Coldstreamer Posted 15 July , 2006 Share Posted 15 July , 2006 Hello Trying to research a soldier called Pte H Gritton of the Coldstream Guards, # 12876. The London Gazette (24th Jan 1919) show he was from Toronto - not my most local soldier but not the furthest away Can anyone give me any pointers to progress research on him in Canada ? Thanks Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 15 July , 2006 Share Posted 15 July , 2006 Ian - suggest you make contact with forum member 'Borden Battery'/Dwight Mercer? Always willing to helpand he has an exhaustive list of relevant research websites. Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 15 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2006 Hello Thanks for the pointer Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMG65 Posted 15 July , 2006 Share Posted 15 July , 2006 It's a long shot but could he have been from the village of Toronto in County Durham? The north of England is the Coldstream recruiting area. If he is from the Toronto in Canada then he may have been an ex regular recalled. Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 15 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2006 It's a long shot but could he have been from the village of Toronto in County Durham? The north of England is the Coldstream recruiting area. If he is from the Toronto in Canada then he may have been an ex regular recalled. Sean Hello Not thought of that - will look into as its a recruiting area for the CG! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 15 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2006 Hello Gazette does say toronto, Canada (will still check with his papers as you never know), but his 15 star was sold by a Canadian dealer This number is too high to be an ex regular unless he was given a new number Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borden Battery Posted 15 July , 2006 Share Posted 15 July , 2006 Research results on Pte H Gritton of the Coldstream Guards, # 12876. I cannot offer much in terms of new information, however, by the process of elimination the following information will narrow your research somewhat. Regards Borden Battery ------------------------------------------------- Library and Archives Canada - Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918) Over 600,000 Canadians enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War (1914-1918). The CEF database is an index to those personnel files, which are held by the National Archives. To date, over 800,000 images of Attestation papers have been scanned and are being made available on-line. This material can be downloaded at no charge. The file format is a standard JPEG file. From this basic information a researcher can obtain the necessary information to acquire the full military file of a Great War soldier, however, in this latter case there will be a research fee. The CEF Study Group maintains a list of recommended National Archives researchers. [NOTE: Attestation registers (RG 9 II B8 ) contained in volumes 1 to 654 and may only be consulted at the Library and Archives Canada – they are not yet scanned and online.] http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02010602_e.html The soldier is NOT listed in any of the on-line Attestation Papers, but may still be on roll RG 9 II B8 – but not likely. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume he was a British subject who first emigrated to Toronto, Canada and then made his way back to England to enlist in the British Expeditionary Force rather than with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. On this point, he may have had a prior military or territorial affiliation with an English-based unit and chose to return. The regimental number of 12876 was assigned to a farmer from Wapella, Saskatchewan who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in 1914. No relationship that I can see. The Canadian Virtual War Memorial This site contains a registry of information about the graves and memorials of more than 116,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served valiantly and gave their lives for their country up to present-day All Canadian soldiers are listed on this virtual memorial. http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm...ions/virtualmem The soldier is NOT listed here, so we can assume he did not die in service of the CEF. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Established by Royal Charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. It is a non-profit-making organization. The "Debt of Honour Register" is the Commission's database listing the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars and the 23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other locations worldwide where they are commemorated. