Catching the Military History Bug

[Juliet Ashmore]

Hello Pals

Have been looking through microfilm records of local newspaper for mention of my husbands grandfatherLeonard Ashmore. I havent found him yet but a long way to go as only up to end of Dec 1914. However have found mention of lots of his cousins, uncles and even my husbands Gt Grandfather George A Kenny Royal Field Artillery and 3 brothers Sgt John F Kenny North Stafordshires, Colin and Arthur Kenny Royal Welsh Fusiliers. They are spread in different Regiments and many different jobs. Other relatives were 1st cousin Walter Greatorex who was part of the St Johns Ambulance Brigade and was then attatched to the RAMC and John Ashmore his Uncle the also St Johns Ambulence as of 2nd Sept 1914.

It struck me that there are no lists with this kind of information on it on the internet - unless you can spend hours looking through microfilm at your library you would never know about some of the men mentioned here. So I am asking you before my next visit if you want me to jot down notes on anything in particular. It is time consuming so I have taken brief notes from my first visit:

Uttoxeter sent 91 men and several officers under Lt O J Bamford (Has anyone heard of JCB - the B is for Bamford and is a well known family in this area) to Burton as 'G; Company Uttoxeter Territorials.

By Sept 9th 1914 10000 men were recruited in 3 weeks from Staffordshire - 4000 South Staffs and 6000 North Staffs. Also that we were in No. 6 District comprising Lincs Leics Rutland Derbys Notts and Staffs with the HQ at Lichfield. An average 2000 a day were recruited from No. 6 District 20000 in total.

Nov 18th strength of 'G' company at Luton is 123. 15 gone to 'C' company at Tamworth. Corp J R Kenny to Sgt at 'C' Company.

Denstone College has 300 boys gone into service.

By Dec 2nd 1914 the War was being referred to as The Great War.

w Greatorex (RAMC) had a daughter on Dec 16th

There was quite a lot of sad stories such as the Private with Uttoxeter 'G' Co whose wife had died a few days after giving birth to twins. they had several children already but the report was enthusiastic and sure it was of cofort to the man that one local family with 5 daughters had fosterd one of the male twins!

Let me know if more detail and complete lists of mens names is useful as if I am gong on a specific mission in search of Leaonard Ashmore I could easily be more productive for the whole community (I am new to this can you tell?)

[Greenwoodman]

Juliet

That's a very kind offer you've made. If you run across any mention of Langford (has Rocester connections) I'd be happy to hear of it.

Good luck with the search for Leonard.

[Juliet Ashmore]

No problem have jotted him down in my file and will note anything and let you know