Pte W Jones, 1 Garrison Btn, Lincs Regiment.

[sidfrank21]

Hi all, 

New to this, just wondered if anyone could help me find any info or where to look on my great great grandad, he was Pte W Jones of the 1st garrison battalion Lincoln regiment, he was the lightweight boxing champion in the calcutta all india military boxing tournament and all i have is his 100+ year old trophy, any information would be greatly appreciated. 

[Bob Davies]

Welcome to the Great War Forum sidfrank21,

do you have any more details about your great great Grandad, it would help researchers no end.

Date and place of birth, also is there a Hallmark on the cup, perhaps on the underside of the base.

If there is it would give us an approximate date to work on.

If it is not silver, then I doubt there would be any datable mark on it.

I am confident that someone will come to your aid soon.

Regards,

Bob.

[sidfrank21]

Hi bob,

I wouldnt know where to begin with date and place of birth as all following grandparents have passed, so it is a tricky one, ive inspected the cup and all i can find is the number 242 inscribed underneath, nothing else im afraid.

Thanks for the reply.

[corisande]

It would help if you could give an accurate transcription of what is on the cup - it is difficult to read in photo

[Bob Davies]

I think that the best place for you to start your research would be 'The Long Long Trail'

There is a link at the top of every page here on the GWF in the blue bar across the top.

In there you will find information about how to research a soldier.

There is a list of every Regiment/Battalion and where they served.

From this I find that the 1st Garrison Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was formed in 1915.

Screenshot from the Long Long Trail;http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/lincolnshire-regiment/

1st Garrison Battalion
Formed in September 1915. Moved next month to India and then remained there, under command of the Presidency Brigade in 8th (Indian) Division.

The Garrison Battalions were formed of men either too old or unfit for active service.  The Garrison Battalions relieved the Regular army Battalions so that they would be free to fight on the Western Front or where ever they were needed.

At the outbreak of the war a lot of men rejoined the army, those too old to fight, were sent to the garrison Battalions as their previous experience was invaluable.

Go to the forum Away from the Western Front 'India Asia Pacific'. If you use the search bar at the top of the page, type in 'Garrison Battalion' you should get a lot of posts referring to that, not necessarily to the Lincolns but by reading them you will get the idea of what was happening.

Welcome to the adventure, I hope you can find him.

As I am typing someone else has replied, so help is here!

 

 

 

 

 

[corisande]

And there was a thread on 1st Lincs Garrison in India

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/307505-1st-garrison-battalion-lincolnshire-regiment/

 

[corisande]

I suspect that there is a year on that cup

I got a newspaper report in BNA for Feb 1917 which does not name him. There should be reports from other years

[corisande]

@sidfrank21 seems to have lost interest

[sidfrank21]

Why? Because i havent posted on here? There are other sources to explore

[Pat Atkins]

Because it sometimes happens that forum members invest considerable time, effort and expertise into helping posters who then disappear without comment or thanks. When that happens it’s handy to have a heads-up such as corisande’s so others don’t put more time, effort and expertise in.

In my experience people on here tend to be friendly and generous with their knowledge, so there’s really no need to be defensive.

[sidfrank21]

Thank you for everyone who has helped thus far, I am very much actively interested and will keep everybody updated on further findings. I now know the "W" stands for William, the quest continues.