Was your Grandad in the First World War?

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Well you live and learn!

Today I was looking at my Family Tree that my Sister has done.

Darn me she not only has my Grandfathers Medal Card the same as I have but she has the Medal Card of his Brother Percy and not only did they join the Sappers on the same date in 1914 but had consecutive service numbers.

I vaguely remember Percy who lived in Tonyrefail.

[Poppycat]

My Great grandfather was in the Queens Own Royal West Kent regiment. He signed up in 1914 and was severely wounded a year later alongside his brother who was killed.

He was discharged in 1916 as no longer physically fit for war service due to his wounds and was issued the Silver War Badge.

He never talked about the war or his injuries which were severe. I wasn't very old when he passed away but I do remember him well, he was a wonderful man. He was the very first person to sign my autograph book which I still have.

[FlorayG]

None of my family were in either war because I come from a long line of coal miners so they were all in reserved occupations. I would imagine being a coal miner in 1914 was probably equally as dangerous as going to the war

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by FlorayG

None of my family were in either war because I come from a long line of coal miners so they were all in reserved occupations. I would imagine being a coal miner in 1914 was probably equally as dangerous as going to the war

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A dangerous industry but not in the same league as those who fought.

Talking of mining some Men got a rude awakening in WW2 when they got called up and instead of going in the Military ended up as a Bevin Boy down the mines!

[TrueBlueAngel]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Just a hint for those wanting to do a bit of Research on their relatives.

The National Archives if you sign up are allowing free downloads due to this Virus as opposed to paying the normal fees.
I have downloaded quite a lot of WW1 'Medal Cards' in the last few weeks as we are doing Family Research

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Thank you for posting this. I managed to find members on my family tree who had actually served in WW1. Something I had previously been unaware of.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by TrueBlueAngel

Thank you for posting this. I managed to find members on my family tree who had actually served in WW1. Something I had previously been unaware of.

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Glad it worked for you.

We have recently tracked down a relative to Wellington Cemetery Rieux-en-Cambresis. A very small Cemetery but beautifully maintained as most are.

If you have full details of a deceased individual you can normally track down their final resting place if there is one. hard work though.

[Stitchfan626]

My great grandad was killed on the First day of The Battle of the Somme in WW1.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Stitchfan626

My great grandad was killed on the First day of The Battle of the Somme in WW1.

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19000+ killed in 1 day. Meanwhile the French at Verdun were enduring an even worse hell.

[tigger48]

These brave souls should never be forgotten. Fascinating to hear some of their stories.
I’m not aware of any family who served in WW1, but then family records are somewhat fractured, but my paternal grandad served in WW2 (reme) and was a prisoner of war for a period. To his death he could always slice the thinnest slices of bread - you could read the newspaper through it, which was why he’d been in charge of sharing out provisions whilst a pow. My maternal grandfather was a miner in WW2, and for all of his life.

[linder]

My grandad was he was a young boy when he signed up. He came home but never really talked about it