The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

elishebasmith · Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hello everyone,

This is my first post. I'm hoping someone might have some ideas to help me track down my great grandfather's service record.

My great grandfather's name was William Galloway Wilson, b. 1892 in Bellshill, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire. One of 4 brothers, he was a miner working Calderbank just prior to the war. He survived the war and in 1920 moved to Airdrie with his wife and daughter. According to my mother, he was a non-commissioned officer and was at Suvla Bay. I don't know what regiment he was in and I don't have any medals or photos, other than a partial scan of a photograph of him in uniform (see below).

I've searched all the usual indexes on Ancestry but without any luck. While the records may have been destroyed, I know he often just went by William Wilson which is a very common name.

Does any one have any thoughts on how I might further my research, especially ways of identifying his regiment? I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Smith
Sydney, Australia

spoons · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:13 pm Post subject: .

Hi and welcome

Have you tried our guide?

https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=31471A884E56A78D!163&ithint=file%2cpdf&app=WordPdf&authkey=!AGSxOfs0E-zFQFs

Have you a year of birth so we can at least eliminate some of the possibles?

In the picture he is wearing two stripes (a Corporal) and the stripes on the lower arm are for overseas service - see

http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/servicechevrons.html

for details.

The white lanyard around his left shoulder is probably for holding a whistle (expected for a Cpl).

Unfortunately, nothing I can see to identify his regiment, no cap badge visible, buttons are not close enough and the shoulder titles are sideways on.

Regards

Paul

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:54 pm Post subject:

Sometimes the white lanyard denoted a mounted unit. The Lanarkshire Yeomanry served at Gallipoli but weren't at Suvla. A lot of Lanarkshire men served in Irish regiments and the 10th Irish Division was at Suvla.

However, my gut feeling is he was in the artillery and him being a bombardier.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Adam

elishebasmith · Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia

Hi Paul, Hi Adam,

Thanks for your responses.

I have had a look at the research guide before but I've re-read it and I think there are several things I could have another go at, like exploring some of the newspaper and gazette archives.

William was born in 1892,in Bellshill/Old Monkland. I've looked at medal indexes, service records, etc on ancestry at length without joy. My main obstacle when searching on any index is that he has a very common name and I don't have any one to speak to for further details to narrow my searches, except what my mum has already told me. I'm trying to find the original of that photograph in order to see whether there was any other details that would prove useful but I don't hold much hope of that.

That was an interesting link about the overseas chevrons, Paul. That helps to date the photograph toward the end of the war, which was something I was wondering about. If I understand correctly, the 4 chevrons mean that he spent at least 3 years in overseas service, so he was away most of the war and probably enlisted relatively early?

Adam, I have had someone suggest the Royal Artillery before - I'll see what that turns up following that lead. The Royal Scots was another regiment I was wondering about because I understand they were at Suvla.

Thanks again. That's some food for thought. Here's hoping I make some progress!

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 1:51 pm Post subject:

Clutching at straws here, but if he did use the "G" there are only 7 Medal Cards with the name William G Wilson and the rank of Corporal
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=william+g&_ln=wilson&_no=&_crp=&_ttl=corporal&discoveryCustomSearch=true&_cr1=WO+372&_dt=M&_col=200&_hb=tna

More often than not the Medal Cards have little if any personal information but it might be worth checking them (on Ancestry) just in case Smile

I had hoped that he might have married while still in service and that the regiment would be on his certificate but no such luck as he got wed in 1920 Rolling Eyes

Good luck with your hunt.
_________________
Ken

spoons · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 5:33 pm Post subject:

There might possibly be a surviving Roll of Honour for a church in the area he lived and he might be listed on it. That would probably give a regiment.

Does anyone know if that part of Glasgow has been checked for church Rolls of Honour?

\Paul