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1st world war

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Susan

Susan Report 10 Nov 2007 09:40

Trying to find out what regiment my grandfather was in 1914-1918, he was from Bradford so i think maybe a Yorkshire based regiment.
His name was Harry Spencer born 1899. Can anyone help please?
Thanks sue

Julie

Julie Report 10 Nov 2007 09:54

Hi Susan
Did he get married.
It said on my grandfathers marriage certificate, even though he was only in army for the war.
Julie

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 10 Nov 2007 10:19

try putting his name in Search on the National Archives site .You may find his medal card that is downloadable for £3.50.

Shirley

Researching:
Surname Fahse. Germany. Essex .South East London My avatar is one of our wedding photos of 1957

Pete

Pete Report 10 Nov 2007 10:57

There are 146 medal cards for soldiers with the name Harry SPENCER. Although some can be dicounted if you are sure that your man had no second forename.

You could make a list of those who died in the war (details on the CWGC website) as this may help exclude many.

There are also around 20 Harry Spencer listed on Ancestry in the database of Army pensions from WW1 but none of them appear to have the right and and an association with Bradford (or anywhere in Yorkshire)

I think that the medal card route is the best starting place, but use the other information available to exclude as many as possible. Of course, medal cards will only give you a shortlist of likely regiments and service numbers. These will need to be followed up elsewhere, at Kew assuming the service records have survived.

Barbara

Barbara Report 10 Nov 2007 10:58

If he died in the war you could try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Even if you can't find him on the casualties site you can contact them direct. I found my great uncle's memorial in France by doing this.
Good Luck
Barbara

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 10 Nov 2007 12:23

I would imagine, with a birth year of 1899, he probably lied about his age to enlist. That will lead you further astray.
Margaret

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 10 Nov 2007 12:37

He may not have lied. I have my late father-in-law's army records. He was born 1899 and enlisted in 1916, giving his correct date of birth. He also went on to re-enlist and served in the second world war.

Kath. x