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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2004-08 > 1092006795


From: Forrest Anderson <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] FANTHAMs in WWI
Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 00:13:21 +0100
References: <20040808134317.26285.qmail@web40403.mail.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <20040808134317.26285.qmail@web40403.mail.yahoo.com>


On Sun, 8 Aug 2004 06:43:17 -0700 (PDT), David Parkes
<> wrote:

>> The 14-volume "National Roll of the Great War" has just
>> one Fantham listed, in Volume VI for Birmingham
>
>How can one access this 14-volume Roll? Is it on CD?
>Online? Or only in "physical" form?

It is printed and CD-ROM form. There are the difficult-to-get original
volumes, or the reprinted editions published by the Naval and Military
Press. As well as reprinting the 14 volumes, the Naval and Military Press
also created an index volume to the entire series which is very useful.

Archive CD books at http://www.archivecdbooks.org.uk have put several of
the volumes onto CD-ROM (one volume per CD), but these are only page
images - the text is not searchable. The Birmingham Volume (Vol 6) is
available from the company.

>> Fantham, T. Bombardier, RFA
>
>What does, "RFA" stand for?

Royal Field Artillery.

>> He was in the Army at the outbreak of war, and was
>> immediately drafted to France
>
>Does this imply that he was already a voluntary member of
>the Army as a serviing professional?

It sounds as though he was a Regular soldier at the outbreak of war, ie a
full-time soldier.

>> "Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1918" gives
>> details of eight Fantham casualties
>
>Similar to my question about the National Roll, how
>does one gain access to, "Soldiers Died in the Great War"?

You can get original printed copies (about 80 volumes), reprints of the
originals, or the whole collection on a rather expensive CD-ROM. Have a
look at http://www.great-war-casualties.com/ where you can download a
demo version of the CD-ROM.

>> 1343 L/CPL FANTHAM, WILLIAM. Army Cyclist Corps. Killed
>> in Action 09/03/1915 in FRANCE & FLANDERS. Born in
>> SMETHWICK, STAFFS. Enlisted in BIRMINGHAM. resided in
>> SMETHWICK. FORMERLY 6486, SCOTTISH RIFLES.
>
>This chap also appears in the CWGC and of those that
>have been listed thus far with the name, "William",
>he appears to be the best bet.

Yes, he looks hopeful.

>With this information,
>is it possible to obtain Service records from the PRO
>which could confirm DOBs, street addresses, next of kin
>etc.?

Firstly, the service record must have survived. Since more than half of
them didn't, that's the first hurdle. Secondly, the records have been
transferred to microfilm, and even for a rare name like Fantham, it could
mean searching through several reels of microfilm, with no guarantee of
success. There is no index to show which names are on each microfilm. See
<http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/service_records/sr_soldiers.htm>;
for more information.

You really need to visit the National Archives yourself and have a look
through the various microfilms, or get a friend to do so, or commission a
researcher to look on your behalf, or order the films through the LDS
Family History Library System.

If, after all that, his service record is found, then there's a good
chance that you'll get his age upon enlistment, address, next of kin,
etc. However you should note that some of the records which have
survived have been fire- or water-damaged, and are very difficult to
read.

>In addition, what is the connection between the Army
>Cyclist Corps and Scottish Rifles in the above entry?
>Or, is this entry stating that William FANTHAM was
>first in the Scottish Rifles and then in the Army
>Cyclist Corps?

Since it says that he was in the Army Cyclist Corps and formerly in the
Scottish Rifles, then he was in the Scottish Rifles first, and then the
Army Cyclist Corps. He may have been in other regiments or corps as well.
Maybe he was a keen cyclist before the war and transferred to the Army
Cyclist Corps when it was formed during the war?

>Either way, can this information be
>used to obtain additional data from the PRO, et al?

His entry in the Medal Index Card database says that he was with the 2nd
Bn of the Scottish Rifles, so you could look at the war diaries of that
battalion, or a regimental history, and follow their movements. The
problem is that without his service record, you don't know when he joined
or left the battalion. Also remember to download the actual MIC image
(cost 3.50 GBP), but note that one "image" is usually a set of six
separate MICs on a page, so look carefully at the reference numbers
before downloading, to see which MICs you're going to get for your 3.50
GBP. Read the instructions at
http://www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk/medals.asp and in
particular the paragraph entitled "How are the cards arranged?"

The associated Medal Rolls may also give you information over and above
what is printed on the MIC, but these are available on-line.

>> The London Gazette is always worth a search if you've
>> got an unusual name
>
>Does the LG list only those who copped it? If not,
>what other "activities" served as the catalyst for
>information about individual soldiers making its
>way into the LG's pages?


Whilst the London Gazette does have entries for a small percentage of
those who died, that was is not its purpose. The main items which
interest us in the London Gazette are the announcements of the award of
medals and decorations (including Mentioned in Despatches); and the
appointment, promotion, and termination of officers' commissions of all
three services.

>Finally, my paternal Great-Grandfather...
>was convicted of a crime in 1916 and
>sentenced to Field Punishment No 1...
>Alas, the service records do not state what
>his crime was, so are there other sources in existence
>that may confirm the specifics of his crime...

Not as far as I know.

Forrest


--
Forrest Anderson - British Military Genealogical Researcher.
E-mail:
Website: www.military-researcher.com

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