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21 Sep 2010Ask the Expert – Dad’s Army
Our military expert Paul Nixon, pictured, answers your questions.
From Jan Coupland:
‘I’d like some information about 4th V Bri.York Reg. a volunteer force during World War I. Was this the WW1 ‘Dad’s Army’?’
Paul says:
‘The role of the Volunteers during WW1 is a generally over-looked topic – not surprisingly really considering the momentous events that were happening elsewhere in Europe. KW Mitchinson has written the definitive volume about the Volunteer Force, formerly the Volunteer Training Corps, in Defending Albion – Britain’s Home Army 1908-1919 (Palgrave Macmillan, £50).
If there was a WW1 Home Guard equivalent, the Volunteer Force was certainly it. Members of the Volunteer Force (who were usually time-expired old soldiers) wore a brassard with the initials GR (Georgius Rex) emblazoned upon it. This led to them somewhat unfairly being dubbed ‘Georgeous Wrecks’ or ‘God’s Rejects’.’
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I would be glad to get any information regarding my Uncle who was killed in the First World War.
Name John McIvor Ross (Jack)
born 14.01.1896
killed 27.05.1917
Rank Sergeant
Regiment Cameronians ??
is it possible to find records for someone without knowing the service number.i know thier rank, where they served, name of thier spouse, and when they married.
i have the name rank and no. and letter from the person to a family member describing conditions etc.
d company
1st kings royal rifles
natal field force
south africa
is this covered by new info available his name does not appear in serch of boar war. or am i on the wrong track?
Advice apreciated.
Thank you.
Andrew, SDGW notes that John McIvor Ross was a lance-sergeant at the time of his death. His number – 200772 – belongs to the series in use by the 5th Scottish Rifles and indicates that he originally joined up in November 1914. His original number was 7906 and he arrived in France on the 4th December 1915, thus qualifying for the 1914-15 Star as well as the British War and Victory medals.
The 1/5th Battalion was merged with the 1/6th Battalion on the 29th May 1916 and became the 5/6th Battalion.
The Commonwealth war Graves Commission notes that John was 21 years old at the time of his death and was the son of John and Maria Jane Fleming Ross of 107 Kerr Street Glasgow. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. RIP.
Jim, it might be; and in such cases, the more unusaul the name, the better the chances of making a match. Post the details here and I’ll have a look for you.
Ann, please post your relative’s name here and I’ll have a look for him. Our recently released Boer War records are some of the most comprehensive records on-line but they’re still being added to. Nevertheless, if your relative served in South Africa then he’ll be on the medal roll for the KRRC and there might be a surviving service record for him. But first we need to know his name.
I would appreciate any additional information you might hold please for a William Willis Deards. He was baptised on 22 Apr 1849 @ Islington, London, Parents William and Elizabeth Deards. Records from the National Archives Index WO127 show that he enlisted as a Trooper, Soldier Number 1107, Steinbeckers horse,on 06/11/1900 to 01/08/1901, then “Time expired”. This relates to the Boer War, 1899-1902.
I wonder what happened to him after this time? Do you know if there are likely to be any additional surviving service records for him?
Thank you for any help you can give
Regards,
Barbara Deards