STEVE C Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Hello Everybody, I am trying to find a bit more information about my great grandfather. Lieutenant Albert Victor Champion No. 3541 I have his medal card but it is a little bit confusing WO/372/4 Is there any way I can obtain his full army service record I know from the 1911 census the following information where he was serving :- 1908 – Templemore Ireland 1910 – Deep Cut Hants. 1911 - 84TH Battery Royal Field Artillery, Belgaum, India I think he entered France in Feb. 1915, but which battles was he involved in ??? There was always talk in the family that he rose through the ranks to be captain but I can't find any evidence to support this. I have a photograph of him sitting in a field during the war in a Lieutenant's uniform (2 pips on the cuffs) I remember as a very young child that he owned a sword that I could barely lift. I am very proud of Albert & any information would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Steve I had a look at the MIC and Albert actually entered the theatre of war on 16 August 1914 and was entitled to the 1914 Star. He was a Corporal at that point and was then promoted to Battery Quarter Master Sergeant and then Acting Regimental Sergeant Major before being discharged to commission on 3 September 1915. I cannot find a file for him in the NA WO374 series - do you have any information as to whether he continued to serve in the post war period? Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 He retired in 1935: London Gazette 11-10-1935 REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS. REGIMENTAL LIST. ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. The undermentioned having attained the age limit of liability to recall, cease to belong to the Res. of Off.:— Lt. A. V. Champion. 17th Sept. 1935. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34207/pages/6378 It seems likely that the MOD will still hold his records. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE C Posted 28 October , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Hello Is there a way I could get access to his record from the MOD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 The post 1920 records need a declaration that you are the next of kin (or nearest living relative) plus Death Cert. You can get death cert with no problems, but it would be a bit dodgy to claim you were nok as he did have a family. This is a link to the necessary info and MOD form. I might add that as well as the £30 plus £9 for death cert, the operation is taking 15 months to get from application at the moment. http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html Hi steve this answer was given on a recent thread to someone else researching an officer who continued to serve past 1923.jonn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE C Posted 28 October , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Thanks for your help guys, I know he served in the 84th Battery of the Royal Field Atillery Is there any way to find out which battles he took part in during the war I would also like to know about what kind of sword it would have been. Is there no other way of finding when he joined up other than MOD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE C Posted 28 October , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Managed to size the photo to fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Just to confirm. The WO338 index of the WO339 First World War officers files shows Albert Victor Champion. Lieutenant, RFA, Old No. 108527 and "P" number (denoting a file not yet released to the Public Domain) of P/61338/1. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Is there no other way of finding when he joined up other than MOD Hi Steve do you know what year he was born he was serving i see in 1908 would he perhaps have been old enough to have served in south africa(from the photo i would say maybe) you could maybe check the boer war medal rolls and see if he pops up if he does it would give you a bit more info.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 His Gazette entry for promotion to Lieutenant: ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. R.H. & R.F.A.— The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts., and to retain their temp, or actg. rank where specified. 1st July 1917: — A. V. Champion. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30288/supplements/9622 So, presumably the picture of him as a Lieutenant (one stripe on cuff & two pips) is after 1917. EDIT: Death registration suggests born 22nd July 1885 at Dover, married 1906 to Rose Beatrice Carnew at Bristol and died early 1973 at Worth Valley, West Riding of Yorkshire Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 His medal index card shows: Overseas on 16th August 1914 with R.F.A. as a Corporal, No. 3541. Promoted to Battery Quartermaster Sergeant and later acting Regimental Sergeant Major. Commissioned on 3rd September 1915. Address as of 1920: 99 Wingrove Aveneu, Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE C Posted 28 October , 2011 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2011 Bit confusing, I thought his comission was 3-9-15 as per his medal card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon2 Posted 28 October , 2011 Share Posted 28 October , 2011 15 months to get from application at the moment. As a note ; I requested post WW1 records about 3 months ago and full turnaround a month. Also at the same time I submitted a WW2 service record of my Father-in-law with my mother in laws permission turnaround 3 weeks. I might just have been lucky. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geordiechamp Posted 26 October , 2012 Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery Enlisted as a Boy in 1900 Trumpeter 1901 Lance Bombardier 1902 Bombardier 1905 Corporal 1906 Sergeant 1908 Battery Sgt. Major1913 RSM 1914 Commissioned for Service on the Field 1915 Was Captain Garrison Adjutant Oct 1917 - Oct 1923 Tyne Garrison HQ 2Bn Fenham Barracks Newcastle upon Tyne Retired and placed on1st class Reserve of Officers 1923 A record of his commission can be found on the Blue List Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 26 October , 2012 Share Posted 26 October , 2012 For images of a Gunner officer's sword, try Googling 'artillery officers sword.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 10 November , 2018 Share Posted 10 November , 2018 Steve do get in touch. Albert was my grand father, and I think your father must be Ronnie. is my mobile. regards Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil champion Posted 26 February Share Posted 26 February Hi Steve did you ever find out more about Albert? I am also his Great Grandson, and have some items belonging to him. I have recently made a request for his military records but may need to wait up to a year for an update I do know a thing or two about where he served etc, and would love to connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 26 February Admin Share Posted 26 February Welcome to the forum. @STEVE C hasn’t visited the forum for 12 years. My tag may alert them to your post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Champ Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February Hi Steve C, your cousin Dave C here, I have some of the answers to you questions. Are you still living near S/S? do you want to get in touch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 27 February Admin Share Posted 27 February As per the previous post, @STEVE C hasn’t visited the forum for 12 years, so it’s unlikely they will see the new posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Champ Posted 27 February Share Posted 27 February thank -you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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