Research A Soldier

arnhem44 · 26-08-2011 9:22pm

It would be a luxury item for a private to own but who knows he may of bought it himself or even got it as a parting gift from loved ones or even a company he may of been employed with gave it to him.I would be inclined to agree with RDF about a possible transfer,had he entered a theater of war with the 10th then a medal index card would exist showing a service number for this battalion.It wouldn't of been uncommon for someone to enlist with one battalion and then be transferred to another or even a different regiment before they went on to serve overseas but without a service number or a possible service record to go on then the best to expect is that a process of elimination may narrow the overall list of matched names down a little but may never yield a definite result,I'll have another browse again to see if I can find anything.A lovely periscope though.

mattjack · 27-08-2011 8:52am

Hi all.......
I wonder if I could ask if I could ask if any of you would be able to help me with info. about a soldier from the Napoleonic wars..I know its a long shot ..and I appreciate most of your discussions are about WW1.
His name was Stephen Burke and he was an ensign in the 47th foot and fought in the Peninsular wars mainly.
I have a little info. and am just trying to gather a little more

thanks.

johnny_doyle · 27-08-2011 12:36pm

Napoleonic era is difficult given the lack of online records. To keep a WW1 link, quite a lot of records were researched by Capt Lionel Challis

http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/GreatBritain/Challis/c_ChallisIntro.html

Burke appears to have been an Ensign from 11th June 1812 and Lt from 26th May 1814. Fought at Vittoria and in the storming of San Sebastian. 47th lost 2 Ensigns on that day (31st August 1813) - John Campbell and George Norris as well as Capt Hodges, Major Kelly, Lt Short.

Lt without purchase
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/16903/pages/1132/page.pdf

Possible marriage
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1824/MAY.html

Burke is a Lt on half pay in 1833

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/19072/pages/1464/page.pdf

His gravestone

http://irishconstabulary.com/topic/1043

His wife appears to have died in Roscommon in 1860
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1860/OCT.html

mattjack · 27-08-2011 4:13pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

Napoleonic era is difficult given the lack of online records. To keep a WW1 link, quite a lot of records were researched by Capt Lionel Challis

http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/GreatBritain/Challis/c_ChallisIntro.html

Burke appears to have been an Ensign from 11th June 1812 and Lt from 26th May 1814. Fought at Vittoria and in the storming of San Sebastian. 47th lost 2 Ensigns on that day (31st August 1813) - John Campbell and George Norris as well as Capt Hodges, Major Kelly, Lt Short.

Lt without purchase
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/16903/pages/1132/page.pdf

Possible marriage
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Galway/1824/MAY.html

Burke is a Lt on half pay in 1833

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/19072/pages/1464/page.pdf

His gravestone

http://irishconstabulary.com/topic/1043

His wife appears to have died in Roscommon in 1860
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1860/OCT.html

...
Johnny........thanks for your time ..I knew a little of that information already...Steven Burke is my great x 5 grandfather..thanks again.

ForeverEnding · 27-08-2011 11:14pm

Hi folks,

I'm just wondering if anyone would be able to help me. I'm looking for information on my Great Uncle Thomas Callaghan of Oristown,Kells, County Meath.

He was born in the 1920's and as far as I know (which isn't much and his brothers and sisters have passed away) and he left Ireland to fight in WWII. He was never heard or seen from again and the family received no information in regards to him being KIA or anything. I have tried looking into it but Thomas Callaghan appears to be a pretty popular name at the time. His mother was Mary and his father was Edward.

I'd appreciate any help you could give me or if you could point me in the right direction.

Thank you!

R.Dub.Fusilier · 28-08-2011 3:57pm

ForeverEnding wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'm just wondering if anyone would be able to help me. I'm looking for information on my Great Uncle Thomas Callaghan of Oristown,Kells, County Meath.

He was born in the 1920's and as far as I know (which isn't much and his brothers and sisters have passed away) and he left Ireland to fight in WWII. He was never heard or seen from again and the family received no information in regards to him being KIA or anything. I have tried looking into it but Thomas Callaghan appears to be a pretty popular name at the time. His mother was Mary and his father was Edward.

I'd appreciate any help you could give me or if you could point me in the right direction.

Thank you!

here is a link to T Callaghans who died in WW2 from CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=Callaghan&initials=t&war=2&yearfrom=1939&yearto=1947&force=&nationality=&send.x=51&send.y=12

ForeverEnding · 28-08-2011 4:15pm

R.Dub.Fusilier wrote: »

here is a link to T Callaghans who died in WW2 from CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=Callaghan&initials=t&war=2&yearfrom=1939&yearto=1947&force=&nationality=&send.x=51&send.y=12

Hi again,

Thank you, I was having a look at them and all with the exception of two give parents/NOK details.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2798171

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2069384

The others can be crossed off. I'll see if I can find anything else to find out more. All my grand-relatives are dead and getting my hands on DOB information is quite difficult though I may find them by thrawling through the national archives when I get a chance. There's apparently a book in Trinity College that lists all the Irish KIA while in WW2 with the British forces. I'll have to check it out. I'd say it's possible that no-one knew how to contact his NOK.

