Middlesex Regiment - ideas to help my research

[jo.36]

Hi to all out there!

I am trying to put together research on my grandfather - details:

Private Herbert James Roberts, G/29541 2nd Bn. Middlesex Regiment.

He died at Ypres 30/7/1917. I have found his citation on the CWGC (and visited his grave at New Irish Farm Cemetary, Ieper), and from another member who has a magic CD rom (Soldiers Died in the Great War), I have found that he enlisted in Luton, Beds. From the Luton connection, I found that my grandfather's name is on two monuments within 30 minutes drive of my home - I thought he had been living in Middlesex for at least 10 years so had been scouring monuments there! Where would I look to find details of his enlistment, which may tell me other interesting details? I am the first in my famly to try to piece his army life together. There are no records at all with the family, and as is often the case, those with more pertitent knowledge have all died.

Does G/29541 give any indication of what part of the regiment he was in - 2nd Bn. seems to cover all sorts of activities over a large theatre of war. Does the prefix 'G' followed by 5 letters denote anything. I have found his war medal record on the National Archives Site - Victory Medal, and downloaded a copy.

I would visit Kew (as I understand about 20 per cent of the records still remain), but wondered if there was a way of knowing whether there were records to see before I make the journey. I am prepared for lots of spade work, as this is a matter very dear to my heart. Any ideas/input from those of you out there - who have infinitely more idea of what to do than I have - would be much appreciated!

I can see how this site can be addictive, I have been fascinated by all the forums stuff - and the helpful info. elsewhere.

jo.36

[steve fuller]

Hi Jo

Have you got his MIC yet? If not, its here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...1&resultcount=3

Costs £3.50 to download Or ... see the end of the post. Im no Middx expert Im afraid but someone on forum may be able to work our roughly when he enlisted if they have studied patterns etc, as mnay of us saddo's have! Hopefully the MIC will have a date of entry on it - if not it means he enetered the war after 1-1-1916 but the number sounds low-ish to me, so maybe he got there 1915.

A trip to the NA will do several things & is worth doing if you have the time;

1. To see if he has survived under WO363 series

2. To get copies of Btn Medal Rolls

3. You can see & get copies of the Btn War diary for the date he was killed & work out where etc he was.

Taking a digital camera will save the copy costs (45p per sheet) & you can snap away at as many pages of the diary as you can eat with the camera, take it home & digest it in your own time. If the records survived (low odds ...) they will give you the info you need to know where he was,when. If you have an entry date & a KIA date, you can pretty much put together as good a story as possible if the records havent survived.

Im off to the NA Thursday. Bit loaded with work but copies of the Rolls & MIC wont take long so (famous last words) I should be able to include them if you like? If so, mail me what you have (family members, known addresses etc) & Ill have a gander ...

Cheers

Steve

[jo.36]

Hi Steve

I really appreciate your imput. Thanks a lot! I have paid my money and got a copy of the WW1 Medals you mention (trying to work out what MIC is!!) The only info. I can see on it is name, regiment and service no. (all correct) and that he was awarded the Victory Medal (with Roll and page no). Family tradition has it that he was one of the older married men (with six children ) who registered hoping they would not be called until other conscripts had been, but in the event due to the situation troop numbers wise, he was! So I imagine late 1916 or early 1917 might have been when he enlisted.

If you should find yourself twidding your thumbs at the NA, I would appreciate you having a quick troll down the rolls to see if my grandad appears. I will mail you the details I have via this site - hope it works as although I am not a technophobe I often seem to need a few shots to get things right.

jo.36

[BLCHS]

Please message me were currently researching PRIVATE HERBERT JAMES ROBERTS G/29541, thanks... Jenna, Barton Le Clay History Society.

[Michelle Young]

Welcome to the forum. @jo.36 hasn’t visited the forum for 12 years so may not see your post. My tag might alert them to your post.

[BLCHS]

Thank you Michelle, I did wonder if the forum had email post alerts  ....and as Grandad said 'if you don't ask you won't get'.