tightrock Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 Hi everyone, can anyone help me with any information on my grandad ? i carnt even find out his army nummber, his name is James Parker, born in Kendal, West Moorland in 1890, moved to Aycliffe, Durham around start of WW1, joined Durham Light Infantry around 1915, the 6th battalion i think, served in France and Flanders and wounded at Yrpes sometime in 1917, spent time in hospital somewhere in Kent and never returned to the front, have tried pension records, medal roles etc, still carnt find his army number or anything else about him, anyone help please ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 There is a James parker with location Durham on the Ancestry.com pension records. Maybe a pal with Ancestry susbcription might do a lookup for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightrock Posted 27 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2009 yes i have a subscription but none of them match my grandad, thanks anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 27 May , 2009 Share Posted 27 May , 2009 Looking at the MICs on the NA, there are some 12 James Parkers with the DLI. Of these, appx half have middle initials, so persumably you can rule them out. From the service details of some of the remainder I guess you can also rule out some more. Of those left, my favourites would be either: 48819 Pvte James Parker, who was transferred to the Labour Corps (frequent transfer after wounding and down-grading from front line service), or: 4117 Pvte James Parker, who was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps. This might be your man, with a change of unit which meant no further overseas service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightrock Posted 27 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2009 mmmm very interesting, will have a look and let you know how i got on, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightrock Posted 28 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2009 yes have had a look at the medal cards you pointed out, think he is one of these but which one i dont know haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 28 May , 2009 Share Posted 28 May , 2009 Maybe a silly question, but are his medals in the family still (name, etc on the rim)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightrock Posted 28 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2009 afraid my mum does'nt know where they are or who has them, why arnt any of those two in the pension records, do you know why ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 28 May , 2009 Share Posted 28 May , 2009 The WW1 army service records were largely destroyed (2/3rds) during the Blitz on London. Surviving are the 'burnt records' - litterally singed and often water-washed - which were saved from the fire, or the so-called 'pension' records which were service records (or parts thereof) that were held by governmental pension departments and thus saved from destruction. It is just fate as to whether any person's records survive. In my own family's case, grandad No 1 has no records left, grandad No 2 has burnt documents (a lot hard to read). Also it may be that the Ancestry scanning process is not yet 100 percent complete..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightrock Posted 28 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2009 ok thanks for your help anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 29 May , 2009 Share Posted 29 May , 2009 Another thought - local newspaper archives. The local papers often carried write-ups over: a) men enlisting, more especially at the start of the war; b- casualties - weekly lists of those missing, wounded or killed; c) returning soldiers. It might be worth trawling through the archive local to his home, in case he gets a mention. Sometimes there are even photos! The archives can usually be accessed at the local library on microfilm. ++ Absent voters list for 1918 - many are still held at the local library. If available and he is listed it might give his unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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