139th battery. Royal Field Artillery.

[becksc005]

hello 

 I am trying to find out some information about a distant relative who was a driver in the 139th battery RFA .Originally from Chetingham, wiltshire He enlisted at Newport May 13th 1902. His name was John Jones, He was discharged from the army early 1914 after serving the minimum of 12 years service with the colours. If anyone could point me in the right direction as to where I could find out more information that would be helpful.  

 

thank you 

Edited 23 October , 2023 by becksc005
more info

[David Porter]

Welcome to the Forum,

As he was discharged on May 12, 1914 and doesn't appear to have Great War service he is consequently off topic.
However, his basic service record can be found on Findmypast using the details you have given and regimental number 23972.
I can tell you that he served in India for about 5 years from March 1905, the rest of the time in the UK.

Unfortunately, any follow up questions you have may be ignored here or you might be directed to the appropriate forum.

[Matlock1418]

Welcome to GWF,

1 hour ago, becksc005 said:

Originally from Chetingham, wiltshire

??? Is that a real place? I'm only coming up with Cheltenham ???

42 minutes ago, David Porter said:

As he was discharged on May 12, 1914 and doesn't appear to have Great War service he is consequently off topic.
However, his basic service record can be found on Findmypast using the details you have given and regimental number 23972.

??? Depending on his age at discharge he might perhaps have reenlisted or even been conscripted, not necessarily with RFA, and later service record lost ???

We are likely to need additional details to help confirm matters/aid our search.

I can't read his SR = Date of birth, next of kin and any pre-war/late-war/early post-war address(es) etc. might help.

M

Edited 23 October , 2023 by Matlock1418
add

[becksc005]

hello thanks for that, I was not sure where to look as all my information is from newspaper clippings as he murdered his wife in july 1914 in Preston lancashire not long after he left the army. The paper said Chetingham this must be a typing error. 

[Matlock1418]

4 minutes ago, becksc005 said:

all my information is from newspaper clippings as he murdered his wife in july 1914 in Preston lancashire not long after he left the army.

Ah, if he had been caught that would likely mean he was in prison and hanged sometime after!  Would seem likely to make GW service 'challenging' to say the least.

M

Edited 23 October , 2023 by Matlock1418
add

[Matlock1418]

David mentioned a SR on FMP

FMP [and Ancestry] commonly have a free access period around 11 November - and/or a local UK library might have access to FMP and/or Ancestry

M

Edited 23 October , 2023 by Matlock1418
typo

[Allan1892]

4 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said:

Ah, if he had been caught that would likely mean he was in prison and hanged sometime after!

Found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 'ten years penal servitude'

[Matlock1418]

Just now, Allan1892 said:

Found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 'ten years penal servitude'

Still not a good line on your CV.

I suspect unlikely to have been released for war service - but who knows? [Not me that's for sure!]

M

[becksc005]

16 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said:

Ah, if he had been caught that would likely mean he was in prison and hanged sometime after!

M

He was sent to prison he luckily escaped the hanging, he ended up with 10 years penal servitude. This all happened not long after he left, he did say he was a driver at the Fulwood barracks, I just wasn't sure where to look.

Edited 23 October , 2023 by becksc005

[becksc005]

1 hour ago, David Porter said:

Welcome to the Forum,

As he was discharged on May 12, 1914 and doesn't appear to have Great War service he is consequently off topic.
However, his basic service record can be found on Findmypast using the details you have given and regimental number 23972.
I can tell you that he served in India for about 5 years from March 1905, the rest of the time in the UK.

Unfortunately, any follow up questions you have may be ignored here or you might be directed to the appropriate forum.

Thank you for this.

14 minutes ago, Matlock1418 said:

David mentioned a SR on FMP

FMP [and Ancestry] commonly have a free access period arround 11 November - and/or a local UK library might have access to FMP and/or Ancestry

M

I shall give those a try thank you for the tips 

[David Porter]

It is worth pointing out that, in early 1914, 139th Battery was in 2nd Reserve Brigade RFA at Preston and the unit from which he was discharged. At the outbreak of war it was split up into three reserve batteries, numbered 10, 11 and 12, as 2B Reserve Brigade RFA and relocated to Brighton.

[becksc005]

12 minutes ago, David Porter said:

It is worth pointing out that, in early 1914, 139th Battery was in 2nd Reserve Brigade RFA at Preston and the unit from which he was discharged. At the outbreak of war it was split up into three reserve batteries, numbered 10, 11 and 12, as 2B Reserve Brigade RFA and relocated to Brighton.

I would have never of figured that out, I am very grateful for the information you've shared with me.

[Michelle Young]

As David has pointed out, as he didn’t see service in the Great War, this is off topic. It is recommended that you carry on any further correspondence via private messages.