. Which I believe confirms that it's the right card.
https://i872.photobucket.com/albums/a...ge19190307.jpg
Family oral history says that he was wounded and captured at Ypres in 1917 and finished the war as a PoW somewhere in Germany. We actually have an image of him in the camp. He worked on farms [the kommandos?] and from what I've read about the first Monmouthshire I suspect that he was captured in 1915 and that I'm lucky to be here!
When I am at TNA next month after four days in Ypres (I leave on Monday - Arrr!), I believe that I can read 'J/1/9B' but that is all. I've looked at the TNA - truly I have - but can't seem to find anything.
So my questions are:
1. Is the word in the remarks something obvious like discharged, demobilized etc. or something else?
2. Any other advice on where I can look when I'm at TNA and are there any further clues on the card?
3. What's the second number (225959) as this doesn't appear on his medals?
Thanks
Jane
Results 1 to 6 of 6
Thread: George JONES - 1st Monmouthshire
-
18-08-2011, 10:50 PM #1spisonGuest
George JONES - 1st Monmouthshire
Last edited by Kerrywood; 19-08-2011 at 12:01 AM. Reason: full image replaced by link, for copyright reasons
-
19-08-2011, 12:01 AM #2
I can't help myself, but The Long, Long Trail site, gives lots of info about interpreting a medal card and also about looking for records at Kew.
www.
1914-1918.net/grandad/mic.htm
-
19-08-2011, 12:06 AM #3
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- North London
- Posts
- 5,147
Disemb(odied). I believe this implies that he left the regular army, but continued to serve in a territorial force.
The medal roll references (J/1/105B and J/1/9B3 ?) will lead you to the medal rolls themselves in WO 329, which can be seen at Kew. These may give you his unit. With that information, you can then look for the relevant war diary in WO 95, which may describe the action that he saw.
For how to convert the roll references to WO 329 piece numbers, have a look at this page of TNA Documents Online.
For how to interpret medal index cards in general, this page may be helpful.
www.
1914-1918.net/grandad/mic.htm
Someone more knowledgeable than I will no doubt be along soon.
-
19-08-2011, 5:34 AM #4spisonGuest
Steep learning curve here!
Knowing what that abbreviation meant has helped a lot as it allowed me to search the LLT. The 6 digit number (225959 in his case) I'm pretty sure means that he had enlisted in a Territorial Force sometime after 1908 and was part of the 1917 renumbering. Territorial Forces are something I've heard about and never really understood. - I'm working on the understanding.
I thought the first reference was 'T' but I still can't find it. J/1/9B3 I could find. As close as I could get though was on WO329/2862. I'm pretty sure I did it right.
Thanks Kerrywood and Jellylegs for that but I'd already tried and it didn't help much at all. LLT is a really useful site. I just keep getting lost as it's all so new (for me).
Kerrywood: Thanks for getting rid of the image. I meant to put the link. I should have fixed it myself.
Feel free to add any other words of wisdom.
Jane
-
19-08-2011, 7:36 AM #5ProcatGuest
Many men were issued with multiple numbers as they moved around regiments and units. You will find an excellent explanation here:
https://www.
1914-1918.net/grandad/findnumber.html
-
11-10-2011, 7:45 PM #6spisonGuest
With the help of the wonderful assistance desk at TNA I have now viewed the medal rolls - both of them. The staff took one look at the TNA website for the Monmouthshire Regiments rolls and went straight to the old red paper folders to find what I needed! (It was good to know that it wasn't just me who had trouble with the online version.)
George was a rifleman and the diaries are dreadful to read! He was with the 28th Battalion and was in the Ypres salient during the attacks of the 6th and 8th May 1915 during the chlorine gas attacks on the Canadians. While the diaries only name officers and what happened to them, I feel reasonably confident that this is when he was captured as 600-odd men were taken prisoner during this battle.
Jane
Helping you trace your British Family History & British Genealogy.
All times are GMT. The time now is 6:50 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.
Bookmarks