Mark10 Posted 11 January , 2021 Share Posted 11 January , 2021 As a further post, I've looked everywhere for military records for my great grandfather, Archibald Simmons. As most of the service records were destroyed, I'm reliant on an Absent Voters list which gives his regimental number as 257826 Army Service Corps which could of course be wrong. This number produces nothing for medal rolls on Ancestry and Find My Past so would anyone know if there is another place I could search please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 11 January , 2021 Share Posted 11 January , 2021 A zap of "Discovery" at The National Archives shows there is a medal card entry for someone with that number of the Army Service Corps: Medal card of Butler, George A. Corps: Army Service Corps. Regiment No: R/257826. Rank: Private.... War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. Boundy D H - Campbell H. Medal card of Butler, George A. Corps Regiment No Rank Army Service Corps R/257826 Private. Machine Gun Corps 124790 Private. Held by: The National Archives, Kew - War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies Date: 1914 - 1920 Reference: WO 372/3/213892 Subjects: Armed Forces (General Administration) | Army | Conflict | Medals | Operations, battles and campaigns As it is a 6 figure number- issued by the army to avoid such duplication, it suggests one of 2 things: 1) There is a cock-up somewhere and either/both numbers are compromised. 2) Someone served under an alias. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rksimpson Posted 11 January , 2021 Share Posted 11 January , 2021 Hi Searching with the number and corps gives - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1667723 Searching by name only gives this list - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=+Archibald&_ln=+Simmons&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna Only 1 in RASC, is his middle initial T? There is always a possibility the number is wrong or he did not serve overseas, hence no MIC. regards Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 11 January , 2021 Share Posted 11 January , 2021 4 minutes ago, rksimpson said: Hi Searching with the number and corps gives - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1667723 Searching by name only gives this list - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=+Archibald&_ln=+Simmons&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna Only 1 in RASC, is his middle initial T? There is always a possibility the number is wrong or he did not serve overseas, hence no MIC. regards Robert Hi Robert-just done the same and "snipped" it- worth trying to see what this man's service number throws up: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark10 Posted 12 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2021 A zap of "Discovery" at The National Archives shows there is a medal card entry for someone with that number of the Army Service Corps: Medal card of Butler, George A. Corps: Army Service Corps. Regiment No: R/257826. Rank: Private.... War Office: Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, First World War. Boundy D H - Campbell H. Medal card of Butler, George A. Corps Regiment No Rank Army Service Corps R/257826 Private. Machine Gun Corps 124790 Private. Held by: The National Archives, Kew - War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies Date: 1914 - 1920 Reference: WO 372/3/213892 Subjects: Armed Forces (General Administration) | Army | Conflict | Medals | Operations, battles and campaigns As it is a 6 figure number- issued by the army to avoid such duplication, it suggests one of 2 things: 1) There is a cock-up somewhere and either/both numbers are compromised. 2) Someone served under an alias. On 12/01/2021 at 12:38, Mark10 said: Thanks for searching. His military number came from the Walthamstow Absent Voters list. It could have errors but I'm sure he served under his actual name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark10 Posted 12 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2021 16 hours ago, rksimpson said: Hi Searching with the number and corps gives - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1667723 Searching by name only gives this list - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=+Archibald&_ln=+Simmons&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna Only 1 in RASC, is his middle initial T? There is always a possibility the number is wrong or he did not serve overseas, hence no MIC. regards Robert If he was a horse trainer, I suppose he could have been UK based for the duration of the war. Does that mean no medals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef_Hendrix Posted 12 January , 2021 Share Posted 12 January , 2021 (edited) Does it say on the AVL exactly where he worked or what Company he was in? I have a Great Great Uncle who on the AVL is down as 52 Coy and a later one confirming his location as Aldershot. I know he did not serve overseas (so awarded no medals) but grateful that this is the only information I have on him. Could possibly be the same with your man. Edited 12 January , 2021 by Chef_Hendrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark10 Posted 12 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2021 5 minutes ago, Chef_Hendrix said: Does it say on the AVL exactly where he worked or what Company he was in? I have a Great Great Uncle who on the AVL is down as 52 Coy and a later one confirming his location as Aldershot. I know he did not serve overseas (so awarded no medals) but grateful that this is the only information I have on him. Could possibly be the same with your man. I'll check some more voter's lists. Thanks for the tip. He worked for a family member pre and post war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 January , 2021 Share Posted 12 January , 2021 On 12/01/2021 at 12:38, Mark10 said: By chance I live in Walthamstow ("Down the Stow"!!.) The Walthamstow AVL is available online at: http://records.wffhs.org.uk/avls.html It may take some searches via permutations of surname to see if it is correct. In addition, LB Waltham Forest hold the war memorial book -which lists those who served as well as the casualties. This has been worked on by a local historian, Chris Hunt-who has a large database of stuff on those who served. He can contacted via the East of London WFA (which meets in Walthamstow in normal times anyway) or via e-mail through a PM to me. Have you tried the 1915 Register which should be online (FMP) or the local Kelly's Directories (on Ancestry)? - a way into it might be to find the right address and attack it that way, Chris has done the local papers and war memorials as well. Pip,pip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark10 Posted 12 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2021 Hello Mike, Thanks for your help. I did actually use the AVL you mention and I know the street address to be correct but I'm not sure about the regimental number as I hear the voter registration forms could have been completed by a family member hence the chance of an error. There doesn't seem to be a digital version of early Walthamstow electoral roles at the moment. Maybe the Essex Record Office are still working on them? The War Memorial book sounds like my best bet. I'll try the WFA via Facebook if that's the best way. Thanks Mark 🙂👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rksimpson Posted 12 January , 2021 Share Posted 12 January , 2021 7 hours ago, Mark10 said: If he was a horse trainer, I suppose he could have been UK based for the duration of the war. Does that mean no medals? Hi Yes, read here - http://www.greatwar.co.uk/medals/ww1-campaign-medals.htm regards Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark10 Posted 12 January , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 January , 2021 Thanks, Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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