Capt Otway Waller, ASC - I find ASC research difficult!

[corisande]

Can anyone help with any information on Capt Otway Waller, ASC. I am primarily interested in his WW1 service, but have singularly failed to get anything other than LG entries and a biographical reference to Palestine - below.

Born 1884 as Caesar James Loftus Otway Waller at Shannon Grove, a large country house in Galway near Banagher in Ireland. Son of a comparatively wealthy family who owned a malting company in Banagher.

I can get him in 1901 and 1911 census in Ireland. But after that his army details are a bit scarce ( I do have the WO339 reference for his papers in TNA, but will not be back there for a while).I also have his 2 marriages in 1909 and 1931

1915 May 3. Commissioned 2nd Lt as "Otway Waller"

1915 Jul 23 . Promoted Lt

1916 Feb 3. Promoted Capt in ASC

1917 Posted to Allenby's Transport Corps in Palestine

His son wrote a couple of books, which I have read, but they do not cover WW1. He went on to sail single handed to Madeira in 1930 which was newsworthy at the time, and again I have details of this voyage.

Died in England in 1950.

My ability to research ASC men is limited. I have not found him in Michael Young's book on ASC

[bingoworlddk]

I had a quick look at the Royal Logistic Corps site [ http://www.rlcarchive.org ].

Unfortunately I could not find any additional information apart from the commission and subsequent promotions.

I agree ASC research is difficult :-)

Steen

[Coldstreamer]

mic

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1262/30850_A001615-00411/5196626?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dMedalRolls%26rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-d%26gsfn%3dotway%26gsln%3dwaller%26dbOnly%3d_F8007A65%257c_F8007A65_x%252c_F00061C3%257c_F00061C3_x%26uidh%3dfdm%26pcat%3d39%26fh%3d0%26h%3d5196626%26recoff%3d9%2b10%26ml_rpos%3d1&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

[sotonmate]

corisande

I am doing a bit at Kew in mid-May, if you wish I can get some details from WO339/29223.

[corisande]

Thanks to the 3 of you for your help. Glad to see that it is not just me with the ASC

I have PMed Sutonmate taking up the kind offer.

[annswabey]

The National Probate index for his Will is here. You can apply for a copy of the Will via that site

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=waller&yearOfDeath=1950&page=2#calendar

[corisande]

Thank you Annswabey.

I had the abstract of his probate from Ancestry, but I never knew that you could buy the will as easily as that. Quite amazing how so much can be found - but only if you know where to look

[Waggoner]

If you go to the RLC site, there is a link to the ASC journals. You can search them for free and then purchase the pages you want. This might turn up some information about him. Have you looked at Volume 2 of The History of the RASC? There may be some mention of him and each chapter has references for further reading. Again, worth a try. Is there a war diary for the units hecwas in? The problem with researching the ASC is that they were a really large corps and were dispersed around the world! Good luck.

All the best,

Gary

[corisande]

Thanks Gary

Problem is that I do not know what unit he was in. As far as I can see the Medal Rolls themselves do not add anything with the ASC other than name and rank

[Waggoner]

Have you checked Mike Young's book to see what companies served in Palestine? That might be a start point.

All the best,

Gary

[corisande]

Gary

Thanks. I had not thought of doing it that way round.

From Young's Book, that would narrow it to one set of War Diaries, and I can look at those later if I don't make any progress on the chap as an individual