World War 1 documents query

[Glenys]

I've just tried to download an image but I can't seem to get it to open.
Can you please advise how I can do this. Its the Army Record of my grandfather, William Harrison.

[MaryA]

Is this on Ancestry or the National Archives?

Do you have his Number and is it Service Records or Pension Records or Medal Card you are after?

[Glenys]

This is the first of the pages I have for my grandfather. I have two other pages which I will show if this works.

[MaryA]

Is he of Albion Street, St Helens? I see only four pages for him which I will send you if they are the correct ones - Attestation into the Territorial Force.

[Glenys]

Thanks, Mary.
I didn't know how you actually inserted them on to this forum. I have them already but couldn't get them to turn into the actual pages.

My query is - it looks to me like he was" ???? medically unfit for further military service." Is there any way I can find out what made him unfit?

Do the little ticks mean he got his medals. Was he wounded in action and if so, how?

Also on the first page, it says that he had been in the Royal Engineers - how can I find out more about that period of service?

It makes a change for me to be setting questions on the forum, so I hope someone out there can help.

This is my great-grandfather and I've only found him when he got married and then upto 1901 census. So there's not much to write about him. I have a postcard that he sent home to his wife and one for his daughter, Sarah (my grandmother) to pass on to her husband who was also away on active service.

[Katie]

A search on the National Archives gives a entry for a William Harrison South Lancashire Regiment 20427

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.u ... i=D2590925

This Regiment Number is on the papers. Trying to locate the Medal card entry on Ancestry

[Katie]

I cannot find the entry on Ancestry for William Harrison South Lancs Regt 20427. Yet there is a recorded on Documents Online for him.

[Tina]

Hi folks, probably of no help but worth posting perhaps.
There's a Wm Harrison dis 1916 from Central Terrace, Haydock St Helens aged 23
in Anx.

[MaryA]

I know some of our other forum members know a bit more about military matters than I do, I will move this post over to the Military Board.

So far as the reason is concerned, this sort of information is usually on the Service Records which I have been unable to find, the ones that you have are the Pension Records. Sorry to say that many of the Service Records have not survived, but I hope whatever Katie found on the National Archives site might add to the details you have.

[Katie]

I tried to phone Ancestry today and find out why the Medal cards are incomplete, but they must shut down over the weekend.

His been awarded something but what I don't know?

[Bertieone]

Medal Card

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/1262/ ... turnRecord

[Katie]

Well done Bertie. What was it spelt as Bertie? I did a first name search as well and couldn't pick him up.

[Katie]

Did he get a Silver War Badge to wear???

Yes he did there is a entry for him on the Silver war Badge records on Ancestry.

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/2456/ ... turnRecord


He never served overseas so he wasn't entitled to any Medals. Should have got the Victory Medal in my opinion but if they could save money they will save money.

[Bertieone]

Well done Bertie. What was it spelt as Bertie? I did a first name search as well and couldn't pick him up.

Second down Katie,

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss ... =2&ti=5538

[Katie]

I must be losing it. To many soldiers.

Thanks.

[MaryA]

Please remember that anybody who doesn't have access to an Ancestry subs can't see the links you are posting. Hope Glenys can see them.

[Glenys]

Thanks for the help, so far. In answer to some of the questions:-
I had already found his service record on Ancestry but my problem was I didn't know how to insert them on to this site so you could see them.

I've checked that medal card and its not the right one - he is just William not William J and the number is different. That's probably why I didn't include that one when I checked out medal cards on Ancestry before posting the query.

I'm still wondering if anyone can suggest a way of finding out why he was discharged as medically unfit. I knew he had gone to Pembroke Dock from the postcard I have. I don't know why he was there.

I'm also intrigued by the comment that he had been in the Royal Engineers and wonder if its possible to find out about that part of his life. I presume it would be when he was much younger as he is 55 on the service record.

[Bertieone]

Hi Glenys,

I'm slightly confused, both links, Medal Card and Silver War Badge match William Harrison 20427 (first post)
Apologies if I'm missing something.

[MaryA]

I've checked that medal card and its not the right one - he is just William not William J and the number is different. That's probably why I didn't include that one when I checked out medal cards on Ancestry before posting the query.

The Medal Card that Bertie posted the link for is for just William and the number matches the one on your documents.

[Glenys]

Sorry for confusion. I'd clicked on the one Katie provided. Now I've found the one Bertie found and yes, that's definitely him. Now I just need to know what the cause of discharge column means?

Now I'm can look for details of the South Lancs. Regiment 5th Battalion. I have a list of the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancs. Regiment) diaries.

Thanks for all your help on this.