Research A Soldier

Fries-With-That · 25-04-2010 9:47pm

I have a silver locket, its engraved;

Lieut J.R. Black
Pres.
9th Royal Scots

Any information on who this person was or how to find further information about him.

The locket contains three old black and white pictures.

If I could find out more about him. I'd love to return this locket to his relatives.

Regards,

Fries.

Ponster · 26-04-2010 7:44pm

Fries-With-That wrote: »

I have a silver locket, its engraved;

Lieut J.R. Black
Pres.
9th Royal Scots

James Robert Black, reg. number 1750.

There is an address on his medal card (lucky you!) which is :

Mrs M.A.W Black
Bark Cottage
Moffat
Scotland

which could be a mother or a wife I'd guess.

A quick look in the UK White Pages brings up a list of 21 Blacks in Moffat, Scotland. One of which is interestingly a J R Black

Fries-With-That · 26-04-2010 9:02pm

Thanks for this information, I wonder would they think I was some kind of stalker if I just rang them.

arnhem44 · 28-04-2010 9:09pm

Can't do any harm,would make a nice story if you were successful in finding them,not sure if they might be interested but worth a try anyway.

vampire of kilmainham · 03-05-2010 2:16am

spurious wrote: »

They certainly take care of the CWGC headstones. A team go round regularly cleaning them. For those buried in family plots it might be a little more complicated, especially if the family specifically refused a CGWC headstone and thus might have some issues with the Commission.

The CWGC sent me a pic of my uncle's grave in france on request as they photograph all the graves and will send them on line if you request it.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 03-05-2010 6:05pm

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

Thanks a lot for that info kk, i was stuck with what i had . i knew about the battle they were gased in. also i have found his name on the memorial .do you know of any reason why his age was different for both records. also i would be very greatful for the medal card i will pm you my email. do you know if i can find out if the medals were given to
next of kin . and how do i go about gettings copies of them. audie

there is a short book out about mouse trap farm and your relative might be mentioned in it if you can get a copy of it, cant remember the name of it but when i do i'll let you know. J.Barnes died at the same place and time as William Malone the brother of Michael Malone ,killed in action during the Easter Rising ,who commanded the men at Mount St Bridge one year later. here is a link to CWGC in case you may not have seen it.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=926681
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1622638

i think it may be left too long to get replacement medals, but not 100% on that, but its easy enough to get copies of medals and a jeweller could put his details on the edge for you.

johnny_doyle · 03-05-2010 6:48pm

Ponster wrote: »

James Robert Black, reg. number 1750.

There is an address on his medal card (lucky you!) which is :

Mrs M.A.W Black
Bark Cottage
Moffat
Scotland

which could be a mother or a wife I'd guess.

A quick look in the UK White Pages brings up a list of 21 Blacks in Moffat, Scotland. One of which is interestingly a J R Black

there are 2 medal cards for this chap. The second notes his award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1916.

johnny_doyle · 03-05-2010 7:00pm

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

Thanks a lot for that info kk, i was stuck with what i had . i knew about the battle they were gased in. also i have found his name on the memorial .do you know of any reason why his age was different for both records. also i would be very greatful for the medal card i will pm you my email. do you know if i can find out if the medals were given to
next of kin . and how do i go about gettings copies of them. audie

there is a family tree on Ancestry with Jeremiah Barnes. Appears to be by a Gt Gt Granddaughter; user id Claire Zazzara. A photo of his son Jeremiah is linked to a tree belonging to another Ancestry user, Angeline Beech.

there are 2 entries for him on Findagrave. The latter with some photos of the Menin Gate panels.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Barnes&GSfn=Jeremiah&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=11635520&

AUDIE MURPHY · 03-05-2010 10:34pm

thanks johnny for the help. i cant seem to access the family tree you mentioned, and i dont think it is my great grand father. but it would be interesting to see it.

