Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I suppose this should go on the Southport forum but I'm hoping our Army experts will see it and help!

Sometime ago I found John Gardner's First World War Service Records on Ancestry but didn't download all the pages. Thinking I'd do it now I can't find them.

I have the first 2 pages so I know they exist!

John Gardner 89 Bedford Road Birkdale number 61970 in the Cheshire Regiment. The first page of his papers has DEAD stamped across it.

I know he died I have a copy of a letter he wrote to his friend in which he says he was "sweating for his leave" sadly he didn't make his leave.

I've tried all ways to bring up his papers name, place army number but I can't find them. The first page has at the bottom the number 0633.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Hi Hilary

I've just got them ok

I keyed a search in the service records bit for John Gardner, and the only other info I put in was Cheshire in the Other keyword box.

2 records came up top of the list for him, one with 10 images and one with 16. I went in to the images and then was able to scroll through each page

Any more probs let me know your email and I will get them for you

Simone x

Many thanks Simone I knew I hadn't gone mad. I can't understand why they wouldn't come up with his number.

I shall download them now before I lose them again. The letter he wrote was to his friend my great uncle who was "walking out with his sister". Parts of it are funny despite it being written in the trenches with as it says "shells flying over" other parts are poignant "well if your name is on it".

Hilary
Ed Officer

Hilary
You may have looked at the CWGC record for your man, but here it is:
Casualty Details
Name: GARDNER, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Date of Death: 22/10/1917
Service No: 61970
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 61 to 63.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

This is one of the large memorials to those with no known grave.
You should also be able to see his medal index card on Ancestry, which will show the campaign medals he earned.
I am putting a link to 'British War Graves' on our 'useful sites', as it may be possible to get an image of his name from the relevant panel.
D

Thanks everybody I have his medal card, CWGC information, photos and his letter to his friend. I have also seen the plaque sent to his family after the war. He went "missing" on 22 October 1917 but his family and friends were still writing to him a month later unaware he was listed "missing". I have a copy of one of the letters written.

Sadly even after 11.11.11 his family were still putting in the paper for anyone who might know about what happened to him. He is on Southport's War Memorial and his church's memorial. His cousin who was in the Kings was killed in 1916. He had previously survived the disaster of the Empress of Ireland and was killed in France.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Today is a day to remember him and all others who are sadly missed.

Lest we forget

I was in Tesco at Southport at 11am. The two minutes silence was announced and the store fell silent expect for 2 students (they had student ID round their necks probably about 17/18) who talked and giggled over a paper. I wish I'd have had the nerve to say that we were remembering, amongst others, lads of their age or a bit older who had died fighting for their freedom and some are still doing that.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Being in work I was pleasantly surprised at some of the younger people asking if there was a signal to let them know it was 11.00 am. Matter resolved by testing the fire alarm at just that time.