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I am looking for my grandfather's war record. Unfortunately my father ( his son) did not know him as he died in 1920.
He was born in 1887 in Walsall and was a school master employed by the London County Council. I believe he either enlisted or was called up in 1916 into the Royal Engineers. He was then 39 years old.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Anne Coletta
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For Reference:
London County Council Record of war Service 1914-1918 Transcription (no original on FMP)
First name Harry James
Last name Swift
Rank Sapper
Unit or regiment Royal Engineers
LCC dept Education Officer's Department
LCC section Teaching Staff
Theatre France 3 months
War service from 1916
War service to 1919
Record set London County Council Record of war Service 1914-1918
Country England
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Teacher's Registration Council Registers 1914-1948
First name(s) Harry James
Last name Swift
Residence London
Country England & Wales
First position year 1902
Registration year 1 June 1915
Postal Address: St Marylebone Grammer School, 248 Marylebone Road
Science master:
Wolverley Grammer School, Kidderminster 1902- 1904
St Marylebone Grammer School N. W. 1904-
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Medal Card:
First name(s) Harry J
Last name Swift
Service number 564095, T3086
Rank Sapper
Corps Royal Engineers
Service record Soldier Number: 564095, Rank: Sapper, Corps: Royal Engineers
Service record 2 Soldier Number: T3086, Rank: Sapper, Corps: Royal Engineers
Archive reference WO372/19
Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Country Great Britain
Image link http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D5462455
Record set World War One British Army medal index cards
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British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: Harry J Swift
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Sapper
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: Royal Engineers
Regimental Number: 564095
Previous Units: R.E. (T) 3086, Royal Engineers, 564095 Spr.
The image says Ret'd, 992 - K.R (Kings regulations?)- 1923
As you may be aware, something between 60 & 70 % of WW1 records were destroyed in WW2 bombing - his may be amongst them. The Medal Record cards were stored elsewhere which is why they've survived.
The British War Medal, 1914-18
The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive.
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/medals/ww1-campaign-medals.htm
There are 2 medals which he was NOT awarded, the 14 Star and the 14-15 Star.
By ommission, we can tell that he did not enter a theatre of war until after 31 Dec 1915.
He may have been in training, but not actually serving in France or elsewhere.
The following link tells you about Conscription
http://www.1914-1918.net/recruitment.htm
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Thank you so much for the information. How I wish I'd asked my grandmother more about him. She was only 28 years old when she was widowed and always said he died from the effects of gas.
Anne
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It might be worth buying a copy of his DC, just to see if the cause was lung related.
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/
Reference needed -
Deaths Dec 1920 (>99%)
SWIFT Harry J 43 Brentford 3a 170
In case you don't have it, the entry in the Probate Calendar
Name: Harry James Swift
Probate Date: 12 Jan 1921
Death Date: 17 Dec 1920
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: London, England
Of 60 Drayton Gardens Ealing Middlesex. Administration [which meant he didn’t leave a Will] to Edith May Swift, widow. Effects £523 1s 7d
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