AUDIE MURPHY · 03-05-2010 11:04pm

R.Dub.Fusilier wrote: »

there is a short book out about mouse trap farm and your relative might be mentioned in it if you can get a copy of it, cant remember the name of it but when i do i'll let you know. J.Barnes died at the same place and time as William Malone the brother of Michael Malone ,killed in action during the Easter Rising ,who commanded the men at Mount St Bridge one year later. here is a link to CWGC in case you may not have seen it.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=926681
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1622638

i think it may be left too long to get replacement medals, but not 100% on that, but its easy enough to get copies of medals and a jeweller could put his details on the edge for you.

Thanks R Dub i had the casualty link from CWGC already, very interesting about who he fought along side. im searching ebay for copies of the medals. would his name be put on the three medals originaly. if so then his medals are out there some where. Am i correct ? .

johnny_doyle · 03-05-2010 11:53pm

image of the entry in the tree attached. Just did a search for Jeremiah Barnes, born Dublin.

arnhem44 · 04-05-2010 11:07am

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

Thanks R Dub i had the casualty link from CWGC already, very interesting about who he fought along side. im searching ebay for copies of the medals. would his name be put on the three medals originaly. if so then his medals are out there some where. Am i correct ? .

Yes his medals are around most likely and all are named and numbered with his relevant rank at the time the medals were awarded,there is sites such as Medal Tracker which provide a service where you post up his details which people can view,if his medals are there then its possible to once again obtain them,also you can search what medals are already listed yourself.Unnamed examples do come up for sale however medals that have had the naming erased off the edge are more readily available but depending on how well this is done is the key to getting a worthwhile replacement,some are crudely erased so it may take a while to find good ones.There is also a down side to replacements,some people still buy someone else's medals and erase the names themselves which then become lost forever to anyone looking for them,its a sad practise and shouldn't be done.

Ponster · 04-05-2010 11:22am

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

Thanks R Dub i had the casualty link from CWGC already, very interesting about who he fought along side. im searching ebay for copies of the medals. would his name be put on the three medals originaly. if so then his medals are out there some where. Am i correct ? .

I always use Awardmedals for replacement medals

arnhem44 · 04-05-2010 11:23am

Ok lads here is another one that I need help with please.This is for a uncle who had his Grandfather in the war,his details are minimal.I've been told that Peter Kerins lived at possible addresses at a place called Bath Avenue and Canal Street in Dublin,after the war his name is then spelt Kearns.I've checked the names on the MIC's on the National Archives in the UK and there is no P or Peter Kerins Listed but there is a small list of P and Peter Kearns Listed,yesterday I was told he served as a medic however there is no Kearns listed as been in the RAMC so he must of been in some other branch of service.I know this is a long shot but any help would be great.

arnhem44 · 04-05-2010 11:30am

Ok just had a look on the Cencus and Peter Kerins is listed as living with his relations called Morgan on Bath Avenue and his age is given as 16 in 1911

Ponster · 04-05-2010 11:38am

Peter Kerins born : 1885 and living in Bath Avenue, Dublin.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Pembroke_West/Bath_Avenue/10707/

I'll look up Ancestry later if someone doesn't get there first...

R.Dub.Fusilier · 04-05-2010 2:19pm

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

im searching ebay for copies of the medals. would his name be put on the three medals originaly. if so then his medals are out there some where. Am i correct ? .

you might be lucky and find the original medals. i have heard of people getting relatives medals after decades of being in other hands. if you look hard enough you might just find what you want . i have to agree with what arnhem44 says about renaming medals but as he said original medals can be found which are not named and i have seen them on ebay for sale. here is a link that may be of help.
http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/reunite/lost_missing_a.htm

you could also try putting a post up here
http://z9.invisionfree.com/royaldublinfusiliers/index.php

AUDIE MURPHY · 04-05-2010 10:44pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

image of the entry in the tree attached. Just did a search for Jeremiah Barnes, born Dublin.