Thank you for your help it's much appreciated =-)

johnny_doyle · 31-08-2011 7:54pm

any chance this is a relative?

Name: Robert Callaghan
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Age at enlistment: 19
Birth Parish: Oristown
Birth County: Meath
Document Year: 1899
Regimental Number: 32501
Regiment Name: Royal Artillery

fought in Boer War and thru WW1. Born 1879; enlisted Dublin 5/1/1899.

ForeverEnding · 31-08-2011 8:31pm

I don't know, Callaghan is quite a common name around the Meath area and even in the small area of Oristown. There's a chance he's related to Thomas' father Edward but I have to get a chance to go into the GRO and get a bit more info. Thomas was born about 1923 I think so it could always be an uncle. If so it would be really interesting. There was also a J Callaghan who fought in WWI from Oristown but I'll have to wait and find out.

I'm wondering if it was possible with Thomas that they didn't have his parents contact details, especially because Oristown would have been quite isolated them days, now it's off one of the main roads but I'd imagine it can't have been easy and some peoples Next of Kin were never reached.

I'm hoping to go to the GRO in Dublin in the next few weeks and if I find out that Robert Callaghan is indeed a relative I'll let you know!!

Thank you!

nahboisk · 02-09-2011 1:31am

Hi I googled my great great uncle and found this link someone else was looking for him as family so Ive found a lot of info on him so thank you everyone. I am hoping to find out if there where any medals given to him or if there is a reason that he seems to have moved to the royal defence corps from another unit. these are his details

Name: Edward Dunne
Residence: Dublin
Death Date: 10 Oct 1918
Enlistment Location: Dublin
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Defence Corps
Number: 77770
Type of Casualty: Died
Theatre of War: Copenhagen
Comments: Formerly 3/8722, R. Ir. Rif.

also im wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to have a name added to a military grave? Edwards mother was buried with him and at the time the family was told the stone could not be marked as she was not military maybe things have changed? thanks everyone

nahboisk · 02-09-2011 2:34am

Im also wondering following on from my last post above if anyone has any information of edward dunnes brother john dunne who is listed on the 1911 census as 15 years old there was never mention of him so i was surprised if he died at war that could be the reason im not sure if any records of family members are kept but im hoping this sorts out the mystery thanks

enfield · 02-09-2011 9:19am

The only John Dunnes I have with a Dublin Connection are
DUNNE, JOHN. Rank: Private. Regiment or Service: Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Unit; 2nd Bn. Secondary Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps Secondary. Unit; formerly (His number was 11849) Age at Death: 23. Date of Death: 21-03-1918. Service No: 21859. Awarded the Military Medal. Born in Dublin and enlisted there also. Killed in Action. Supplementary information; Son of Frank and Mary Dunne, of Pike St, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Grave or Memorial Reference: Has no known grave but is commemorated on Panel 79 and 80. Memorial: Pozieres Memorial in France.

DUNNE, JOHN. Rank: Pte. Regiment or Service: Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Unit; 2nd Battalion.
Date of Death:25-April-1915. Service No:5554. Born in Kilbride, King’s County. Enlisted in Dublin. Killed in Action. Supplementary information; Brother of Mrs. B. Murphy, of 3, Grove Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin.
Grave or Memorial Reference: He has no known grave but is listed on Panel 44 and 46 on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.
Edward 'Died at sea' according to SDGW.
Cheers.
Tom.

nahboisk · 02-09-2011 2:16pm

Thanks Enfield shortly after posting about John Dunne I actually found out that he was killed in Galipolli in 1915 and is buried there. I had a feeling he had been killed somewhere at war because of the stories I had heard and i also had heard of someone killed in gallipolli but never knew who in the family now I know thanks again

arnhem44 · 02-09-2011 3:56pm

I've seen a couple with a civilian name on a CWGC headstone but most likely done privately without permission of the CWGC.It has the recipients wife's name added on to it although it is done in memory of her husband and not of her death and the other in memory of the sailor by his family.It won't cost anything to ask the CWGC but most likely won't be allowed.

nahboisk · 02-09-2011 6:04pm

arnhem44 wrote: »

I've seen a couple with a civilian name on a CWGC headstone but most likely done privately without permission of the CWGC.It has the recipients wife's name added on to it although it is done in memory of her husband and not of her death and the other in memory of the sailor by his family.It won't cost anything to ask the CWGC but most likely won't be allowed.

I think what my mam was thinking was a small little brass plate engraved just to mark her grave i think its just the fact theres no mention shes buried with her son and some of the family always hoped they could do it. I will get onto them maybe we could work something out. thanks

enfield · 02-09-2011 10:10pm

Contact Terry Denham, he's the CWGC guy. Post a message here;
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?act=idx

nahboisk · 02-09-2011 10:11pm

enfield wrote: »

Contact Terry Denham, he's the CWGC guy. Post a message here;
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?act=idx

thats great thanks

Tabnabs · 03-09-2011 4:12pm

I have three great, great uncles who all fought in WW1. Three brothers, all from Thomastown in Kildare.

