leoni1985 Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Hello to everybody, this is my first message on this site and im looking for abit of help. Im currently researching my great grandfather matthew burke which ive been led to beleive was in in the RGA in the first world war.Baring the usual bits of info from family the only solid info i have is that his marriage certificate dated 1919 and his occupation was listed as a driver with the numbers 308357 RGA. Ive also been told that he fought overseas between 1914 and 1918 and if this is so it looks like he stayed in the army afterwards due to the date on the marriage certificate.Is there any way i can gather any more detailed info on g grandad from what i have here, i know he was born in birkenhead in liverpool and that he lived and died there. ive been led to believe there was a RGA in birkenhead but wether or not there is a connection i dont know, hopefully may be able to help me with this!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Hello Leoni Welcome to the Board. You can start here by dowloading the Medal Index card: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...mp;mediaarray=* Note the slight difference in the service number. Regards Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 You can start here by dowloading the Medal Index card: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...mp;mediaarray=* Note the slight difference in the service number. Regards Mel Just to avoid any confusion, I think Mel is suggesting you download the second of the two cards listed in the link. Medal card of Burke, Matthew Corps: Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment No: 308387 Rank: Gunner 1914-1920 WO 372/3 Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Matthew Burke's Service Record is on Ancestry.co.uk. His number is listed as 693 but it became 308387. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Thanks David A quick summary: 11/10/15 Enlisted 30/1/17 Sent to France - delay between enlistment and embarkation caused by ill health and being variously classified as Cii or Bii Remained in France until 5/7/19 apart from home leave between 10/1/18- 3/2/18. Discharged 31/3/1920. It is very difficult to read the units to which he was assigned during the war period (the post war is absolutely clear - typical!) but the service number does indicate RGA West Lancs Division. Regards Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoni1985 Posted 23 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2007 The info you have given is fantastic and a great help, cant believe you came up with all that so fast many thanks to you all i am struggling with this, as being a 22 year old girl trying to research her great grandfather isnt too easy and havnt had much luck on the pay sites. after posting my message i decided to have another recheck on the info i had and noticed his middle name was john would that make a difference to the records? or were you just going by the number. once again thankyou very much for the info youve passed on!!! forgot to ask.... what does cii and bii mean??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Hi Leoni, I think you may mean his medical category which is explained on the Long Long Trail at http://www.1914-1918.net/health.htm . This is the best place to continue researching your great grandfather. Unfortunately his records are not in a very good condition but I think it reads 2/1 North Midlands (Staffs) Heavy Battery, then 1/1 West Riding Heavy Battery, 28 Bde, then back to the West Riding Battery. In 1919 he was sent to 117 HB, 141 SB and finished his service with the 148 SB. Regards Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Kevin Your eyesight is a lot better than mine! regards Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 If you look closely you can also see that his height has been rounded up from 5ft 2.5in to the regulation 5ft 3in. "Special for Height" is written on one form. In September 1917 he was admitted to 14 General Hospital at Wimereux with "PUO" or Pyrexia of Unknown Origin. What is "No. 822 Liverpool Coopers" that is written a couple of times on his forms from 1915? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 23 November , 2007 Share Posted 23 November , 2007 I think Liverpool Coopers refers to a friendly society and 822 is his membership number. He would have been entitled to a payout once his illness or injury had been confirmed by the medical authorities. I have come across this sort of thing several times. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoni1985 Posted 23 November , 2007 Author Share Posted 23 November , 2007 Thanks again for all your help, you have explained alot and ive definately got a better understanding now, i know where to come when i get stuck again!!! many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoni1985 Posted 6 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2008 hi, abit ago i was asking anyone for some help on researching my g grandad. alot of people put me onto different links and i found out quite alot but one thing im not so sure about is his number. i had his number down as 308357 but then some one gave me abit of info and said his number had changed. i would have thought they would have kept the same number all along or is it possible it could have changed or could it just be the wrong person?hope someone can help!! leoni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 7 January , 2008 Share Posted 7 January , 2008 Leoni, He had 2 numbers due to Territorial Renumbering in early 1917. See http://www.1914-1918.net/renumbering.htm When Matthew enlisted