Thanks johnny for that, she must be a distant relation, probably related to jeremiahs son of the same name, my grandfather was the youngest son john, id be interested in know were she is searching the family tree from.

johnny_doyle · 04-05-2010 11:58pm

arnhem44 wrote: »

Ok lads here is another one that I need help with please.This is for a uncle who had his Grandfather in the war,his details are minimal.I've been told that Peter Kerins lived at possible addresses at a place called Bath Avenue and Canal Street in Dublin,after the war his name is then spelt Kearns.I've checked the names on the MIC's on the National Archives in the UK and there is no P or Peter Kerins Listed but there is a small list of P and Peter Kearns Listed,yesterday I was told he served as a medic however there is no Kearns listed as been in the RAMC so he must of been in some other branch of service.I know this is a long shot but any help would be great.

there is a Peter Kerins listed in a public tree on Ancestry. Linked to above 1911 census info there's a note :

"Living with his Aunt Mary Morgan nee Kerins in Bath Avenue Sandymount"

parents shown as Peter Kerins (d 1906) and Teresa Smith (d 1900). No info about army service.

There's a service record on Ancestry for Peter Kearns, 16th Battn MGC number 71938, with address 8 Upper Grand Canal St, Dublin. Married 8/9/1915 but no info at all re wife. A trimmer before enlistment.

69 days in RAMC (no 11851), 1year plus in the RDF (no 3/25818) and then in the MGC. Served in Egypt and France with period in hospital in Malta.

Born "Star of the Sea Parish" in 1893. Enlisted 31/3/1915. Demob Feb 1919. Suffered gunshot wound to left foot 18/3/1918.

7809794 appears as a Regt No too.

Medal card has his RDF (21858) and MGC (71938) service. 1915 Star, BWM and VM. Date of entry to theatre 15/11/1915

arnhem44 · 05-05-2010 11:55am

Thanks for checking on that johnny,I posted a similar question on the GW forum to broaden the chance of finding something and got the same man,judging by what you posted there he had a busy time and a little strange that he had 69 days in the RAMC.I wonder was his move to the RDF to bolster up the numbers at the time.Thanks for posting that up.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 09-05-2010 12:58am

AUDIE MURPHY wrote: »

Thanks R Dub i had the casualty link from CWGC already, very interesting about who he fought along side. im searching ebay for copies of the medals. would his name be put on the three medals originaly. if so then his medals are out there some where. Am i correct ? .

you have all the info on this next link http://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/other-ranks/6000s/6000s.html but you might want to look over the site.

also had a look on WW1 "index to the wills of irish Soldiers who die 1914-1918" and could not find anything.

johnny_doyle · 09-05-2010 2:11pm

R.Dub.Fusilier wrote: »

also had a look on WW1 "index to the wills of irish Soldiers who die 1914-1918" and could not find anything.

would you be able to do a will look up for Sapper Joseph Niland, number 95796, KIA 28th March 1917?

arnhem44 · 09-05-2010 4:45pm

Nothing under Niland I'm afraid.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 10-05-2010 7:12pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

would you be able to do a will look up for Sapper Joseph Niland, number 95796, KIA 28th March 1917?

A44 beat me to it , but had a look , sorry nothing there.

johnny_doyle · 10-05-2010 8:03pm

thanks for looking chaps.

This family name has been contorted a couple of times to Neiland, Nyland, Neilan and even Miland on one occassion (one of Joe Niland's medal cards has him as Miland). Haven't been able to find his birth cert yet - the curse of Irish records ;-(

spurious · 11-05-2010 5:59pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

thanks for looking chaps.

This family name has been contorted a couple of times to Neiland, Nyland, Neilan and even Miland on one occassion (one of Joe Niland's medal cards has him as Miland). Haven't been able to find his birth cert yet - the curse of Irish records ;-(

Do you have a rough age for him? A name of a family member? An idea where in the country he was from?

R.Dub.Fusilier · 11-05-2010 10:31pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

thanks for looking chaps.

This family name has been contorted a couple of times to Neiland, Nyland, Neilan and even Miland on one occassion (one of Joe Niland's medal cards has him as Miland). Haven't been able to find his birth cert yet - the curse of Irish records ;-(

i put all the above names in and nothing came up either .

johnny_doyle · 12-05-2010 7:20am

spurious wrote: »

Do you have a rough age for him? A name of a family member? An idea where in the country he was from?