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World War. [July 2006] http://www.cwgc.org/default.asp The soldier is NOT listed here, so we can assume he did not die in the Great War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 15 July , 2006 Author Share Posted 15 July , 2006 hello thanks for adding these links Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 17 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 July , 2009 still after some help with this one now found he was transferred to the Guards machine gun regiment - but neither the coldstream or gmgr have any service papers for him MM for gallantry in the attack on Hamelincourt and St. Leger 22nd-23rd August 1918 (page 74 1st Btn awards) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdower Posted 17 July , 2009 Share Posted 17 July , 2009 No H Gritton shows up in the Canada 1911 census, or in the Passenger Lists. There is a C H Gratton in the Passenger Lists, born 1883 arrives on the Parisian 13 Sept 1907 with wife Alma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 17 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 July , 2009 thanks - elusive this chap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdower Posted 17 July , 2009 Share Posted 17 July , 2009 In the UK Incoming Passenger Lists ss Missanabie 1915 there is a Herbert Gratton with wife Eva, daughter Mary, age 32, UK address 9 Mill Street, Edge Lane, which is Manchester ?. If I get a chance next week to get to the TO Ref Library I will look for him in the Toronto directories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 17 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 July , 2009 My chap is Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piorun Posted 17 July , 2009 Share Posted 17 July , 2009 Hello Trying to research a soldier called Pte H Gritton of the Coldstream Guards, # 12876. The London Gazette (24th Jan 1919) show he was from Toronto - not my most local soldier but not the furthest away Can anyone give me any pointers to progress research on him in Canada ? Thanks Ian To the best of my exploration today, "Might's" Toronto City Directory of 1913 shows an Albert Gritten, carpenter. By 1914 it shows a Harry Gratton, yeast maker, and an Albert Gritten, clerk. Albert's still there in 1921. By 1924, he's been joined by a Fred Gritton. Today, there are no Gritten, three Gritton and twenty-four Gratton in the Toronto phone book. Younger eyes may do better and last longer. When was his '15 Star sold? If recently, I can visit the dealer. Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Johnson Posted 17 July , 2009 Share Posted 17 July , 2009 There was a Harry Gritton born June Q 1894, Alston Cumberland, and a Harry G born Woolwich March Q 1888. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken S. Posted 18 July , 2009 Share Posted 18 July , 2009 Returns from the Toronto Star's "Pages of the Past" for Gritten: 1 1 Tuesday, July 18, 1916 News 03 Births/Deaths/Obits/ 2 1 Wednesday, April 11, 1917 News 05 News 3 1 Tuesday, June 12, 1917 News 07 News There are none for Gritton, though, and I don't subscribe so that's the best I can do... And how about him being an American who moved to Canada? Some returns from familysearch.org: 1. Harry GRITTON - Ancestral File Gender: M Birth/Christening: Sep 1897 <Champagne, Champagne, Il> 2. Harry F. GRITTON - Ancestral File Gender: M Birth/Christening: < 1889 , , Missouri 6. Harry F. Gritton - International Genealogical Index / NA Gender: Male Birth: NOV 1886 , Buchanan, Iowa #1 appears to have died in Florida: Harry GRITTON Birth Date: 27 Sep 1897 Death Date: Sep 1966 Social Security Number: 578-01-3699 State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: District of Columbia Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 33401 Localities: West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 18 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2009 cheers guys The 15 star was sold by (and excuse spelling) Eugene Ursual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piorun Posted 18 July , 2009 Share Posted 18 July , 2009 cheers guys The 15 star was sold by (and excuse spelling) Eugene Ursual Hello, Coldstreamer: I have the dealer. You had the spelling correct. His website is listed as www.medalsofwar.com Perhaps you want to contact him directly. If you then need follow-up with surviving family, please don't hesitate to say that you "have a contact in Toronto" (me) and I'll be happy to chat with Ursual and try to chat with seller if possible. I'll put on my number ones and medals Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Johnson Posted 18 July , 2009 Share Posted 18 July , 2009 Gene died suddenly last year, but the family (Tanya) is keeping the business going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piorun Posted 18 July , 2009 Share Posted 18 July , 2009 Gene died suddenly last year, but the family (Tanya) is keeping the business going. Thanks, Michael. I think I should wait for a wee bit more info from Coldstreamer before I go any further. Your thoughts? Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 18 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 July , 2009 It was sold by him years ago - a tenuous link to him being from Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piorun Posted 19 July , 2009 Share Posted 19 July , 2009 Coldstreamer: If you wish, I shall approach the dealer (as advised by Michael Johnson) and ascertain whether or not her records give any further clue. If so, I will take it from there. Michael J: if you PM me with a phone number or e-mail address, we can talk this over as to best approach. Antony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 19 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2009 Piorun - thanks thats appreciated Ill phone the guards hq tomorrow as Ive thought of a reference book that might help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now