Guest david_t Posted 31 October , 2003 Share Posted 31 October , 2003 Hi all, Just found this site tonight,haven't been through all the messages yet, I am interested in tracing any or all of my Grandfathers army history.He served in ww1 and was born in Harrogate,Yorkshire.Don't know the name of the regiment and when he died,his medals were missing. I know he handled horses and worked for a removal firm after the war using horses.I know many records were destroyed in ww2, but is there anywhere else I can look without trying the Public records office,or would this be the only source? Thanks david_t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Welcome to the forum, David. I hope you didn't have anything planned, because reading through 40,000+ messages will take some time! As a start point, please visit the "mother site", The Long, Long Trail. There's a link to it at the top-left of this page. You will find an entire section dedicated to telling you what is possible in researching a soldier, and how to go about it. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Hi David. May we know his name ? Best wishes. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest david_t Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Hi John, His name was Henry Matson, I believe born 1892 don't know exact date, do you think I will be able to trace him from the medal roll of honour? Don't know the specific medals he received, but i've read the records for this are still intact. Thanks david_t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annette Burgoyne Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Hi david It should be easy to find his name in the Medal Index Cards, Matson is not a common name like Smith (sorry any Smiths out there, I not trying to say you are common ) but if your Grandfather as a second Christian name that always helps to pin point you man. Annette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Hi David I think I've found your Grandfather on the census, anyway. Click here to go the Online Census Records at the PRO Once you're there, click on PERSON SEARCH Now enter the following Last Name - MATSON First Name - Hy Note: He is registered as HY and NOT Henry. Put Place of Birth as HARROGATE. It will cost you a couple of pounds to view the details. But then you can also see who was living at the same address; your Great Grandfather's details etc etc. The 'free of charge' information shows Henry as being 7 years of age when the Census was carried out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 There was a Henry Matson, Captain in the 3rd Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancaster Rgt). Probably not the man but it's an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest david_t Posted 1 November , 2003 Share Posted 1 November , 2003 Wow, thanks for all the quick replies, it would seem the best way to go is the medal index cards and this will obviously reveal his regiment. To John, I am certain he was not an officer, I think the search would be easier if he was. To " Racing Teapots" I am fairly sure you are right as the time scale seems to fit, as Annette says, it is not a very common name. Best Wishes david_t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted 7 November , 2003 Share Posted 7 November , 2003 David See my reply in the thread about digitalising MIC's Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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