I've put info and photos re Joe Niland and family in Findagrave at :

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=niland&GSfn=Joseph&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=12481935&

Born Dublin approx 1874; died March 1917, aged 43. A Sapper in 179th Tunnelling Co, Royal Engineers. Employed as a cooper at Guinness. Married to Jane Quinn. His father Hugh Niland was a cooper before him (having served in 2nd Bombay Regt of European Infantry in India, emigrated to Canada and then returned to Dublin). Brothers John and Hugh also coopers in Guinness.

I've not had access to the wills of WW1 Irish soldiers so was never sure if he'd left one or not.

johnny_doyle · 12-05-2010 7:20am

R.Dub.Fusilier wrote: »

i put all the above names in and nothing came up either .

thanks for doing that. Much appreciated.

arnhem44 · 12-05-2010 9:12am

I find the Wills cd rom very sparse with detail,if your lucky enough to find a name on it it only in most cases I've seen gives the bare minimum of details,nine thousand names are covered on it from the total that served with the British Army.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 12-05-2010 7:28pm

arnhem44 wrote: »

I find the Wills cd rom very sparse with detail,if your lucky enough to find a name on it it only in most cases I've seen gives the bare minimum of details,nine thousand names are covered on it from the total that served with the British Army.

i agree with you. but i did find info on 3 or 4 people i was researching , and got 2 addresses of 2 lads from Belfast KIA 1 was in the Irish Fusiliers and the other in the Connaught Rangers.

Ponster · 13-05-2010 5:44pm

I have come across 2 WWI medals for SPR. H Phillips R.E. 148080

R.E I'm guessing is Royal Engineers.

I'm on other stuff right now and don't have the time to do any research so if anyone else out there has some time to kill?

johnny_doyle · 19-05-2010 7:11am

Ponster wrote: »

I have come across 2 WWI medals for SPR. H Phillips R.E. 148080

R.E I'm guessing is Royal Engineers.

I'm on other stuff right now and don't have the time to do any research so if anyone else out there has some time to kill?

Medal card on Ancestry has him as Sapper Henry Phillips, Royal Engineers. VM & BWM. No service record, no pension record and no entry in CWGC

chalkie12 · 19-05-2010 3:28pm

Hi, This is my first time posting anything so I hope Im doing it right!

Im trying to find out about two of my relations who both fought in WW1

The first is my Great Grandfather Michael McGuirk who was born in 1875 and fought in the in France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. I know he was wounded in France but thats about all I know.

The other is my Grandfather Richard Basil Kelly who was born in 1890. I dont know much more than that about him.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be a great help

arnhem44 · 19-05-2010 9:10pm

Hi chalkie12,welcome aboard,hopefully the lads here can turn up something.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 19-05-2010 9:46pm

chalkie12 wrote: »

Hi, This is my first time posting anything so I hope Im doing it right!

Im trying to find out about two of my relations who both fought in WW1

The first is my Great Grandfather Michael McGuirk who was born in 1875 and fought in the in France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. I know he was wounded in France but thats about all I know.

The other is my Grandfather Richard Basil Kelly who was born in 1890. I dont know much more than that about him.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be a great help

had a quick look at the medal index cards for the above names , there is dozens of richard kellys so not much help to you there. couldnt find a card to michael mcguirk / mcgurk in the irish fusiliers but did find michael mcguirk in the inniskilling fusiliers, irish rifles , dublin fusiliers , irish guards and 2 in the leinster regiment.

Ponster · 19-05-2010 9:49pm

Do you know where they were born ?

