Belfast0826 Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April Can anyone please help me to verify the army record I think have found for my grandfather. The following information is from the transcript of the record. First name(s) Thomas J Last name Spence Year 1914-20 Service number 7363, 302463, 32925 Second service number 302463 Third service number 32925 Rank Private, Private, Private Second rank Private Third rank Private Regiment Royal Irish Rifles, Tank Corps, Royal Irish Fusiliers Second corps Tank Corps Third corps Royal Irish Fusiliers Service record Soldier Number: 7363, Rank: Private, Corps: Royal Irish Rifles Second service record Soldier Number: 302463, Rank: Private, Corps: Tank Corps Third service record Soldier Number: 32925, Rank: Private, Corps: Royal Irish Fusiliers Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D5326752 Country Great Britain Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 Archive reference WO372/18 Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards Category Military, armed forces & conflict Subcategory Medal Rolls and Honours Collections from Great Britain, UK None Non-Military Info: Thomas James Spence: 18th July 1895 Parents: John and Jane Spence [born Caldwell] 1911 Census living at 12 Harrison Street, Belfast, Occupation: Mill Yarn Doffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 25 April Admin Share Posted 25 April Welcome to the forum By looking at his service numbers individually I came across this - so the man's middle name is James - is that the same as your relative's? (Image courtesy FMP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 25 April Admin Share Posted 25 April If it is your relative's middle name then I can add a Belfast address from his MIC (courtesy Ancestry) - does this match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast0826 Posted 25 April Author Share Posted 25 April Many thanks for the info, very much appreciated Yes his middle name is James and he lived at 57 Hooker St Belfast (where I was born), so this is my grandfather. As I am new to this, can you please point me in the direction that I can go to establish the theatres of war in which he served and if it possible to get a copy of this military service records. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 25 April Admin Share Posted 25 April As his MIC above does not have a date or Theatre of War recorded on it he went overseas after 1-1-1916. It would appear that his service record along with most did not survive the Luftwaffe's attentions in WW2. Ancestry Medal Rolls have this So war diaries for the relevant units can be found at TNA and downloaded for free once registered (also free). The problem will be knowing when he moved from unit to unit. 7 Battalion Royal Irish Rifles | The National Archives 2 Brigade Tank Corps. 15 Battalion Tank Corps | The National Archives 2 Brigade Tank Corps. 15 Battalion Tank Corps War History | The National Archives Not digitised so needs a visit to Kew or book an independent researcher to copy it for you 29 Infantry Brigade: 6 Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (1917 Sept - 1918 May). 1/7... | The National Archives You could do worse than look at Welcome - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk) for pointers on ww1 research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast0826 Posted 25 April Author Share Posted 25 April Many thanks for the info, very much appreciated Yes his middle name is James and he lived at 57 Hooker St Belfast (where I was born), so this is my grandfather. As I am new to this, can you please point me in the direction that I can go to establish the theatres of war in which he served and if it possible to get a copy of this military service records. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast0826 Posted 25 April Author Share Posted 25 April Thank you once again. I will definitely book a trip to Kew, been there a couple of months ago to review 1921 Census and to make myself familiar with the set up. Kind regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 25 April Admin Share Posted 25 April I suspect but am not certain that Fold3 on Ancestry has a Court Martial record (T J Spence Dec 1921) which may explain why his medals were forfeited for misconduct (there may also be a 1920 record which is relevant). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belfast0826 Posted 25 April Author Share Posted 25 April Hi David Thank you for the info. I was looking in Fold3 on MIC and found another Thomas J Spence with a different number 14/6169. At first I thought it was another person until I compered the signatures and they are identical. I also have a copy of his signature on an official document and it is the same. I guess that as he had been in 3 different regiments in is possible that he was in four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_history_buff Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April The other Thomas Spence became a Prisoner of War on 24 March 1918. The address of his next of kin: 28 Sunnyside Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast His date of birth is 18 March 1891. Source ICRC muster PA 27891 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_history_buff Posted 25 April Share Posted 25 April More WW1 army service records were destroyed than were recovered from the South London fire caused by the incendiary bombs. Unfortunately, it appears your grandfather's record was one of the destroyed service records. https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/the-1940-fire-at-arnside-street/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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