in October 1915 (in what looks like 3/2 Lancs Battery RGA) he was given the number 693. His record is online in the recently released Service Record series on Ancestry.co.uk. Then in 1917 he was given a new number based on the allocation given to his unit. You have 308357 from his marriage certificate but Ancestry has 308387 and so does this: Matthew Burke's Medal Index Card link You can download his medal card from the link given. This will cost £3.50. This second number puts him in this block: 308001-310000 1 LANCASHIRE HY BY, RGA/ W LANCS DIV 308001-310000 2 LANCASHIRE HY BY, RGA/ W LANCS DIV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoni1985 Posted 7 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 7 January , 2008 Leoni, He had 2 numbers due to Territorial Renumbering in early 1917. See http://www.1914-1918.net/renumbering.htm When Matthew enlisted in October 1915 (in what looks like 3/2 Lancs Battery RGA) he was given the number 693. His record is online in the recently released Service Record series on Ancestry.co.uk. Then in 1917 he was given a new number based on the allocation given to his unit. You have 308357 from his marriage certificate but Ancestry has 308387 and so does this: Matthew Burke's Medal Index Card link You can download his medal card from the link given. This will cost £3.50. This second number puts him in this block: 308001-310000 1 LANCASHIRE HY BY, RGA/ W LANCS DIV 308001-310000 2 LANCASHIRE HY BY, RGA/ W LANCS DIV . thankyou very much for that, ive had alot of help from everyone on this site , but i still get very confused about things but maybe thats just because i dont really have a clue. ive been reading through alot of the info from what ive got from links etc and i seem to be getting lost with all the different numbers etc such as you mentioning 3/2 battery i also have 2/1 north mids heavy battery and also 1/1 w/ riding heavy battery and then ive got that he was sent to 117 heavy batt 141 s/batt and finished his service 148 s/batt ive tried finding some explanation of these and has mentioned before with me not having much of a clue its hard. ive managed to find what heavy battery and s/battery is ....i think! but cant seem to find where they take me. ive tried looking 117 141 148 but im just going in circles. i have been on the long trail but again i get quite mixed up. so i must be looking in the wrong place. all this would be alot easier if i had the knowledge of the people who have helped me. sorry if i am being abit of a pain by asking question upon question but its very much appreciated. many thanks leoni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essdee Posted 7 January , 2008 Share Posted 7 January , 2008 Kevin Are there dates given against these various battery postings ? Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Porter Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Leoni & Stuart This is what I can glean from his service record: Matthew Burke, born 1892, of 35 Ford Street, Liverpool NOK, Sister, Kate Marnell, 5 Court 1 House, Cozneau Street, Liverpool "No. 822 Liverpool Coopers" "Special for height" Enlisted 3/2 Lancs Battery RGA (Gunner) 11-10-15 Inoculation 1st Dose 22-10-15 Inoculation 2nd Dose 03-11-15 Examined by Travelling Medical Board, Winchester, Classified Category Cii 25-04-16 Examined by Travelling Medical Board, Winchester, Classified Category Bii 30-08-16 Southampton 31-01-17 Havre (to RGA Base) 01-02-17 2/1 North Midlands (Staffs) Heavy Battery 27-03-17 Sick 20-09-17 Admitted 14 Gen. Hosp. Wimereux "PUO" 22-09-17 Discharged to 3 Rest Camp 06-10-17 1/1 West Riding Heavy Battery 15-10-17 2 Anzac Corps Heavy Battery 07-12-17 28 Bde Leave to UK via Boulogne 20-01-18 to 03-02-18 Leave to UK via Calais 16-01-19 to 30-01-19 1/1 West Riding Heavy Battery ? 117 Heavy Battery 07-03-19 141 Siege Battery 19-03-19 148 Siege Battery ? Ceases to be attached to 148 Siege Battery 15-06-19 141 Siege Battery to Prees Heath for release 06-07-19 Finished service as a Driver That seems to be as much as you'll get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelfe Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 In Nov 1918 1/1 West Riding Bty was equipped with 60-pr in 28 (Mixed) Bde RGA. This unit was in 5th Army. In June 1918 28 (Mixed) Bde RGA was part of XI Corps Heavy Artillery (in 1st Army) and assigned to support 31 Div. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 A very small amendment offered to the second line of the last post: Cosneau should read Casneau Street. There were many court-type buildings in the city then, thankfully replaced since. Daggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinrowlinson Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 Stuart, I wasn't ignoring you. I tried twice last night and both times site timed out. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 8 January , 2008 Share Posted 8 January , 2008 'Liverpool Coopers Friendly Society' - according to the Liverpool Record Office catalogue, this organisation functioned between 1842 and 1864, and some documents are held in the archives, but perhaps another society used the same name at a later date. Daggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leoni1985 Posted 10 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 10 January , 2008 A very very big thankyou to all of you who have gone out your way to pass on this info i would have never probably found any of that on my own so im very gratefull to you all. again many thanks for all your help and work on my behalf. leoni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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