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  1. #1
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    Default Devonshire Regiment

    I am looking for information about Edwin Charles Sambell he joined the Devonshire Regiment on 9th November 1915 and was discharged 27th July 1917, "wounds". He had in fact lost a leg. I want to know where I can look for details of how he lost his leg as Uncle Ned would never talk about it. His number was 20669, he was born 16 Oct 1896 and died in 1969.

    Does anybody know how to find out about someone who survived?

  2. #2
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
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    Hi
    His medal roll index card says "SWB list C8/2 shows 20769" I had to google SWB to find out it means Silver War Badge but when I searched ancestry's SWB database with that number there were 8 results and none of them with his name.

    Unfortunately 60% + of WW1 service and pension records were destroyed by bombing and the subsequent fires in WW11 and it does look as though Edward's were amongst those destroyed as there are none showing in ancestry's collection.

    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  3. #3
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
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    Hi
    You have seen his SWB record on findmypast?It has the number you gave. It is ancestry that has his medal roll card and The National Archives will also have it but not in the original colour form as I understand it.

    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  4. #4
    SueNSW
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    If you can get to the NA at Kew and view the original medal rolls they should tell you what battalion of the Devonshire Regiment he was in

    To find his entry you would need the reference from his Medal Index Card that can be viewed on Ancestry - C/2/103B19-page 1411

    If a visit is impossible it has been advertised that these rolls will be available online later in the year following digitisation by Naval and Military Press. They are currently advertising a pre release price for the info on DVD (probably only for serious researchers at the moment - at GBP250.00)

    With battalion details you can order a copy of the war diary from the NA - Western Front ones are mostly available already for download. Whilst this almost certainly won't give you the exact answer you are looking for - ie the circumstances that caused him to lose his leg - in the absence of any other information being available - it should provide you with background detail that will give you more of a general idea of what his battalion went through

    As he was not eligible for a Star (active service prior to 1/1/1916) you can restrict your war diary reading to an 18 month period.

    Another avenue for research would be to look at local papers for the area he came from - casualties were often reported

  5. #5
    SueNSW
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    Looking at casualties in the Devonshire Regiment with similar service numbers - a guess could be made at the 9th battalion - BUT - this is a very inexact science as men were transferred between battalions as required - and there were a few similarly numbered casualties from other battalions

    (Hope the formatting stays in place to make it easy to read!)

    CORNALL HL 20603 9TH BN 18/06/1917
    SMEATH J 20609 9TH BN 13/07/1916
    ROSE A 20613 9TH BN 1/07/1916
    TOZER W 20642 9TH BN 1/07/1916
    JONES E 20643 9TH BN 26/10/1917
    WEBBER F 20644 9TH BN 19/01/1918
    COAKER J 20652 9TH BN 6/09/1916
    NILES FC 20653 9TH BN 6/09/1916
    MILFORD JC 20656 9TH BN 1/07/1916
    GRIFFITHS FG 20657 9TH BN 1/07/1916
    WHITWELL J 20658 9TH BN 5/10/1918
    COURTMAN S 20666 9TH BN 2/04/1917
    COLLINGS T 20672 9TH BN 1/07/1916
    BOARD SJ 20684 9TH BN 6/09/1916

    Sorry - doesn't seem to have : (

  6. #6
    SueNSW
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    Quote Originally Posted by SueNSW View Post
    Another avenue for research would be to look at local papers for the area he came from - casualties were often reported
    It looks as though Edwin was included in casualty lists reported as wounded in the Western Daily Press of 3rd August 1916 and the Western Times of 4th August

    Unfortunately there are no other details shown for him in these lists

  7. #7
    kathr7n
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    Hello Diamond,

    I am Edwins Granddaughter, Elaine. The story we were always told was that Granddads battalion was ambushed in a field and he lay there for three days pretending to be dead until he was rescued by a Corporal who returned to check for survivors. But by this time septicaemia set in and he lost his leg. I would love to know what battle this was and where it took place but that is as much as I know.

    Elaine

  8. #8
    Famous for offering help & advice simmo1's Avatar
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    Hi

    You were right, medal roll shows - Previous Units: 9th Devons. 20669 Pte
    This is his SWB record-

    Name:
    Edwin Charles Sambell

    Discharge Unit:
    Devon Regt.

    Regiment:
    Devonshire Regiment

    Regimental Number:
    20669

    Rank:
    Private

    Badge Number:
    138786

    Piece:
    3019

    List Number:
    C 0001/1-0300/2

    Record Group:
    WO

    Record Class:
    329

    There are 2 war diaries online at NA - https://discovery.nationalarchives.go...41&image1.y=13
    But 1917 to Aug 1918 is missing
    Found 1 part here - https://discovery.nationalarchives.go...ils/r/C7357277
    They seem to be missing the rest?

    regards

    Robert

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