Oh, and Welcome to Boards.ie

chalkie12 · 19-05-2010 9:59pm

Hi and thanks for getting back to me. Michael mcguirk was born in Dublin and Richard Kelly was born in Kildare. I found out that michael was a corporal and was taken prisoner in 1916 and that he was also wounded. Hope that's of some help.

chalkie12 · 19-05-2010 10:03pm

Hi I just found out that michael mcguirk was initially in the royal Dublin fusiliers and then transfered to royal inniskilling fusiliers.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 19-05-2010 10:28pm

chalkie12 wrote: »

Hi I just found out that michael mcguirk was initially in the royal Dublin fusiliers and then transfered to royal inniskilling fusiliers.

michael landed in france on 3-5-1915 his number was 8681 and was entitled to the SWB. his medal index card also said he was discharged on 5-9-1916. it doesn't mention the inniskilling fusiliers.

chalkie12 · 19-05-2010 10:33pm

Thanks r dub, I appreciate your help.

R.Dub.Fusilier · 19-05-2010 10:43pm

chalkie12 wrote: »

Thanks r dub, I appreciate your help.

no bother , glad to help. i will try put up his medal index card when i get a chance unless someone else would like to do it.:)

Merrilady · 20-05-2010 11:45am

Hi All

Was just wondering how I find information on my Great father - John Butler.
He won the Military medal at the Battle of the Somme.

We have a letter the King wrote to him, but no one knows wher the medal is.

Wondering if I can search for information on him

Thanks

B

Ponster · 20-05-2010 12:27pm

Merrilady wrote: »

Hi All

Was just wondering how I find information on my Great father - John Butler.
He won the Military medal at the Battle of the Somme.

We have a letter the King wrote to him, but no one knows wher the medal is.

Wondering if I can search for information on him

Thanks

B

Do you know when he was born or what reg. he served in ?

R.Dub.Fusilier · 20-05-2010 2:37pm

here is the medal index card for Michael McGuirk. if richard kelly was from Kildare there is a good chance he was in the Dublin fusiliers.

Merrilady · 20-05-2010 3:16pm

I'm not sure, he signed up here in Ireland, 7th or 8th battalion is ringing a bell, probabaly not enough information is it ?

He was from Dublin

johnny_doyle · 20-05-2010 7:03pm

Merrilady wrote: »

I'm not sure, he signed up here in Ireland, 7th or 8th battalion is ringing a bell, probabaly not enough information is it ?

He was from Dublin

does the letter mention a rank, service number or any details of why he was awarded the MM?

Did he survive the war? Sadly, there's more information available for those that died than there is for those who survived.

7 John Butler medal cards for RDF

7th RDF were @ Gallipoli then Egypt/Palestine
8th RDF were @ Hulluch, Somme

Happy Monday · 07-06-2010 8:52pm

<Deleted Link>

Hello - I am looking to find out more about the man above.
My grand-uncle who served and died in France in 1916.
Where he served etc.?
How best can I find this please?

johnny_doyle · 08-06-2010 7:45pm

I have a relative buried in the same cemetery :

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=61346

from Ancestry :

Medal card has him as Michael Hynes. served in the Balkans entering the theatre 19/1/1915. 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal awarded.

Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW)and Ireland's Memorial Records has him as Martin Hynes. From SDGW :

Name:Martin Hynes
Birth Place:Mountross, Co. Galway
Residence:Headford, Co. Galway
Death Date:1 Jul 1916
Death Location:France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:St. Helens, Lancs
Rank Private
Regiment:Royal Munster Fusiliers
Battalion:1st Battalion
Number:432
Type of Casualty Died of wounds

based on the entry from SDGW and the memorial record from CWGC, this might be the family in 1901 :

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Killeany/Mountross/1400202/

No service record for this Martin Hynes on Ancestry but there is one for an older Martin Hynes who served with the Connaught Rangers and was discharged in 1903. He gives his parents address as Gort but lists a brother Michael in Headford, Galway.

Happy Monday · 08-06-2010 8:20pm

johnny_doyle wrote: »

I have a relative buried in the same cemetery :

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=61346

from Ancestry :

Medal card has him as Michael Hynes. served in the Balkans entering the theatre 19/1/1915. 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal awarded.

Johnny - Many thanks for this find - this means a lot to me.

Research A Soldier

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