Genealogy Chat

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Are these all the same man? Michael McDonough born Northumberland 1890 – died in WW1 According to family lore, a sergeant CWGC – Sgt M McDonough died 14 Jan 1919 40201 6th batallion York & Lancaster Regt Commemorated Wallsend cemetery Death reg Mar qtr 1919 Newcastle Michael Mcdonough Medals list Michael McDonough (private) Northumberland Fusiliers 10891 (private) York & Lancaster Regmt – 6th batalliion 40201 Why 2 army numbers? Does this mean he changed regs? Was he a regular pre 1914? Why the discrepancy in ranks between medals list & CWGC site? Help, please. Jay

Alan, Thankyou for that information. I had just assumed that once you were in the army, then you kept the same number, so they could keep tabs on you! Janet

Yes thats right, there are a few military experts on here and I was told the same, my husbands GGF went from The Royal Worcesters to the Welsh Guards and ended up as a Sergeant in the Scots Guards (??!)

Thanks for that Heather. Thank God for the GR experts, and on such a wide range of subjects.

Here I am!! I am sure it is the same man and I agree with your other correspondents except to say that sometimes men did get a second number while remaining in the same regiment. The discrepancy between the medal card and CWGC is because he will have first qualified for the 1914 or 1915 Star and was only promoted later, I am sure you will see on the medal card a date when he first went to France. It isn't possible to say from the info you've given whether he was a pre war regular. I suspect he wasn't because he would probably have qualified for the 1914 Star, can you tell me from the card if this is so. :-) Keith

Thankyou, Keith - I will go ahead and order all the paperwork now. Military history just isn't my forte. I was also confused by the difference in rank between CWGC amd medal list! It's been worth my yearly sub to sort this guy out - thanks, guys. Janet

Heather a small point regarding the Worcestershire Regiment. They were never known as Royal and they are pretty hot on the name . The correct term being and used The Worcestershire not the Worcesters My father served in the Worcestershire Regiment from 1899 to 1920 serving in South Africa , (Boer War),India, Egypt, France and Flanders twice,Mesopotamia and Salonika. He finished his career as RSM Rupert ( extremely interested in the military)

I've now had a look at the Medal Card. He qualified for the 1915 Star having landed in France on 9 Sep 1915 so I think he was not a pre-war regular. Also if you look at the top of the card above the word Pte you will see Sgt, so game set and match as they say. I presume from the CWGC entry that he must have died in England of wounds sustained in France?? Good luck in the research. Keith

Rupert, as the name suggests, totally confused about this man anyway! I apologise if I have not remembered correctly, it is a year since I gave up on that line! I seem to remember he started off in the Herefordshires? and they were integrated into the other lot? I shall have a look at him again - you will be interested to know people that I was totally thrown when having followed this guys military career from the age of 17 when he was living on the Welsh borders from Norton Barracks to Westminster Barracks, I got his marriage certificate and found occupation entered as 'Gardener'. Now, just shows you how you can be led astray even by official documents doesnt it. Husband crestfallen, having decided he was from strong military roots, so I gambled another £7 and sent for the first son's birth cert and yep, Guardsman!