I have just joined this forum to find more information about a number of relatives that served and/or died during WWI. The most urgent concerns my Great Uncle George Proctor (b. act 1871 in Small Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire). I have found two instances of him in the military. The first is the 1891 census, where he is living at home on 4/5 Parliament Street, Bordesley with his parents. His occupation is listed as a N. or S. Staffs Regt soldier. The entry is very light so it is unclear if this is North or South. His marriage to Clara Grace Lakeland of Preston, Lancs is registered during the 2nd quarter of 1896. In 1901 his wife was living alone in Preston with his first son. I assume he is away in South Africa based on the moves of the Manchester Regiment, which he belonged to in 1911. The 1911 census has him as a colour sergeant of the Manchester Regiment (2nd Battalion?) based at the Depot in Ashton under Lyne with his wife and children in the married barracks. What I need to know, as a novice in WWI (and Boer War) family research, are the next steps I can take to find more information about my Great Uncle's military career? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am a member of Ancestry.com and Ancestry.co.uk so I can search their databases.
I am a little surprised that after two days no one has greeted me or responded to my post. I am used to the very responsive and friendly atmosphere at WW2Talk. Can anyone point me in the right direction to further my research?
Hello dryan67, welcome to the forum! Things have been a little quiet on the forum so don't get discouraged.
Have you searched for his MIC card for WW1 best for this is Ancestry.com, if you find this you can then look for his records if they still exist. Many WW1 records were destroyed in WW2, but I have been surprised as I have found many to my medal collection. You can also look on Find My Past for a possible record or medal issue from the Boer War, you may need a regtimental number for this but there is a dedicated site for this particular era which only shows medal issue. There are also medal rolls for the Boer War period at the Archives and if you know his unit you may find a little info there.
Let me know what you find out or having difficulty and I may be able to help. Just to let yu know I had the pleasure of serving alongside Americans in Bosnia auctually within an American led unit.
Eddley1: Based on your suggestion, I have located a potential medal reference at the medal rolls at Ancestry. It is for a G. Proctor, listed as a clasp recipient for the Defence of Ladysmith. He is also listed as invalided, which seems to agree with his location at the depot in 1911, since he did not follow the 1st Battalion in its moves after South Africa. His regimental number was listed as 4039. I am going to continue on the the Archives medal rolls for Boer War to see if anything else comes up. Dryan67
Send me all the details and when I go to London at the end of the month iI will check the nom rolls. I looked him up and found nothing on the Internet.
Here is a repeat of the details I have on his military career: George Proctor was born about 1871 in Small Heath, Birmingham, Warwickshire. I have found two instances of him in the military. The first is the 1891 census, where he is living at home on 4/5 Parliament Street, Bordesley with his parents. His occupation is listed as a N. or S. Staffs Regt soldier. The entry is very light so it is unclear if this is North or South. His marriage to Clara Grace Lakeland of Preston, Lancs was on 4 April 1896. The marriage certificate states that is was a Pioneer with the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment based at Fulwood Barracks. In 1901 his wife was living alone in Preston with his first son, who was born in Preston. I assume he is away in South Africa based on the moves of the Manchester Regiment, which he belonged to in 1896 and 1911. The 1911 census has him as a colour sergeant of the Manchester Regiment (2nd Battalion?) based at the Depot in Ashton under Lyne with his wife and children in the married barracks. His children's births give some information on his moves from 1899 to 1910. These locations are Preston in 1899, Aldershot in 1902, Ashton under Lyne in 1904, Aldershot in 1905, Alderney (Channel Islands) in 1907, and Ashton under Lyne in 1908, 1909, and 1910. That is what I have besides the possible medal entry listed above. Thanks for your help. I assume the nominal roles will have a listing for George Proctor.
