Pte Jack Griffin Leicestershire Regiment

[Bob Davies]

Hello all, I am researching my Grandfather Pte Jack Griffin, (possibly 5th batt) Leicestershire regiment. I have found his medal card, on it are two service numbers; 4152 and below that 241453. Why two numbers I don't know? First went to France on 28-10-1915. Discharged on 14-8-1917. He was wounded while at or near to Vimy Ridge, on or about 1st March 1917. GSW to the head. I have also found his siver war badge record but no other records on ancestry. I found this site and though to join and ask. Can anyone give me or tell me where to find any more records or infomation about his time in the Great War, please. I have a copy of the 5th Leicesters by J D Hills, their action at Gommecourt was the time of him being wounded. Any help is appreciated. Best wishes, Bob.

[Ellis1918]

The SWB roll shows he was discharged from the 5th battn Leicester Regiment on 14 Aug 1917 due to wounds received .

He enlisted on 28 Apr 1915 and served overseas , landing in France 28 Oct 1915 as you stated.

The 5th were a territorial force battalion and 4152 was his original number. 6 digit numbers were issued later in the war.

By following the "long long trail " link at the top of this page you should be able to trace his battalion movements.

[Bob Davies]

Thank you Ellis 1918 and thanks to all who have contributed to this site. It makes finding things a lot easier I have found the 5th Battn war diary via this site and the long long trail to the nat archives. Interesting reading so far, I must say. An interesting site for those following the Leicestershire Regiment is "ww1tigers.com" A lot of old photos, mainly of Tigers and some other information. Is ther a way of finding a list of 5th battalion Leicestershire regiment soldiers? A story my Grandad told me back in 1974/9 mentioned that a relative found him after he was hit and took him to the firt aid post. Regards, Bob.

[jay dubaya]

Bob, what's the relatives name? The best bet to find him will be the MICs, a search with the 6 digit number should give some results

Jon

[Bob Davies]

Hi Jon, thanks, the surname could be Griffin or Chapman. They are the only names I have found so far on the family tree, that may have been involved What is an MIC please?

[Bob Davies]

The light just came on, MIC is medal index card Dohoooo ?!%^*

[Adam Llewellyn]

Good morning Bob,

Concerning the relative, would I be right to assume that both men could have been from the Coalville/Loughborough area?

Regards.

Llew.

[Bob Davies]

Good morning Llew, yes, Oliver Chapman or his brother Walter Chapman both living in Markfield, 1911 census. Or Frederick Walter Griffin cousin of my Grandfather Jack Griffin, both living in Hugglescote, 1911 census. A longer shot, would be uncles of Jack Griffin who are Oliver and Gerald. Oliver in Hugglescote but I have nothing but family memory on Gerald so possibly Hugglescote/Coalville. Thanks for the reply, regards, Bob. ps, nothing so far in the 5th battalion diary, the action at Gommecourt, 1st March 1917 would seem to be the time. I havn't looked in the 1/4 Battalion diary yet.

[Adam Llewellyn]

Bob,

There are a couple of options for you,

241446 Pte. Walter Griffin 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, may have enlisted a day or so before Jack and his date of entry is also different 11th November 1915, not that this would make any difference, but how about one cousin enlisting and then the other thinking, I'll have some of that? Walter is shown as living in Thringstone on the 1918 Absent Voters list, possible?

25072 Pte. Oliver Chapman 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, a resident of Little Shaw Lane, Markfield. Even with the 1918 Absent Voters list showing Oliver as being with the 1/5th Battalion his number would suggest that he was transferred from another Leicesters Battalion, either from being wounded or needs must. He was also discharged with A SWB, so we do have some back up on my assumption. Oliver would have attested under the Derby Scheme on the 11th December 1915 and would have been called up on or around the 9th February 1916.

Other information that maybe of use to you,

26938 Dvr. Walter Gregory Chapman of Little Shaw Lane, Markfield was serving with the 222nd Field Company, Royal Engineers.

40811 L/Cpl. Gerald Harry Griffin of Snibston was serving with the 3rd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment.

Regards.

Llew.

[Bob Davies]

Thank you Llew, that gives me some good leads. I will do some searching and post my findings here. I may be a few days. Regards, Bob.

[Bob Davies]

The story so far. It would seem that my Grandad, Pte Jack Griffin was at Gommecourt on 1st March 1917. He was seriously wounded in the head by shrapnel from a shell. His Uncle 25072 Pte Oliver Chapman found him wandering down a trench and took him to the first aid post. After some time he was transported to England on the HMHS Lanfranc . Before the Lanfranc left port, the wounded German prisoners tried to take over the ship. This was contained and she set sail for England only to be torpedoed by UB4O in the Channel. Luckily for Jack, he was rescued and made it home, minus a peice of his skull, the size of a 50pence piece. He died in 1980. Oliver Chapman was seriously wounded in October 1917. He made it home too, he died in 1957. For your records, Llew and others, 26938 Dvr. Walter Gregory Chapman is quite possibly the brother of Oliver. 40811 L/Cpl. Gerald Harry Griffin may be a relative of Jack Griffin, possibly a cousin? 241446 Pte. Walter Griffin, I do not believe to be a relative of Jack Griffin. If anyone has any more details of any of these brave men, or details of the 5th Battalion Leicesters, I would be delighted to hear from you. Regards and thanks, Bob.

Edited 26 April , 2017 by Bob Davies
Oliver is Jacks Uncle, not cousin as I previously stated.

[Cpl Allan Chapman]

Walter Gregory Chapman was my Grandfather. Oliver was my great uncle. Oliver  got a wound to the head from a wiz bang! My brother managed to get part of his medical records. At one stage his red cell count was 25%. His wound was tripanned I think the word is, where the skull is drilled to release pressure. Never the same man. My grandfather Walter never talked about the war. I have pictures of both Walter and Oliver.

[Bob Davies]

Hello  Cpl Allen, great pictures thank you for sharing them. The top one being your Great Uncle Oliver and the two soldiers wearing the caps, one of them must be your Grandfather Walter Gregory. What is the cap badge they are wearing?

 

[Bob Davies]

Here is a picture of Jack for you Cpl Allen Chapman. Pte Jack Griffin standing on the right. The soldier with the mustache is unknown. The picture is on a post card posted from Loughborough 2nd July 1915.

[Cpl Allan Chapman]

On 24/04/2017 at 20:58, Bob Davies said:

Hello  Cpl Allen, great pictures thank you for sharing them. The top one being your Great Uncle Oliver and the two soldiers wearing the caps, one of them must be your Grandfather Walter Gregory. What is the cap badge they are wearing?

 

Both are of Walter, the bottom one is 1915 top one 1917, I am trying to find the photo of Oliver which I will post.

[Cpl Allan Chapman]

Oliver 1915....People change in war. look at the nose and ears in your picture and the look at Oliver's.

Edited 26 April , 2017 by Cpl Allan Chapman

[Bob Davies]

Here are the two men side by side. I think that they are the same man, that is Oliver Chapman.