ahardman Posted 22 March , 2006 Share Posted 22 March , 2006 Hello, I am trying to find information about my great-grandfather. Unfortuatly i don't no much about him, i know his name, where he fought and was taken prisoner and i know that he was a signaller. This is all i know, how can i find out more, does anyone know? I would really appreciate it if people could let me know if they can help me, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Johnson Posted 22 March , 2006 Share Posted 22 March , 2006 Hi, The first place to start is here by telling us his name and where he fought. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 23 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 23 March , 2006 His name is Isaac John Davis and fought on the Somme, thats where he was taken prisoner. I know where he enlisted aswell if thats any help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 23 March , 2006 Share Posted 23 March , 2006 Enlistment place, place of birth.....anything at all, no matter how trivial it may seem, may just be the clue someone needs to help you out. So don't be shy! Do you have any medals or a photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 23 March , 2006 Share Posted 23 March , 2006 Hello Cant see a I J Davis on the medal index card on line - quite a few Isaac Davis mind.. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 24 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 24 March , 2006 Thanks for looking that up for me Ian. He was born on the Isle of Anglesey and enlisted in Birkenhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 24 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 24 March , 2006 I dont have any pictures or any medals, there is one medal but I think that is just to say that he was in the war because it only says 1914-1918 on it, my grandad has it so I will see if i can get another look at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 24 March , 2006 Share Posted 24 March , 2006 I dont have any pictures or any medals, there is one medal but I think that is just to say that he was in the war because it only says 1914-1918 on it, my grandad has it so I will see if i can get another look at it. Get a good look - I'm not a medal expert but I do know that his name, regiment and service numbers should be on the edge of the medal. Make a careful note because they may be abbreviated. Google British War Medal and Victory Medal because these are the likeliest for it to be, and if it doesn't look like one of those try to get a photo! There are a lot of people out here who (a) like to help and ( like a challenge! Good luck! Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 26 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 26 March , 2006 Thanks for that Adrain, i didnt no that about the medals, i will take a look as soon as i can! thanks for your help, i will keep you posted as soon as i find out anything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 30 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 30 March , 2006 hey folks! ive found out that he was PTE. Isaac John Davis, he was in the Welsh Regiment and there was a number there too, - 281753, what is the number for??? i want to no more about him, where do i go from here?? amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Johnson Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Amy, The number and regiment together is what makes him unique and therefore traceable, or should do. The next step is to locate his Medal Index Card (MIC) on the NA On Line site. That should be easy but I have not been able to identify anyone with that number in the Welsh nor anyone named Davis with anything like that number. However, a sneaky search brings out 291753 Isaac J Davies who also served as 75763 in the Northumberland Fusiliers. I suspect this is the one you need and you now need to spend £3.50 on downloading his card. You can then share that with us and we can see if there is anything on it of interest and you can also attempt to find his record in the Burnt records at the NA but that requires a personal visit. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMacdonald Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Your man could be among these Davies known to have been taken prisoner. The reference on the right refers to statements made by the POWs upon their repatriation. Have a look any how. http://www.1914-1918.net/POW/details.php?surname=DAVIES Andy M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 31 March , 2006 Share Posted 31 March , 2006 Here is the link to the card in case you need it: Medal card of Davies, Isaac J Corps Regiment No Rank Welsh Regiment 291753 Private Northumberland Fusiliers 75763 Private http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...1&resultcount=1 The Welsh Regiment number 291753 suggests that he was in the Territoral Force and that he was, in early 1917 at least, part of the 7th Battalion. Both of the 7th Battalion units served only in the UK so he must have been in a different unit of the Welsh Regiment at a different date, possibly later because no "early" TF number is shown, and may have been either training or serving in the UK at that point. He did however serve overseas with a unit of the Welsh Regiment, so we shall have to see if the Medal Card gives us any further clues. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 2 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 2 April , 2006 Thanks guys for your help! All this information is a bit confusing at the mo because it seems like the information about Isaac J Davis doesnt seem to add up, is this normal when you're looking for people?? Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen D Posted 2 April , 2006 Share Posted 2 April , 2006 Normal? YES. It's what makes it so much fun. Forum members love this sort of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 3 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Here is the link to the card in case you need it: Medal card of Davies, Isaac J Corps Regiment No Rank Welsh Regiment 291753 Private Northumberland Fusiliers 75763 Private http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...1&resultcount=1 The Welsh Regiment number 291753 suggests that he was in the Territoral Force and that he was, in early 1917 at least, part of the 7th Battalion. Both of the 7th Battalion units served only in the UK so he must have been in a different unit of the Welsh Regiment at a different date, possibly later because no "early" TF number is shown, and may have been either training or serving in the UK at that point. He did however serve overseas with a unit of the Welsh Regiment, so we shall have to see if the Medal Card gives us any further clues. Steve. Steve, I clicked on that link and it says that he served in two different regiments between 1914-1920; I know that Isaac J Davis was taken prisoner in either 1916 or 17 and was a POW untill the end of the war. Will i only get the full story of what happened to him when i get his card??? Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Hi Amy and welcome to the Forum. Like many of us, you will fidn that progress in hunting down a soldier's records goes in fits and starts. Unfortunately the MIC will only give details of his units and medals awarded. If he went to France before 1916, there may be a mention of his date of arrival but not necessarily. As Doug said earlier, you will probably have to visit the National Archives to get a fuller picture Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 3 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Tar for that, i knew it wouldn't be easy to find him but didn't think it would be this confusing Where are the national archives??? Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 At Kew, on the River Thames, in West London - this hyperlink should give the details http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/ Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 3 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Well that leaves me up the creak dosen't it because I can't get there! Thanks for trying to help me guys but my quest ends here......................... Amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kath Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Amy, can you get to a library with a newspaper archive? Papers covering his place of residence during the war can have info. Kath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Amy You can also ask one of the Forum to see if his record is at Kew when they next visit. Don't give up hope - it may seem a dead end but there is always a chance we will find out more Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 3 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 3 April , 2006 hello kath, dont know about the library thing, but i will defo check it out! these trips to Kew sound like a pilgrimage but i will try and find out if anyone is going, please could you tell me if you know anyone who is going! cheers Amy ps- i aint going to give up just yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardman Posted 26 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 26 April , 2006 hey guys, i no i haven't posted for a while but i have been rather busy. Anyway i have got Isaac John's medal card and the only thing that i can do now realy is go to the National Archives. However i won't be able to do that until i'm older thanks for your help everyone amy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lund Posted 26 April , 2006 Share Posted 26 April , 2006 I got my grandfather’s service record from the National Archives by post for £10, no trouble at all. They were damaged but mostly readable. However it seems to be just pure luck whether they have survived the fire or not. And the £10 fee is charged either way. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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