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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2005-09 > 1125937601


From: "TOM TULLOCH-MARSHALL" <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] false-named soldier
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 17:26:41 +0100
References: <BAY109-F2101B901DAFF90DDA23505C7A40@phx.gbl>


Michael - carrying on from what John says ................ provided the
man's true identity was known by the time that his medals were issued (which
for an OR would have been automatic, to his last notified address) then the
medal index cards "should" be in duplicate, one under his "served as" name
referring back to his true name, and the true name card referring to the
"served as" name. This is NOT 100% guaranteed to have happened even if the
man's true identity was known, but you have a very good chance that it did.

Where this can "go wrong" for you, if you try to trace these cards on-line
via the digital database, is that the cross-reference notes were generally
written on the top margin of the card and not in the box for the man's name,
so the link between the cards will not appear in an on-line search. It is
however worthwhile your trying to search the database using the man's true
name because if his ID was known when the medals were issued there should be
a card in that name and it will (!should!) therefore appear in the digital
database.

If he was discharged under the false name and never subsequently made a
claim on the medals declaring his true ID and the ID served under then you
are probably going to have a fruitless search unless you can identify the
false ID from something other than Army records. Just GUESSING I would think
he must surely have proven his WW1 Army service in Australia before having
been given a land grant - are there no records pertaining to those grants ?
regards - Tom
-
Tom Tulloch-Marshall
WW1 Military Research
website > http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch/index.html

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Corby" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 6:54 AM
Subject: [WW1] false-named soldier


> Hi,
> I've got an English family member who signed up to the British Army at the
> age of 14 under a false name. He served the war out, and then was
> discharged into the British Government-Australian soldier-settlement
> scheme. Under the scheme, he farmed his land in Australia under his real
> name.
>
> Is there some way that I can find out how he morphed his false name back
> into his real name, in the hope that I can uncover the false name, and
> thus his service record?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike.


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