Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi,

I've been asked by my father-in-law if I can find anything out about his grandfather, John Joseph Duffy. We know he was born 09 July 1883 (lived in St Ambrose Place, Liverpool) and died in 1956 (11a Hopwood Street, Liverpool), he served in WWI and apparently as a result of battle lost his left arm.

We've no idea what records are available relating to his military career so any help and suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks

I have moved this post from Liverpool to Military as it gives more information than the one you posted on this Board, which has been removed.

Baptism at St Sylvester's





Blue

There may be some information available on his military service but we'd need more information to find the right man, do you know whether he was married or had children before or during the war? What was his occupation before the war? Are there any family stories that would help identify which regiment he was in? Any of these details might help

I can only find one John J Duffy who was discharged due to wounds and he was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, there are many possibilities for John Duffy without the middle initial though.

Amanda

Did you get the Ambrose Place reference from his 1911 Census record? The family are at 19 Ambrose Place off Latimer Street (see map below). John (no middle name or initial) was a general labourer. His wife Martha appears to be Martha O'Brien (they married in 1908 and had two children at that time, John Andrew Duffy born 1909 and Charles Gavan Duffy born 1910) she was from Wexford, Ireland, her parents Peter and Eliza, were living at Ashfield Cottages in Liverpool.




Blue

I wasn't expecting a reply this quickly, amazing. I will gather some more info and get back to you, thanks.

alcavtay wrote:There may be some information available on his military service but we'd need more information to find the right man, do you know whether he was married or had children before or during the war? What was his occupation before the war? Are there any family stories that would help identify which regiment he was in? Any of these details might help

I can only find one John J Duffy who was discharged due to wounds and he was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, there are many possibilities for John Duffy without the middle initial though.

Amanda

Hi MSteele,
Are any of these Duffy nee O'Brien births related to your father-in-law's family?
Births Sep 1912: Duffy, Elizabeth [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 23
Births Jun 1917: Duffy, Martha M [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 47
Births Jun 1919: Duffy, Elizabeth [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 10
Births Dec 1920: Duffy, Ellen [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 72

If those births are correct that DS has located I would suggest you apply for one of the Certificates which may have his Regiment and Number.

I do have some John Duffy's in my Wounded Rank and File but no John J Duffy. That doesn't mean he isn't one of them.

Machine Gun Corps Lance-Corporal John 46771 Duffy Kirkdale Wounded
South Lancashire Regiment Private John 240843 Duffy Liverpool Wounded
King's Liverpool Regiment Private John 242657 Duffy Liverpool Wounded
Manchester Regiment Private John 24673 Duffy Liverpool Wounded
King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) Private John 22426 Duffy Liverpool Wounded

alcavtay wrote:There may be some information available on his military service but we'd need more information to find the right man, do you know whether he was married or had children before or during the war? What was his occupation before the war? Are there any family stories that would help identify which regiment he was in? Any of these details might help

I can only find one John J Duffy who was discharged due to wounds and he was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, there are many possibilities for John Duffy without the middle initial though.

Amanda

John Joseph Duffy was married 02.08.1908 to Martha O'Brien, they had two kids that we know of (John Andrew and Charles Gavin) born before the war. He worked in Tate & Lyle as a labourer before and after the war, returning even though he was minus a limb to the job he had done before.

Mark

Mark,
I second Katie's suggestion... In an effort to find out John Joseph's Army Service number, or rank, or regiment, it would be useful to apply for a birth cert for one of these two children born during or immediately after WW1. I would suggest the 1917 one. The cert may well have some military details under 'Occupation of father'.

Births Jun 1917: Duffy, Martha M [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 47
Births Jun 1919: Duffy, Elizabeth [O'Brien] - Liverpool 8b 10

If you specify the parents' names and the selected birth turns out not to be their's the GRO will refund the £9.25 fee in full. http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/

Exactly what I would have suggested DS.

Katie wrote:Exactly what I would have suggested DS.

My apologies! Mea culpa! Post amended to acknowledge that you did suggest a birth cert!

Aah but DS you did suggest what I suggested? LOL The 1917 certificate will be the best bet! but not 100% guaranteed the certificate will have the information, tho it's worked 95% of the time.

Thank you everyone, I will have to wait a little for the certificate to be sent for...hopefully from there I can take it further.