3rd Vol Bn Kings Liverpool Regiment - looking for sources

[Frances]

My grandfather James Watkins was a Private in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Kings (Liverpool Regiment). I have his discharge certificate which I will try to upload.

He was enrolled 27.8.1916 and discharged 24.8.1918. He lived in Great Crosby.

Can anyone guide me please as to where I might find his records

Frances

Sorry, can't upload it, have posted it on the facebook page

[dickiesam]

Frances: Sorry, can't upload it, have posted it on the facebook page

HI Frances,
Not all of us have a Facebook account so could you try again to upload that scan please?
This is one of the easiest ways to do it.

1) Make sure the image scan is the best quality image you can manage and is a reasonable size. If the image is of a complete page and your 'query' is about only part of it, if you can you should crop the image to remove the 'unnecessary bits'. If you don't have an image cropping utility you can use the one on the Photobucket site.

2) If you are not already a member at Photobucket [a free image hosting website], paste http://photobucket.com/ into your browser and join the site.

3) Follow the onscreen instruction to upload your picture to the site. Save the picture to your 'album'. When you run the mouse over the picture a small drop-down menu will appear. Left-click on the IMG Code in that menu. A yellow box flashes up, with Copied written in it.

4) Now go to the 'Post a reply' box on the forum topic where you want show your photo. Write your message then page down a line or two. Place the cursor at the left of the message window, right-click the mouse and select Paste. This will paste the code that was copied from Photobucket into your message.

The picture will not immediately appear. It only comes up when you click Preview if you want to see the image before you submit your message, or click Submit to send the message and image to the forum topic.

[Frances]

Thanks

[daggers]

I am nearly certain that this unit was a forerunner of the Home Guard, for home defence only. I shall look for more details.
D

[Frances]

That would figure. He was born in 1883, so was in his mid 30's. He was also a cotton broker, so that may have been a necessary occupation.

[Tina]

Hi Frances
In the census taken 10 yrs after 1901, in Anx, they have him as a
Cotton Croker..surname Witkins
Errors sent.

Tina

[Frances]

LOL! I shall have to go on there and correct them!

[Tina]

Done!

Mother Matilda who died in 1918, her will in Anx, do you have details?
1911 Gores/Kellys have James Watkins jr head of household cotton broker
2 Regent Rd Crosby.

[Frances]

Thanks. No, I don't have Matilda's will, but my grandad was her only son (she was over 40 when she married). What is Anx? Details would be good.

James Snr died 1914 in Shaftesbury House, Formby, he had dementia 20 years, so grandad was alone then. He married my gran in 1917. The house stayed in the family from 1881 when great grandad had it built, till 1991 when my aunt married aged 71 and sold it!

[daggers]

Frances
I have looked at my notes and the Volunteer battalions do not show up as one of the regular, territorial or 'New Army' units of the King's Regiment. They were as I said earlier strictly for home defence and probably part-time, much as Dad's Army was later.
Not much has been written up about these Volunteers, which started up locally and independent, but were gradually brought under government control. There are some reports of their activities in local papers which I have seen but not recorded, as my grandfather was briefly involved in Aigburth [he was 47 in 1914].

D

[MaryA]

Anx = Tina's abbreviation of Ancestry, she who is now snoring while the dayshift take over

WATKINS Matilda of Regent Road Great Crosby near Liverpool widow died 10 January 1918 Probate Liverpool 29 January to James Watkins and Harold Williams, Cotton Brokers. Effects £1323 2s. 7d.

[Frances]

OK, Daggers, thanks for your time. It was worth a try.

MaryA, thanks for the info, I will follow it through. The Williams' clan were Matilda's half brothers and sisters by her mother's first marriage.

[MaryA]

That makes sense - presumably they were both Executors, it doesn't necessarily mean that Harold Williams was a beneficiary.