MOD Help finding british army record?

Wearb

A photo has popped up in a historical group that I participate in. I have discovered the man's name and army number, but every search I make asks for a subscription to read records. I wouldn't have any other use for other information to make a subscription worthwhile.

Would I be breaking any rule if I posted the information here, asking someone who has access to check the records for me?

pinkypinky

No, that's fine, go ahead.

Wearb

Can anyone here help me with service records etc for this man please.

pinkypinky

Is it the Royal Irish regiment? I can't make out his date of death either.

Wearb

pinkypinky wrote: »

Is it the Royal Irish regiment? I can't make out his date of death either.

I don't know what those initials stand for.
Died 1941

Edit. It says Rl. Ir. Regt.

pinkypinky

I don't see anything on Ancestry or Findmypast. What link did you find that asked you to subscribe to view?
Nothing on the Commonwealth War Graves site either.

Are you presuming he died in WWII? There are no service records for it online.

pinkypinky

This guy is a possibility - there's no image to go with the transcript (FMP)

First name(s) James
Last name Durnin
Birth year 1872
Birth parish St Marys
Birth town Drogheda
Birth county Meath
Birth country Ireland
Service number 1208
Regiment -
Year 1889
Attestation date 04 Jun 1889
Attestation age years 17
Attestation age months 9
Attestation service number 1208
Attestation corps 6th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles Regiment
Document type Attestation
Series Wo 96 - Militia Service Records 1806-1915
Archive The National Archives
Archive reference WO 96
Box 1130
Box record number 128

Wearb

pinkypinky wrote: »

I don't see anything on Ancestry or Findmypast. What link did you find that asked you to subscribe to view?
Nothing on the Commonwealth War Graves site either.

Are you presuming he died in WWII? There are no service records for it online.

I can't remember which site purported to have the info.
He died of natural causes. He was shell shocked and lived in a makeshift home. He used to dress in some sort of uniform and go around ringing a bell or blowing a whistle when the humour took him.

Man who put up headstone was an amateur military historian and probably had all details correct.

That record you found could be him.

Wearb

Thanks for looking this up pinkypinky.

Regards Wearb

KildareFan

Did he join the Irish National Army? Here's a James Valentine Durnin - he gives his age as 36 but could have been a lot older. His sister Mrs McBride lived in Dundalk so might be a relative:
http://census.militaryarchives.ie/pdf/Alboro_House_2_Eastern_Division_Eastern_Command_Page_12.pdf

I have found the images for James's records on FMP if you'd like to PM me.

Wearb

KildareFan wrote: »

Did he join the Irish National Army? Here's a James Valentine Durnin - he gives his age as 36 but could have been a lot older. His sister Mrs McBride lived in Dundalk so might be a relative:
http://census.militaryarchives.ie/pdf/Alboro_House_2_Eastern_Division_Eastern_Command_Page_12.pdf

I have found the images for James's records on FMP if you'd like to PM me.

That's great thanks. Only thing that's missing off the records so far is the gravestone army number, but as you suggest, he may have been in different armies during his career.

I will pm you.