Essexboy68 Posted 5 November , 2004 Share Posted 5 November , 2004 Hello, Wonder if anyone can help me, I am trying to do a little family research, but have hit a brick wall............. The man mentioned above was the half brother of my late grandfather, & died in France on 12 Oct 1914 (according to the CWGC, who record he has no grave & is listed on the Le Touret memorial, which I have visited). My grandfather told me 3 things about him, 1. He was married, & his son was born after his death, 2. He was an ex-regular soldier (I believe I have found his name on the 1901 census in London, at which time he was a teenager) & 3. He was shot by a German officer, this information supposedly coming from members of the battalion evacuated home. I have tried the Medal Index Card search, but cannot find his name mentioned, is this because he was killed? Also, I am not entirely sure if he was an ex-regular or if he was still serving in 1914, & am not sure if it makes any difference in trying to trace him. Where am I likely to find his name on any casualty rolls published in the papers of the time etc, especially as I believe he was resident in London, & had no connection (to my knowledge) with Dorset? If there is anyone out there who can help me with this, I would be grateful. Mark P.S on a more contemporary note, I would ask that we all pause for a few moments to show respect for the 3 soldiers of the Black Watch who were Killed in Action in Iraq today, thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph J. Whitehead Posted 5 November , 2004 Share Posted 5 November , 2004 I have the hard copy of the CWGC information. Your man is listed as: Whitsey, Arthur James. b. Banbury, Oxon., e. Woolwich, Kent, 7149, Pte., k. in a., F & F, 12/10/14. Ralph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gord97138 Posted 5 November , 2004 Share Posted 5 November , 2004 Mark: From the 1901 census: gordon Name Age in 1901 Birthplace Relationship Civil Parish County Alon Scrogham 43 Glamorgan, Wales Boarder West Ham Essex Arthur J Whitsey 15 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England Son West Ham Essex Fanny M Whitsey 35 Banbury, Oxfordshire, England Wife West Ham Essex Thomas Whitsey 35 North Woolwich, Essex, England Head West Ham Essex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 5 November , 2004 Share Posted 5 November , 2004 He is there Mark. Try the following link. http://www.documentsonline.nationalarchive...&resultcount=10 Rgds Tim RIP those who fell in Iraq today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 5 November , 2004 Share Posted 5 November , 2004 Mark, 1st Dorsets were in action along the Le Basse canal on Oct 12/13th and engaged the enemy in front of Givenchy. Battalion history states that a number of Germans came forward from Givenchy as if to surrender. The battalion ceased fire in order to allow them to come in but on reaching the Dorsets line the Germans rushed the position and opened fire. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexboy68 Posted 5 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2004 Hello All, Just wanted to say thanks very much for the info etc, some of which I knew vaguely, some I did not. If anyone has has any other information, I would be very interested in hearing it. Yes, enlisting in Woolwich would make sense, my grandfather was brought up in Custom House, although I am still confused as to whether he was a regular or a reservist, does anyone know how to find out? Once again thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 6 November , 2004 Share Posted 6 November , 2004 You should be able to download his MIC at the link I posted. I would hazard a guess he was reg. The 1st Battalion were regulars. http://www.1914-1918.net/dorsets.htm Rgds Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexboy68 Posted 6 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2004 Tim, Many thanks for the link to the MIC, I have downloaded it, so that may I refer to it whenever I want, & also pass it on to any relatives who may be interested. Yes, it would appear that he was a regular, although I understood that some reservists were attached to regular battalions, & am still confused as to why a man born in Oxfordshire & enlisting in Kent (as it was then) would be in the Dorset Regt. Still, I am sure that I may be able to dig up some more info........ Once again, many thanks for your help. Mark P.S anyone know if there are records available for Boer War soldiers? One of my great grandfathers served in the Coldstream Guards during that conflict, & was exempted from WW1 service as he was a London Taxi driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 6 November , 2004 Share Posted 6 November , 2004 Hi Mark, He may have been a reservist bought into the 1st Battalion to bring it up to strength I suppose. Perhaps someone else could give an opinion on this? I suppose the best bet would be to see if you find any other records (such as marriage certificate, sons birth certificate etc) which list him as being in the army pre 1914. As a regular where he was born would generally have little bearing on which unit he served with, he would have sent where there were vacancies, so you may find there is no other link to the unit and area it came from. Rgds Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPotter Posted 6 November , 2004 Share Posted 6 November , 2004 Mark, I am basically a medal collector, specialising in the Dorset Regt for the period 1881-1918. I have many sources of reference for the Regt for this period which covers the period of service of Arthur James Whitsey. His service papers are available at the PRO under reference WO 363 / W.917 - I have a copy - I also have his 1914 star trio. To quickly respond to your questions: 1) Pte Whitsey was married. He married Frances Glasbey at West Ham on 23.03.1913. His son, also called Arthur James was born before he died on 03.03.1914 at West Ham. 2) Pte Whitsey enlisted on 15.02.1904 and passed to Section B of the Army Reserve on 14.02.1911. He was mobilised at Dorchester on 05.08.1914 and posted to the 1st Bn. 3) His papers state simply that he was KIA in 12.10.1914. I would be very interested to learn your sources for the 'shot by a German Officer' reference. The best reading about the events of the 12th / 13th October 1914 are contained in the booklet privately produced by the adjutant at that time, Capt. Ransome, entitled " "The Fine Fighting of the Dorsets" - Three Battles of 1st Bn. The Dorsetshire Regiment in 1914 and 1915". He wrote another book entitled "The 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment in France and Belguim August 1914, to June 1915" Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 7 November , 2004 Share Posted 7 November , 2004 Mark, I am basically a medal collector, specialising in the Dorset Regt for the period 1881-1918. I have many sources of reference for the Regt for this period which covers the period of service of Arthur James Whitsey. His service papers are available at the PRO under reference WO 363 / W.917 - I have a copy - I also have his 1914 star trio. To quickly respond to your questions: 1) Pte Whitsey was married. He married Frances Glasbey at West Ham on 23.03.1913. His son, also called Arthur James was born before he died on 03.03.1914 at West Ham. 2) Pte Whitsey enlisted on 15.02.1904 and passed to Section B of the Army Reserve on 14.02.1911. He was mobilised at Dorchester on 05.08.1914 and posted to the 1st Bn. 3) His papers state simply that he was KIA in 12.10.1914. I would be very interested to learn your sources for the 'shot by a German Officer' reference. The best reading about the events of the 12th / 13th October 1914 are contained in the booklet privately produced by the adjutant at that time, Capt. Ransome, entitled " "The Fine Fighting of the Dorsets" - Three Battles of 1st Bn. The Dorsetshire Regiment in 1914 and 1915". He wrote another book entitled "The 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment in France and Belguim August 1914, to June 1915" Regards Steve By gee by jingo!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essexboy68 Posted 8 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2004 Well, I have cerainly got a great deal more information about Arthur, not bad, given the very scant details I had before. Once Again, Many Thanks To You all. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now