Military Chat

Hello Everyone,
I am trying to trace my Grandfather's military service,during the First World War.
Family oral history has it,that he served with the Tyneside Scottish Regiment,I
don't know which of the Four Regiments he was in.That's my first problem.
Secondly,I've been told again by family members,that he wasn't in France or Belgium,
but in India.So far I've been unable to find any evidence that any of the Tyneside Scottish Regiments were ever in India.Most histories show that the Tyneside Scottish
we're part of the Northumberland Fusiliers.This is my problem,can anyone help ?

Regards Gordon.

It appears from the following it was a Battalion of the NFs Regular Army in India at the out break of WW1...

The 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers were serving in India at the outbreak of war in August 1914. They arrived in England on the 22nd of December 1914 to join 84th Brigade, 28th Division. On the 18th of January 1915 they proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre. They saw action in The Second Battle of Ypres and The Battle of Loos. They were sent to Egypt in October 1915, sailing from Marseilles to Alexandria and then on to Salonika in January 1916. They took part in the occupation of Mazirko and saw action at Barakli Jum'a. In June 1918 they returned to France and joined 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division taking part in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the final advance in Picardy.

Gordon, have you looked for his medal card? Or his service/pension record? Only 30% of those survived, though. If you post some details, somebody will look for you.

There was a piece about the Tyneside Scottish on TV recently. Apparently it wasn't a Scottish Regiment but they called it that as the Scots had such a good reputation as soldiers!

Hello,thank you Eringobragh and Potty for your replies.The short history of the 2nd
Battalion,Northumberland Fusilier is very interesting.No Potty I haven't got his
Medal Card or Service/Pension record.I know it wasn't really a Scottish Regiment,
The Tyneside Scottish,as probably no more than a third of them were of Scottish
ancestry,and because of this they were not allowed to wear the Kilt.If anyone can
help with my Grandfather's service history his name is Thomas Walton,he was
born in Consett,Co.Durham.on the 4th April 1886.

Regards Gordon.

There are medal cards for 11 Thomas Waltons in the Northumberland Fusilers and several more with second initials. Did your Thomas have a middle name?

There are some service records for the name, none giving Consett as POB or shown as being in the Northumberland Fusiliers. Was he married before or during the war? If so, what was his wife's name?

Hi Potty,
in answer to your first question,no my Grandfather did not have a middle name
as far as I'm aware.Before the area was known as Consett,it was called
Conside and Knitsley.Yes,my Grandfather was married before the First World
War began.His wife's name was Margaret Ann Walton (nee Harwood).

Regards Gordon.

1939 register
Walton Household (10 People) 48 The Crescent , Consett U.D., Durham, England

Thomas Walton 04 Apr 1886 Male Steel Works Bricklayer Heavy Worker Married
Margaret (A) Walton 03 Mar 1889 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Thomas Walton 05 Sep 1908 Male Locomotive Fireman Heavy Worker Single
William Walton 13 Feb 1921 Male Apprentice Bricklayer Single
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Eric Walton 05 Apr 1928 Male At School Single 250 8
Sorry, this record is officially closed.
Sorry, this record is officially closed.

Hello AustinQ,
Yes that's the family,as you may see from above,it's my Grandfather's army
records that I'm after.Thanks for the message.

Regards Gordon.

If he was in the Army in 1918, you might find him on the Absent Voters List, which should give you his Regt & Regt No. This site will tell you where they are:

http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/Pages/ElectoralRegisters.aspx

Hi Potty,
thanks for your help,it's much appreciated.

Regards Gordon.

Thomas
Last name Walton
Age 30
Birth year 1884
Birth town Durham
Birth county Durham
Birth country England
Service number 25/727
Regiment Northumberland Fusiliers
Unit / Battalion 30th Battalion
Year 1914
Residence county Durham
Residence country England
Series WO 364
Series description WO 364 - First World War pension claims
Archive The National Archives
Record set British Army Service Records

Discharge paperwork.......this man was married in 1908 and had two listed daughters,Margaret and Jennie,,,prior he was a miner.

Hi Kay,
Thanks for the message however,the above is not my Grandfather.Wrong birth
year,different service number,and he never had any daughters called Margaret or
Jennie.Thanks again for the message thought.

Gordon.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1360828

(previous 'Thread')

Have you looked on 'google' search for that Regiment in India, could be some info. about)

Chris :)

Hi Chris Ho,
I have found out a little more about my Grandfather's military service
since some of the above messages.I now doubt that he was ever in
India at all.I now know that he was in the 22nd Battalion of the Tyneside Scottish,
a unit that was raised in November 1914.They in turn were in reality part of the
2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.In about 1916 the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers,were sent out to Macedonia,I think maybe this might be
where the confusion has come from in the family oral history of my Grandfather.

Gordon.