Coldstreamer Posted 10 October , 2006 Share Posted 10 October , 2006 hello welcome back! There are 16 Frank Webbs died ww1 - any idea where he lived ? pictures are impossible to help until we know which one he was ! ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 10 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 10 October , 2006 Hi, i'm trying to locate the identity of my late Great Grandfather , I did come on here about Feb time , but knew very little about him and now i've found out a major piece of information , i think i can (With a little help) at long last find him. Here goes: Private Frank Webb (British), he must of died during WW1 after July / August / Sept of 1917 as he had just married my Great Grand Mother in one of these months, this wasn't know by any family members until last Sunday, I've sent away for the marriage certificate , but i just can't wait to know who he is..... If i do find out his identity and regiment, is it a long shot to obtain (or download) regimental photos and if so whats the best avenue to take. I have seen one FW with a middle name of Charles from the Croyden area who died on 1/4/18 , but with no age? Many thanks in advance Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armoured Farmer Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Garry, Below is the list of men called Frank Webb returned by searching Soldiers Died in the Great War. Do any of them seem to fit? frank_webb.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 11 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Many thanks , just waiting for the marriage certificate to arrive now. gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thorpe Posted 11 October , 2006 Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Gary, Have you tried looking at Croydon and the Great War. I have a copy at home shall see if this guy is listed in the roll of honour. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 11 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 11 October , 2006 Gary, Have you tried looking at Croydon and the Great War. I have a copy at home shall see if this guy is listed in the roll of honour. Tom No i haven't , it would be much appreciated if you could have a look. I've got a gut feeling that Frank Charles Webb is my man, being my Grandfather was born in Streatham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 16 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 16 October , 2006 The marriage certificate arrived today and much to my sadness he hasn't put down his regiment or army number.On the section where he would put rank or profession it states 'Soldier on active service' and at the time 1/9/1917 it says that they were residents in Pembury Tunbridge Wells and he was 30, also it's got his father's name as george webb.I'm starting to doubt if he died in the war or not... Can anyone help, i thought i'd cracked it.... Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 23 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 23 October , 2006 I've found out some more information , but i'm still in the dark, looking through the microfilm at my local library, i've found a Pte Webb and the transcript reads as follows: Private Webb Private F J Webb of the Buffs, Is reported missing since March 21st 1918.Before leaving for France at Christmas he was a Lance Corporal stationed at Tonbridge Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough. His Mother 27 Portsrteet (I think) Eversham Worcestershire would be grateful for any news about him. The questions i have are 1.With him reported as missing, is this the reason i can't find a record of him? 2.If he was a POW, would they have a record of him and where could i find him? 3.What's his army number and any previous regiments? 4.What happened to him? Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 23 October , 2006 Share Posted 23 October , 2006 There were 2 FJ Webbs in the Buffs. One was a Frederick who was killed in Iraq in may 1917 so it's not him. The other was also a Frederick who transferred to the Hampshires so it's not him either. There is a Frank Webb. This may be him because the second initial isn't always noted, BUT he was a Private - not a Lance Corporal, so not the man in the press cutting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard_Lewis Posted 23 October , 2006 Share Posted 23 October , 2006 Hi. His being 'missing' wouldn't mean that his records were not kept. However, only about 30% of service records survived the WW2 bombing so its pot luck. There is an index on this site to POW records. The National Archives (on which the index is based) have reports from POW's who returned and were interviewed about their treatment. Not all were interviewed so, again, pot luck. You'll need to try and pin him down via a service record as he doesn't have unique initials/surname I guess. And that may not be possible. If somepne in the family can confirm his unit that would obviously narrow the search. Or the local press of the time may mention him? (I'm sure you'll have done this). Anything at his old school that might say who he served with (a plaque etc.)? If he was missing and never came back then the Commonwelath War Graves Commission website will have his record but you'd need to be able to pick him out from maybe several with the same name (I've not looked). He might have a grave or just be remembered at Thiepval or tha Menin Gate etc. Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary68 Posted 23 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 23 October , 2006 The transcript reads Private and Lance Corporal???? Also if someone was know as Frank, would they be called Fred......this is getting more confusing by the second I'm going back down the library today to look through 1919+ Thanks for looking chaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard_Lewis Posted 23 October , 2006 Share Posted 23 October , 2006 Started as a private and got promoted. Most names will be transcribed OK but human error will occur in the odd case. Couldn't find my grandad on the medal index as 'David Thomas Lewis' but he popped up under 'DaviS Thomas Lewis'! Simple error but you might miss someone...no solution to it. Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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