Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Does anyone have a subscription to Forces War Records? I am looking for my Uncle who died in WWI and have found entries on this site but without a subscription I am unable to access them.
His name was John Edward Birchall from Liverpool born 1880, father Thomas William and Mother Elizabeth.
If someone could have a look I would be very grateful.
Thank you
Diane

Sorry I don't understand what you mean about a subscription to Forces War Records. There is no need for a subscription to the Commonwealth War Grave Commission site http://www.cwgc.org/ however there is only one John Edward Birchall listed whose parents are not as you have named.

If you mean the British Army WWI Service Records where a John Henry Birchall is listed, then his address for pay is in Staffordshire.

There is also one listed in the Soldiers who died in the Great War, born Rivington, residence Blackrod.

Your first investigation is to identify him on the CWGC site and see if you can find a Regimental number.

Hi
In 1881 John E was with his parents as mentioned, 69 Braemar St Kirkdale, brother Thomas W 3yrs.
1891 his Dad is still a carter, spouse is now Ellen, Thos W is there , John listed as James? E bn 1880.
This doesn't really help any.
1901 father Thos W, wife now Elizabeth, John E 20 barman, 5 sibs
42 St Domingo Rd.

Hi Mary about the parents for John E.
His Dad has remarried to a Louisa.

The John Edward on CWGC site is 19 so not the same person.

Do you have any stories/photos etc from the family which would help identify him?

Was your John married and if yes who to?

I have also searched my database and the War Memorials lists and alternate spellings for this man and I cant find anything for a John E Birchall/Birchell

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has him as private, 203813, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, d.26/10/1917, aged 19, remembered on the
Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing. This records men with no known grave, and is in the Ypres area of the Western Front in Belgium. No details of family or home address are given, which is often the case.
D
Added: there is a medal index card for him with this number and regiment, but forenames Jonathan E, available from the National Archives for £2, or free via Ancestry. It will show his entitlement to war medals but probably little more.
D

daggers wrote:The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has him as private, 203813, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, d.26/10/1917, aged 19, remembered on the
Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.

This is the John born Rivington, residence Blackrod.

Hi,
There is a site called Forces-war-records.com.uk,the John Edward Birchall is the same as been noted of Blackrod parents Henry and Isabella of Goodman Fold cottage.
John

GRO War Death Army Other Ranks (1914 to 1921) has:

BURCHALL, John E
Unit: London Regiment
Rank: Corporal
Number: 592875
Year: 1917; Volume: I.85; Page: 558.

Haven't found him yet in the CWGC database.

Can't find that one on any of the other lists DS

Following on from Tina's 1891 find where John E had become James E, in 1901 the family are still together with John E at:
RG13 - Piece: 3475 - Folio: 102 - Page: 1.
Address: 42 St Domingo Road, Everton.
BIRCHALL, John E - Son - u/m - 20 - 1881 - Barman - Everton, Liverpool.

Another Liverpool born John Birchall, from CWGC,
Private, 64716, died 4 Nov 1918, 16th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, Buried at Ors Communal Cemetary.
Soldiers died in the Great War has him born in Liverpool, and killed in action. No age or family details given.
D

Could well be him, Ancestry lists the same information but no more. No Service Records for that Regiment Number.

Diane sent me this additional information in a PM. She is happy for me to post it.

"Unfortunately I have very little information on my uncle John Edward Birchall only that he was born around 1880, never married, worked at the docks in Liverpool and was a heavy drinker. He was gassed in the trenches in WWI."

I suggested that maybe he died post war from the effects of gas and she is going to ask relatives if he perhaps died after the end of the war.

Here is the Soldier for 1917 name mispelled
http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1

We can rule him out

If he died much later after the end of WW1, possibly from long-standing gas 'injuries'.. could this be him?
Death: BIRCHALL, John E
Registration district: Liverpool North
Year/qtr of registration: 1950 / Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at death: 69
Volume no: 10D; Page no: 191.

The above matches this birth:
BIRCHALL, John Edward
Registration district: West Derby
Year/qtr of registration: 1881 / Jan-Feb-Mar
Volume no: 8B; Page no: 340.

I would like to say thank you to all the kind people who have taken the time to respond to my message regarding my Uncle's war grave search. I have been "blown away" by the number of replies and all the information which I will be following up.
Diane