What this is about

To mark the centenary of the Great War, I am researching the WW1 histories of my ancestors. This blog documents my progress.
To read a summary of what I've discovered so far, select an ancestor/family member from the list on the right-hand side.

Monday, 18 August 2014

John Lee Price, wounded in 1917


I've updated the page for my great uncle John Lee Price today, after discovering a reference to him being wounded in a 1917 copy of the Gloucester Journal.
This gives us a clue as to where could have been during that time, and the battle it is possible he was wounded in.
If my theory is correct, then this proves that some details in his medal roll are wrong. A visit to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and a chat to their very helpful archivist has further strengthened my belief in this.

Friday, 1 August 2014

Grandad in 1919


Thanks to the National Archives I now have a copy of the diary of 5th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry for 1918-19.

Assuming I'm right in believing that grandad joined this battalion in 1919, this enables me to get a picture of his duties during his stint in the Army of Occupation.

I have updated his page accordingly - http://myfamilyww1.blogspot.co.uk/p/walter-th.html

Monday, 21 July 2014

Alfred William Bevan Hill

A new entry up today, detailing my findings on my great uncle (by marriage to my grandfather's sister) Alfred Hill (link on the right).

Sadly my grandfather was somewhat estranged from his sister and her family and I knew very little about them, so I am grateful to Alfred's granddaughters Val and Tricia for their help!

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Still here!

Things are pretty quiet on the research front at the moment, but it's still simmering quietly.

 

I discovered an archive newspaper clipping from findmypast.com, which lists my great uncle John Lee Price as being wounded in 1917. I now need to look at the other Gloucestershire Regiment soldiers who are also listed and find out where, when and in which battalion they were wounded. Hopefully this will help clear up the mystery of whether John was ever in the 8th battalion, as listed in his medal roll.

 

I am also researching another great uncle (by marriage) Alfred Hill. Luckily his service record survives, but I would still like to get an idea of where the regiments he served in were during his time. However to do this Imhave to wait fr some of the diaries to be digitised by the National Archives and also get a look at some held by the Royal Engineers museum, which is quite a long way away.

 

One more avenue of enquiry is the Western Front Association, which is digitising thousands of WW1 pension records. I have sent in a request form for some of my relatives to be searched for, but it will take them some time.

 

So although this blog hasn't been updated for a while, I'm still here researching!

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Grandad and the Sambre

A quick update to Grandad - Walter Thomas Price's page, with a summary of the 9th Devonshires' actions during the battle of the Sambre (04/11/1918), shortly after the time I believe he joined the battalion.

Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Update for John Lee Price


I've downloaded the war diary for the 9th Gloucestershires for a period between September and October 1915, when they first landed in France. This gives us a clue as to John's movements during this time, and I've amended his information accordingly.

Friday, 28 February 2014

William Thomas Clark



A new page up today, highlighting the family connection to Australia in the shape of William Thomas Clark, husband of my great aunt, Lily Jones (who he met during the Great War).

You can read about his, ultimately tragic, history by clicking the link to the right.