Rubberlegs Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 Hi all, I am relatively new to researching WW1 soldiers, but I am pretty sure that I have covered most freely available resources online before posting this message. However I am hoping that there are other resources I am unaware of that may help me with my research! I am trying to research my great grandfather (Private James Skellett, MGC, 71850.) who was a private in both the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps. I have viewed his medal roll index card and have his regimental numbers for both regiments, however there seem to be very limited resources online for researching the MGC. I have been to the MGC Old Comrades Association website and have discovered that I can pay for a research service, however I am quite enjoying conducting my own research so would like to exhaust all avenues before going down that road. However am I at the end of that road already?! I understand there is no regimental museum and there were so many companies formed that research is going to be extremely difficult, especially considering that on his index card there is no date for entry into theater. Can anyone tell me please where else I can further my research? Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Regards, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 Mark, Have you had a look at the Long, Long Trail (link top left on main page) Bit about MGC here - http://www.1914-1918.net/mg_units.htm and http://www.1914-1918.net/mgc.htm You could also try Ancestry to see if any of his records survived Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 Hi Mark and welcome, the lack of entry date sugest's entry after 31/12/15 as the dates were to show qualifying date for 14/15 star.john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 Machine Gun Corps Research Check out the MGC pack. Might be worth contacting Mr Parker. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipperary Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 (edited) His Lincolnshire number 22221 going by similar numbers was issued in 1915, MGC 71820 was 53 company which was formed in Grantham in Feb 16, this may have bee your mans unit also.john http://www.1914-1918.net/mg_units.htm Companys 53 upto about mid 60's could be where your looking Edited 14 September , 2012 by munster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin ss002d6252 Posted 14 September , 2012 Admin Share Posted 14 September , 2012 SWB rolls suggest that it would be nearer the back end of 1915, probably about October time . 18827 enlisted 23 August 1915 26286 enlisted 3 December 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 14 September , 2012 Share Posted 14 September , 2012 Minor point of order: the Lincolnshire Regiment did not become Royal until after WW2. Just so you re not misdirected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin kenf48 Posted 15 September , 2012 Admin Share Posted 15 September , 2012 This link is to a rather jumbled page on Rootsweb http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cfgamblesresearch/ARMY%20CAREERS/WORLD%20WAR%20ONE/MACHINE%20GUN%20CORPS.htm but it is free! If you can access Ancestry either through the library edition or their free trial it's always worth searching the service records (or as above the SWB record around similar numbers) around similar numbers. The fact that both the Lincolnshire and MGC are shown on the mic suggest he went overseas with the former before volunteering for the latter. Many Regimental machine gunners were brigaded or 'badged' into the Corps on, or shortly after it's formation (cf George Coppard 'With a machine gun to Cambrai). Further reorganisation took place in early 1918 so it can get complicated. The 1915 enlistment date suggests he volunteered under the Derby Scheme http://www.1914-1918.net/derbyscheme.html I would look at his service chronologically and initially try to find out more about his service in the Lincolnshire Regiment before moving on to the MGC Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albion353 Posted 15 September , 2012 Share Posted 15 September , 2012 If you want to do some background research check out your local library to see if they have a copy of: Machine Gunner 1914-18. By C. E. Crutchley. Published 1975. I enjoyed reading it, but its always good to check these things out before buying. James. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubberlegs Posted 19 September , 2012 Author Share Posted 19 September , 2012 Thank you all for your comments and suggestions, you have given me much to go on to further my research and for that I am very grateful. In addition, I have since received a message from the MGC OCA informing me that James was compulsorily drafted into the MGC from the Lincolns around the 14 Dec 1916 and was assigned to 62nd Coy. I have also been given a timeline of the units engagements and movements, so I now have more information than I could've wished for in order to build up a picture of James' service. Kudos to the MGC OCA and to all who replied to my post Best wishes, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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