Grandad - major questions answered!

A visit to the Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre has yielded some fantastic results in the shape of the Absent Voters Lists!

The lists for 1918-1919 confirm that Grandad was indeed conscripted into the 3rd KSLI, that he was posted to the Devonshires at the end of October 1918, and that he was subsequently posted to the 1/5th DCLI after the Armistice - demobbing November 1919.

Grandad's page has been updated as a result.

(Note that, while this latest update answers a lot of questions, I have still detailed the research I carried out beforehand in the hope that it will be of use to other amateur researchers!)

William Thomas Clark Update

I'm indebted to the volunteers at the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, ACT, for providing me with not only a nice photo of Duntroon Military Academy, but also the three honour rolls that William is listed in, plus some of his final resting place. A selection of these have now been put onto his page.

Grandad - Starred.

Another trawl of the Herefordshire History website has revealed that Grandad was originally in a 'starred' occupation - basically, as a skilled agricultural worker (a wagoner in his case), he was initially exempt from being called-up.

This was to change with the introduction of conscription in 1916, and the removal of his 'starred' status in April 1916.

John Lee's Final Effects

Ancestry have now digitised the Register of British Soldiers' Final Effects (held at the National Army Museum) and I have found my Great-Uncle John's entry. His page has been updated accordingly.

Frederick Samuel Jones

I have posted up a new page today - that of my great-uncle Frederick Samuel Jones (my father's 'Uncle Fred')

I have very little information regarding Fred's military service, save a rather fine photo of him in uniform, but have managed to glean some biographical information from censuses, letters and migration documents.

I live in hope that one of his descendants will get in touch!

Cross referencing

Of the approximately 150 men who I believe to have transferred to the 9th Devonshire Regiment, only one service record survives. However it is still possible to view their entries on the medal rolls, and the smattering of Silver War Badge entries. Additionally, one among their number subsequently joined the RAF, and has some service details also available to view online.

Cross referencing this gives us a little more information, but also throws into question my assumption that Grandad was initially in the KSLI before being transferred to the Devonshires. I have factored all this into his entry.

Grandad - More Information Comes to Light!

Thanks to the newly launched Herefordshire History website, I have found some important information on my Grandad's military service which confirms the fact that he was conscripted no earlier than 1st September 1917.

I have also discovered where he was working at the time, and what his job was, and have edited his page (see the right hand panel) accordingly!