Patrick ODwyer Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Hi I am hoping someone may have newspapers details on the Military Medal awarded to Oliver S Smith, Hussars, (b. Aston) and awarded in London Gazette of 27 October 1916. any advice welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 Birmingham Weekly Post in Birmingham Reference Library - Heritage Dept - is the best bet. Aston became part of Birmingham in 1911. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 31 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2009 Birmingham Weekly Post in Birmingham Reference Library - Heritage Dept - is the best bet. Aston became part of Birmingham in 1911. Thanks Alan There's not much chance of me getting up there. Do you know if they so searches themselves at a reasonable rate? Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 I don't believe that the library offers that service, Patrick. You might try to contact Terry Carter. He regularly quotes details from the Post and I assume he must have taken copies/notes. If all else fails, there is a good Birmingham History Forum, with lots of of people who visit the heritage section of the library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 31 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2009 Thanks Chris I'll try both Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 31 May , 2009 Share Posted 31 May , 2009 Apologies Patrick. I have been a bit disingenuous as I was not happy about helping someone recently which received no acknowledgement. I have photocopies of all the relevant pages of the Birmingham Weekly Post and have now checked October 28 to December 30 1916 inc. No mention of Oliver Smith. I will try to go backwards from October 28 over the next couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 31 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 31 May , 2009 I know that feeling only too well Alan I think he was awarded his MM for an action at the end of January 1916 but not gazetted until October. He got his ribbon on 1 November 1916 if that helps. Going into January 17 may be a better bet but I will be happy to leave that to your experienced judgement. For all I know he may have left Aston many years before. He was certainly a pre-war regular If you stumble across other 14th Hussars or 20th Hussars I would be grateful. Some certainly came from B'Ham, including casualties. Very many thanks Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 1 June , 2009 Share Posted 1 June , 2009 The bad news Patrick. I have now checked Birmingham Weekly Post cFebruary 1st 1916 to March 31st 1917 inc. No mention of him despite lots of honours details from differing units , including men from the Aston area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 1 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2009 Thank you so much Alan Don't know what to do now - at a loss. No pension papers, no Aston local news..... He probably moved away at 18 and lost touch. Thanks again Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 1 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2009 Alan If I have the right man, his father was Athur Smith and his brother Henry S Smith. In 1901 they appear to be at Edgbaston (but I guess that is the same paper). His brother Henry may have moved to Stourbridge after this. It is a long shot but you don't know the name of the local paper there by any chance do you? Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 1 June , 2009 Share Posted 1 June , 2009 Alan If I have the right man, his father was Athur Smith and his brother Henry S Smith. In 1901 they appear to be at Edgbaston (but I guess that is the same paper). His brother Henry may have moved to Stourbridge after this. It is a long shot but you don't know the name of the local paper there by any chance do you? Patrick Edgbaston also covered in the Birmingham Weekly Post - suburb of Bham. For Stourbridge see if the Dudley Local History Centre is of any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 1 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 1 June , 2009 Thanks Alan, will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joroti Posted 6 June , 2009 Share Posted 6 June , 2009 Alan, All 3 of my ancestors who perished in this conflict were from Ladywood when they each enlisted and I note one of them was 16th Bn Devonshires who was killed a month before one of your relatives. Would they likely to be mentioned in the Post, grateful if you could do a look up please if you have copies for 1917 and 1918. I am unaware if you get inundated with looks up requests, please let me know as I just stumbled across this thread when searching on Birmingham, I will not be offended and I hope you are not too. But like Patrick, I also understand that some members do not readily acknowledge assistance from others. Their dates are shown in my signature block below. I have a thread running on all of them which has given me some success such that we were able to visit France a few weeks ago and remember them all in person. Also managed to do my own battlefield tour on JJ Duignan as I had been able to trace his exact movements prior to his capture, all mainly from help and advice from members of GWF. Is there a central memorial in Birmingham listing all who did not come home. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 7 June , 2009 Share Posted 7 June , 2009 I will have a go. All 3 are listed with no further details in the 'Roll of Honour of Bham Men and Women who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918' published in the 1920s and the same as those listed in the official list in the Hall of Memory in central Bham. Alan, All 3 of my ancestors who perished in this conflict were from Ladywood when they each enlisted and I note one of them was 16th Bn Devonshires who was killed a month before one of your relatives. Would they likely to be mentioned in the Post, grateful if you could do a look up please if you have copies for 1917 and 1918. I am unaware if you get inundated with looks up requests, please let me know as I just stumbled across this thread when searching on Birmingham, I will not be offended and I hope you are not too. But like Patrick, I also understand that some members do not readily acknowledge assistance from others. Their dates are shown in my signature block below. I have a thread running on all of them which has given me some success such that we were able to visit France a few weeks ago and remember them all in person. Also managed to do my own battlefield tour on JJ Duignan as I had been able to trace his exact movements prior to his capture, all mainly from help and advice from members of GWF. Is there a central memorial in Birmingham listing all who did not come home. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joroti Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Alan, Many thanks for taking the time to help me out. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Tucker Posted 11 June , 2009 Share Posted 11 June , 2009 Only one of the three in the Bham Weekly Post 26 October 1918 page 7 Pte E.J.Lett Age 22 Devon Regt Dow on 22nd ult Leaves a widow at 90, Great Tindal Street, Ladywood Joined the army Oct 1916 after being rejected 5 times 2 brothers are serving in the army;one has been discharged; and another totally rejected He formerly lived at Bellis Street, Edgbaston, Bham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joroti Posted 20 June , 2009 Share Posted 20 June , 2009 Alan, that is a great little piece of info, many thanks. It is hard to imagine the mindset of someone so desparate to join up that even after being rejected 5 times, he persisted and eventually managed to get enlisted. I was unaware of any brothers serving, there were 5 sons I think, I now have a bit more family history to follow up. Once again, I truly appreciate your assistance, perhaps our online paths will cross again on this site. Regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now