|
The following text has been archived here from our sister site, the Border Regiment Forum, which is set to close in January 2018. A wiki-based copy of that original post has been preserved here for reference purposes. Note: only selected posts from the forum have been archived (find out why). |
 Posted by martyn6747 » 18 Feb 2015, 08:39
|
.png) Lance Corporal Registered user Posts: 13 |
| Hello all - It's a little while since I posted anything on here since my research into my wife's great Grandfather who died on the Somme in April 1916 serving with the 1st Border Private 7340 James William Jeffs.
I have been approached by a friend whose Grandfather was also a Border Soldier but he had served a little earlier than my usual WW1 interest goes and was in the Boer War. I wondered if anyone could throw a little light on the attached Service Record for us. The Great Grand daughter would like to know if the Medals listed were awarded or if they could still be claimed, and also if from what is printed on the Record could be translated into layman's terms for a non-military person to get an understanding of what it all says - I said to my friend I know the very people to ask - the same ones who helped me a few years ago. Any help would be appreciated. |
| Posted by martyn6747 » 18 Feb 2015, 21:54
|
Lance Corporal Registered user Posts: 13 |
| Sorry the Service Record file was too large to post on here in the end - my new man is 2522 Harvey Stone who joined at Portsmouth 13/07/1888. He did his 7 years and was later recalled 20/12/1899. His Service record stats service in Malta 1 yr 110 days East Indies 6yrs 40 days and South Africa 1 yr 116 days - so he was mainly in India for his original service and re-called for the Boer War in Dec 1899.
Medal & Clasp Waziristan, Medal & Clasp Cape Colony are listed on the Record - we wonder if he would have received them or wether they can be claimed - please excuse our ignorance on this matter |
| Posted by kerchi » 19 Feb 2015, 16:11
|
 Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Hi Martyn. What is the file size of the record? Can you break up the record into smaller sections and re-post?
Harvey should have received the awards but whatever happens to them after that is simply down to the family. If they kept them that's great but they could be in a family member's loft somewhere. They could have been lost, given away, sold to other collectors and I have even heard stories of dustmen finding war medals in the bin!! (which is beyond my comprehension - I don't know why people do that) Can you believe that? Crazy. They could have been handed to the Museum in Carlisle so it might be worth asking if they have them just in case. They do have a lot of medals, many of which are not on display (or weren't last time I went a few years ago). I am not sure about the "claiming" side of things though. You would have to know where they are first if they have survived the test of time. |
| Posted by martyn6747 » 19 Feb 2015, 22:00
|
Lance Corporal Registered user Posts: 13 |
| The size of the PDF file is 2.0 MB - However my friend (nee Stone) is re-sending me it over in Jpeg format tomorrow, and with a bit of luck I will post it on here tomorrow evening if all goes well - thanks for the reply and pardon my not so technical fumbling's....Stand By. |
| Posted by martyn6747 » 20 Feb 2015, 18:48
|
Lance Corporal Registered user Posts: 13 |
| I have attempted to add the Service Record - please let me know if anything's missing. Kind Regards Martyn |
_01.jpg)
_02.jpg)
_03.jpg)
_04.jpg)
| Posted by kerchi » 21 Feb 2015, 16:00
|
Field-Marshal Administrator Posts: 2160 In memory of John Bardgett (15309 L/Cpl.) 11th Border Regiment Who died 1st July 1916. |
| Hi Martyn. These records are in remarkable condition and quite legible so very lucky in that respect. I don't have time to look over them right now (have family staying for a few days) but will try and look over them next week sometime. Are there any particular areas that you are not too sure about?
I don't really know all the jargon so there will be probably be areas I'm not too sure about. Scotty is the Boer War specialist on the forum. Haven't heard from him in while as he is usually busy with trips to South Africa but it also might be worth sending him a PM (personal message) as well. |
| Posted by IanT » 23 Feb 2015, 18:40
|
Major Registered user Posts: 252 |
| These older records always seem to be in good condition. I assume they were stored separately from the WW1 records many of which have suffered badly. I have my gr gr grandfather's record, enlisted (Royal Engineers) 1855, discharged 1876, and it too is in good condition. Ian |
| Posted by plbramham » 23 Feb 2015, 19:54
|
 General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| I think you are correct, It was only the majority of the WW1 records which were destroyed or damaged during WW2 bombing. I do not know where earlier records were stored. Maybe at their respective regimental headquarters perhaps? Paul |
| Posted by IanT » 23 Feb 2015, 20:16
|
Major Registered user Posts: 252 |
| Possibly they were already lodged with the National Archives? There are several groups of these old records there in series WO96, WO97 etc. Ian |
| Posted by charlief » 23 Apr 2016, 22:48
|
Private Registered user Posts: 5 |
| Martyn, Did you ever get further with your search on Harvey Stone ? I have recently posted a thread about a diary I have for a William Walter who followed an almost identical service pattern ie 1890s Malta, India NW Frontier with 2nd Bn and then recall from Reserve for South Africa with 1st Bn. Same medals.
So when I manage to copy it properly I will notify this forum how to access it. It will help add background. (may be a little while yet, sorry) Charlie |
| Posted by plbramham » 24 Apr 2016, 14:25
|
General Global moderator Posts: 1369 |
| Medals would have been “issued” no need to “claim”, but sent to next of kin address. Of course you must remember that, back then, many people lived in rented houses thus perhaps moved frequently? They were obliged to return any medal to the issuer if not for the resident. I guess they were then melted down, or renamed/reissued to someone else?
Remember the standard of literacy was not great then, so I reckon maybe this often did not happen! The classic case is the WW1 trio/pair. The British War Medal was solid silver worth “a crown - 5 shillings”, hence many of these were pawned during 1920s/30s depression, thus the many “broken trio/pair“ of WW1 medals. There are websites where you can get copies of your ancestors medals, but chances of finding the originals are very slim, unless somehow they ended up in a museum.
Having said that, I did find the medals for a man who lived just behind my house who was killed in the opening days of the Somme. The medals were left to the museum by his fiancée,
Sorry, I think no chance at all of claiming “originals”, only copies. |