Pre-WWI military service

[Guest rcbww1]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum. I am researching a member of the 29th Vancouver Battalion ("Tobin's Tigers"), 2nd Division, 6th Brigade of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, L/Cpl Francis William Davidson Muir, who enlisted in British Columbia in November 1914 and was killed in the St. Eloi Craters fiasco in April 1916. I have a tremendous amount of information about him once he enlisted, courtesy of the extremely cooperative Canadian Government, their National Archives, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and my wonderfully helpful fellow members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group.

But, I have a hit a brick wall regarding his life prior to his attestation in Vancouver. He was born in Glasgow in 1882. He is on the 1901 census in Edinburgh. On his Attestation papers, he described his "trade" as a sailor and answered the question about being in an "active militia", with noting that he served 3 years in the Argyll Sutherlands. I am assuming that that would be the Scottish regiment. His father died in Birmingham in 1908 and his mother's address at the time of his enlistment was 22 St. Mary's St, Liscard, Cheshire, England.

I did write to the museum of the Argyll-Sutherlands but, as Chris Baker suggested in "The Long, Long Trail", they weren't helpful (actually I don't think they even replied to my email!). Does anyone have any ideas how I might proceed, given I live in the US, to get information about his careers in the Argyll Sutherlands and the Navy?

Thanks.

[chris basey]

Have you tried this website?

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020106_e.html

[Guest rcbww1]

Thanks for responding, Chris. I made heavy use of the Canadian Archives. They are a fabulous resource for researching a Canadian soldier. Unfortunately, they don't shed much light on his career prior to becoming one! I am assuming that he was a sailor in the British/Scottish Navy/Merchant Navy when he arrived in Vancouver and that his previous service in the Argyll Sutherlands was in the Scottish not Canadian regiment because I figure he'd otherwise enlist for WWI service in Canada in that regiment. On his Attestation papers, it does note that he enlisted in the 72nd Highlanders but was immediately transferred to the 29th Btn. Not sure why and what that means. I don't think the 72nd had anything to do with the Argyll Sutherlands.

So I am looking for resources about British/Scottish pre-WWI military/naval service. Any thoughts?

Best regards,

Jane

[Michael Johnson]

Hi all,

But, I have a hit a brick wall regarding his life prior to his attestation in Vancouver. He was born in Glasgow in 1882. He is on the 1901 census in Edinburgh. On his Attestation papers, he described his "trade" as a sailor and answered the question about being in an "active militia", with noting that he served 3 years in the Argyll Sutherlands. I am assuming that that would be the Scottish regiment. His father died in Birmingham in 1908 and his mother's address at the time of his enlistment was 22 St. Mary's St, Liscard, Cheshire, England.

It's a bit of a question whether he was in the regular battalions of the Argylls, or a Militia or Territorial battalion.

Given his age he might have served in South Africa, and the British National Archives would be the next stop to check for soldier's papers in WO/97 and failing that a check of the medal rolls for the Highlanders.

[sotonmate]

Jane

I know not quite how it is kept but there are an awful lot of British Mercantile Marine records at your Newfoundland University. There is just the possibility that you can track your Mr Muir's sailing career there. I have found a website which may help,though it doesn't appear to be the Uni direct:

http://www.cyndislist.com/newf-lab.htm

Best wishes

Sotonmate

[Guest rcbww1]

Sotonmate -- Thanks for that hint about the University of Newfoundland, Cyndy's List and the British Mercantile Marine Records. I'll check it out !

Michael -- I appreciate your making me aware of those distinctions, not that I even understand the differences . I haven't a clue but will see what the British National Archives has to offer.

Hearty thanks to you both!

Jane