GREATWAR-L Archives

From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Help Please
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000 06:23:40 +0100

At 02:19 04/07/00 , Barry wrote:
>Hello
>
>This is my first posting on this list. I am searching for information on
>my Grandfather Edward Thomas Edwards b. 1887. I am not sure in which
>regiment he served and details are very scarce, simply because he did not
>talk about it, and discouradged questions about his ordeals.
>
>My father has said he was a sergeant in a machine gun company, lost his
>stripes for stealing food for his men, then gained them back at a later time.
>My uncle says he fought in the trenches, was bayonetted and gassed. He had
>a couple of stripes, having them removed for pinching food and having
>jumped on a mule during one of their retreats. He had only the three usual
>medals.
>
>Edward Thomas Edwards came from Failsworth, Manchester.
>
>Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Barry,

Since he had the three usual medals then you should find his regiment on
the medals, since all WWI campaign medals were stamped with the holders
particulars. Failing that you could check the World War I Medal Rolls.

If the serviceman or woman survived World War I and served long enough
overseas to qualify for campaign medals, then they should be found in the
Medal Rolls held at the PRO Kew. The rolls record service (campaign) medal
and honours and awards; the lists are kept in class WO 329. These rolls
however give little or no personal information being confined to the unit,
service number, theatres of war in which the individual served, and the
medals awarded. Those who served in France and Flanders between 5 Aug and
22 Nov 1914 received the 1914 Star (the "Old Contemptibles" medal). Those
who served in any war zones between 5 Aug 1914 and 31 Dec 1915 were awarded
the 1914-15 Star. All British and imperial servicemen and women who served
outside the UK between 1914 and 1920 were given the British War Medal and
British forces over the same period also received the Victory Medal. [The
three medals 1914 or 1914/15 Star, the War Medal and the Victory Medal
became known as "Pip, Squeak and Wilfred" to old soldiers.]

Before searching the Medal Rolls in WO 329, you should check the Medal
Index Cards in WO 372. These are held on microfiche in the Microfilm
Reading Room. It is arranged alphabetically and in regimental order of
precedence. The alphabetic listing is slightly odd in that it lists those
with one initial first, then one Christian name and then two initials, two
Christian names and so on. The card when found will provide Surname,
Christian Name or initial, other Christian names or initials, rank,
regiment, regimental number and the medals to which the individual was
entitled and usually the Army Medal Office reference. To find the actual
entry on the Medal Rolls, the Medal Office Reference must be transformed
into the WO 329 reference using a key found in WO 329/1.

More information can be found at the PRO web site at URL:
http://www.pro.gov.uk/

The PRO do not have an on-line searchable archive. Nor do they usually
undertake any research for personal or postal enquirers. However they
have a list of independent researchers, with a useful search facility. The
address is: http://www.pro.gov.uk/readers/irlist/default.htm

Yours aye,

Iain Kerr
In Windsor, Berkshire
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
Rootsweb Sponsor Listowner for the World War II list.

This thread:

• [WW1] Help Please by Barry <>

  • Re: [WW1] Help Please by Iain Kerr <>