Thomas Keating, born 1890
Jeremiah Keating, born 1892
James Keating, born 1895

Tomas survived the war, but recent family contact has suggested he was in the Connaught Rangers (but signed up in the Curragh) and was involved in some capacity in the Indian Mutiny in 1920.

Jeremiah was injured (shot in the face) but survived the war and subsequently went to America.

James AFAIK went to Canada and joined the RCMP and was conscripted into the Canadian Army and died at Ypres.

(99.9% I'm not getting the two younger brothers mixed up, but hoping to confirm this).

So is it possible to search records online to find out more about these three brother wartime service? I've no idea and any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 03-09-2011 6:28pm

here are two medal index cards for two Thomas Keatings. the one with the RDF on it could explain why he joined in the Curragh , if that is the right one.

Tabnabs · 03-09-2011 10:23pm

Thanks so much for that. It looks like I'll have to pay up and join ancestry.co.uk as there do seem to be more records on there that can perhaps shed some more light on his (their) military service.

enfield · 03-09-2011 10:27pm

I looked up my notes and the charge sheets for the mutiny and there is no Keating in them.
Regards.
Tom.

arnhem44 · 04-09-2011 12:17am

Tabnabs wrote: »

I have three great, great uncles who all fought in WW1. Three brothers, all from Thomastown in Kildare.

Thomas Keating, born 1890
Jeremiah Keating, born 1892
James Keating, born 1895

Tomas survived the war, but recent family contact has suggested he was in the Connaught Rangers (but signed up in the Curragh) and was involved in some capacity in the Indian Mutiny in 1920.

Jeremiah was injured (shot in the face) but survived the war and subsequently went to America.

James AFAIK went to Canada and joined the RCMP and was conscripted into the Canadian Army and died at Ypres.

(99.9% I'm not getting the two younger brothers mixed up, but hoping to confirm this).

So is it possible to search records online to find out more about these three brother wartime service? I've no idea and any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've just checked the Canadian archives and two James Keating's are listed from being from Belfast and Co.Down,one James Keating is showing on the CWGC website for a Canadian casualty but his next of kin are from Newfoundland.Ive also checked Ancestry and nothing showing up at the moment for any of the brothers.Lastly James is not listed on the Kildare casualty list freely available on the Internet however this list is incomplete.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=o8a9nplpvvdd19tv5i17uo78l2&q1=keating&q2=james&q3=&interval=20

http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=keating&initials=j&war=1&yearfrom=1914&yearto=1918&force=Army&nationality=2&send.x=0&send.y=0

http://www.esatclear.ie/~curragh/casualty.htm#K

CDfm · 04-09-2011 9:43am

BillN wrote: »

How does one go about locating information about a WW I soldier from Belfast? It would be my grandmothers' brother. His name was Aloysius Gardner, from the Belfast area, and he was killed on Nov 10, 1918. That's all I know. Of course all the people in my family alive at the time are long since gone. I'd still like to learn more about him ( unit, picture of his grave in France). Any help you can give would be most appreciated!

Bill Nestor

Catonsville, Maryland, USA

can anyone help this guy

Ponster · 04-09-2011 1:32pm

No direct match from CWGC

This chap is the closest match.

enfield · 04-09-2011 10:12pm

This guy
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=517689

is Archibald Gardiner.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=2440556&queryType=1&resultcount=4

enfield · 04-09-2011 10:17pm

There were 4 Gardner's( 2 gardners and 2 Gardiners) born in Belfast who died in ww1 in the British Army, David, Joseph, Aaron Wason, and Stewart, none died later than Feb 1916.
Tom.

enfield · 04-09-2011 10:19pm

The only A Gardner died on your date is
GARDNER, ALFRED LUCAS
Initials: A L
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Driver
Regiment/Service: Australian Field Artillery
Unit Text: 6th A.F.A. Bde.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 10/11/1918
Service No: 8854
Additional information: Son of Alfred Lucas Gardner and Millicent Gardner. Born at Brisbane, Queensland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. AA. 6.
Cemetery: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY

His records are here;
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=4036875

enfield · 04-09-2011 10:25pm

Tabnabs, contact Tony Vaughan (Mock) on facebook, he can help you with the Kildare men.
The Canadian enlistment docs shows no James Keating born in 1882 in the army in ww1;
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=2q5204usj5gi7eefrvfieall50&q1=keating&q2=james&q3=&interval=20
Cheers.
Tom.

Tabnabs · 05-09-2011 10:09am

thanks enfield, appreciate the tip!

Very strange about James, he definitely served in the Canadian forces and definitely died in Ypres as his name is on a memorial there.

enfield · 05-09-2011 2:58pm

Post a link to his memorial and see if it can lead us somewhere.
Tom.