Henry Jones Army records found

[jonah777]

Hi all,
Finally found more information on my grandfather Henry Jones, he had pension records from 1914/18 service......he signed up in 1915 to the South Staffordshire regiment, was sent to Colonne in France late 1915 was wounded in action and lost a finger on his left hand as well as wounds to his left thigh and back.....spent time in hospital in France and the UK...transferred to the RASC as a driver, then based back in the uk his diciplinary record took a turn for the worst, he was constantly late back from leave....being docked pay and confined to barracks........was then awol while on active service and proceded to lose all his kit for which he recieved 220 days detention, he then married in 1917 and my grandmother must have sorted his head out for him......because he turned himself around..he had forfeited his 1915 star when he was detained.....he then was awarded the war medal, the victory medal and his 1915 star was restored to him......he was transferred to the reserve in 1919, then he re-enlisted in the lancashire reg in 1921......thanks to his records I now know he was born in Nantwich Cheshire in 1892.....he sounds like he was a bit of a lad in his time....not only breaking out of barracks but breaking back in also....

thanks for everyones helpfull sugestions in my search so far.........Paul

 

[pejay]

That is wonderful news, I am really not surprised about his "head" it must have been really awful fighting & then and not knowing if you would live to tell the tale!

 

[jonah777]

That is wonderful news, I am really not surprised about his "head" it must have been really awful fighting & then and not knowing if you would live to tell the tale!

Hi Pejay,
from Henry's enlistment details he was 19yrs and 21 days when he signed on.........that would place his birth at 10 march 1896....it also states his birthplace as Nantwich in Cheshire.....my question, is were the army that exact at that time.....did they require proof of birth or did they just ask the recruit?........on searching the first quater births there are none for Nantwich but 2 for Cheshire........the years marry up perfectly from his death cert.....although his marriage cert is 2 yrs out......everything else checks out though, names, parents, addresses ect......so I know for sure it's all the same Henry......only knowing his fathers name is a problem, his birth cert would sort that out though.....

Thanks in advance .......Paul

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Paul,

As far as I know no proof was needed going by my 2 grandads, one changed his name and the other was 3/4yrs under age.

 

[pejay]

hi, I think the army was only as accurate as the person giving the info, if they knew their exact age - and lots of people of this era did, they could record the age. I too have two ancestors with the given age plus months one given as 4 months and one as 3 months

 

[p.risboy]

I would guess, that if his d/o/b is given, that could be his age. But as long as a body turned for enlistment, most were accepted without much question.
The argument about underage recruits went on for ages in the Houses of Parliament.
As things were going bad in WW1, they needed manpower. So if you looked the part, you were in.

My great Uncle born 1898 Bucks, died 1915 Flanders. along with 3 cousins from one family, who died in 1915 and 1916, the third one returned from the war.

Steve.

 

[jonah777]

Hi Paul,

As far as I know no proof was needed going by my 2 grandads, one changed his name and the other was 3/4yrs under age.

I think i'll go with his army age as fact........the 21 days seems just to precise to be made up, so 1896 it is.....thanks for the reply Julie...........Paul

 

[jonah777]

hi, I think the army was only as accurate as the person giving the info, if they knew their exact age - and lots of people of this era did, they could record the age. I too have two ancestors with the given age plus months one given as 4 months and one as 3 months

Yeah I was thinking that it was so precise it had to be correct. i'll go with that date for the rest of my research and hope for the best.......cheers Pejay.......Paul

 

[jonah777]

I would guess, that if his d/o/b is given, that could be his age. But as long as a body turned for enlistment, most were accepted without much question.
The argument about underage recruits went on for ages in the Houses of Parliament.
As things were going bad in WW1, they needed manpower. So if you looked the part, you were in.

My great Uncle born 1898 Bucks, died 1915 Flanders. along with 3 cousins from one family, who died in 1915 and 1916, the third one returned from the war.

Steve.

Jeesh that would make him 17 yrs old when killed in action, makes you think how bad it must have been for kids of that age to rush to join the forces....i'll take that as his age and carry on from there, see what I find........thanks for the reply.................Paul

 

[pejay]

The only suitable birth I can find for a Henry Jones is this - apr/may/june qr 1895 Nantwich 8a 348 it may not be the right one though.It is amazing how many underage soldiers lied about their ages and obviously did not live to tell the tale!