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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Why can't I find my grandfather's service record?


Annmac

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Hi, Looking for some assistance please. I have found my grandfather's medal card and know a little about his service:

Richard Murray

Private 75971, 2nd London, Royal Fusiliers

He was a POW for at least the latter part of the war - we have a copy of a letter from the War Office about his release. Lived in Chiswick - DOB 09/10/1898

Can find nothing else about his enlistment or service record, although did find a brother of his (John) who was killed in action in France and is commemorated in Thiepval, who we knew nothing at all about!

Any ideas where I should look for more info about Grandad?

Many thanks

Ann

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Ann

Welcome to the Forum

It's not guaranteed that his records will have survived a bombing rain in WW2.

Ancestry are currently putting those that have on line but have not gone up to M yet.

Top left of this page is a link to the Long Long Trail which will explain to you about Records and Medal Cards etc and also you can see what his Battalion was up to.

Hywyn

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Hi Hywyn - many thanks for replying. Ancestry have done the Ms, but he isn't there.

I found his medal card on the Long Long Trail, but nothing else at all - I don't even know when he joined up, so will have to keep looking.

Ann

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Ann

Yes they have, you're right. I keep thinking they're up to L for some reason. Sorry about that.

Re the Long long Trail I'm not sure what you mean by nothing else. If you mean re the Royal Fusiliers then select Infantry Regiments and then scroll down to Royal Fusiliers

Hywyn

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No, I meant that I can find nothing specifically about him.

I am desperate to know when he enlisted and where he served/was captured.

The text about the Royal Fusiliers is very interesting and some of the theatres of war tell me a lot about why he wouldn't talk about it when he was alive, but I am looking for details. Really irritating that I found so much about his brother and very little about him. Don't know anywhere else to look, so any thoughts gratefully received.

Ann

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The London Regiment/Royal Fusiliers medal rolls - the ledgers kept at the National Archives to which the above card is an index are very good in that they show battalion served with overseas AND the dates with each particular battalion.

Steve.

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No, I meant that I can find nothing specifically about him.

I am desperate to know when he enlisted and where he served/was captured.

The text about the Royal Fusiliers is very interesting and some of the theatres of war tell me a lot about why he wouldn't talk about it when he was alive, but I am looking for details. Really irritating that I found so much about his brother and very little about him. Don't know anywhere else to look, so any thoughts gratefully received.

Ann

Even if his service records have been lost,the appropriate Medal Roll,in the National Archives at Kew,should show his battalion.Once you have his battalion,you can trace its movements through the regimental history,which you should be able to request through your local library,and the battalion war diary,available at Kew.It is possible,but unlikely,that he'll be specifically mentioned in either.My greatuncle was captured in mid October 1918 with the 9th East Surreys.Unusually,he is listed as missing in action,and got a mention in the local paper!

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Hi Stebie9173 - thanks a lot.

I think that may have to wait a while as we are quite a long way from Kew and I work full time, so will have to plan an outing...

Ann

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