Reservist and regular veteran seeking family info.

Discussion in 'User Introductions' started by Jim Prout, Feb 3, 2017.

  1. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Hello. Im in the REME reserve, recently left the RCT/RLC after 25 years service. I have in my possession our family medals from my mum and dads side. I believe my mums dad was Royal Artillery. I have a group picture titled 407 Battery in 1939 as it became part of 146 Regiment, he is on that photo ive been told. One of her brothers was RAMC and i have a picture of him. Another family member on mums side joined the PPCLI during WW1. Now, dads side, his father was originally KSLI during WW2 but i have now found on forceswarrecords website that he belonged to 5 Regt Reconnaissance Corps and was injured in Sicily in 1943.

    My mum doesnt seem to have her dads army number so i dont have a lot to go on. I have found a 825827 Sgt Owen James RA who was awarded the Military Medal during WW2 but i dont know if it is him or not. My grandads name was Owen Glyndwr James (1900 - 1969) and our family comes from Cardigan , west wales. Any help would be appreciated. Once ive completed all my research i will be getting all the medals cleaned, remounted and hopefully my children can wear them on Remembrance Sunday. Lots of work to do before then but im really enjoying it so far.
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    There is a family tree on Ancestry that includes him :

    Owen Glyndwr James
    1900–1969
    BIRTH 1900 • Wales
    DEATH 1969 • Cardigan, Wales

    However this does not tie in with the 1901 census details they have used as that census shows:
    Glyndwr James 7 - this would mean he was born 1894 not 1900 as claimed by them.

    So the question to you is are you sure that he was born in 1900??

    There is an Owen Glyndwr James born in Wales but as below:
    Name: Owen Glyndwr James
    Registration Year: 1902
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration district: Newport

    This Owen is then shown in the 1911 census as being in Cardiganshire
    Name: O Glyndwr James
    Age in 1911: 9
    Estimated birth year: abt 1902
    Relation to Head: Son
    Gender: Male
    Birth Place: Abercarn, Monmouthshire, Wales
    Civil Parish: Cilgerran
    Search Photos: Search for 'Cilgerran' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
    County/Island: Cardiganshire
    Country: Wales
    Street address: Cemaes St Kilgerran
    Occupation: School
    Registration district: Cardigan
    Registration District Number: 603
    Sub-registration district: Cardigan
    ED, institution, or vessel: 23
    Household schedule number: 61
    Piece: 33300
    Household Members:
    Name Age
    William James 36
    Rachel James 36
    O Glyndwr James 9
    Fredrick James 6

    If you have details such as his parents names and then they match the above then we have a much closer match to the right man and his correct personal details.

    TD
     
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  3. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Wow, lot of info there. Ive got a picture of his headstone which says 1900 - 1969, no exact dates though. His children were Cyril, Eddie (RAMC), Dai (or David), Mary( my mum)and another i believe.
     
  4. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    20170203_155408.jpg
     
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  5. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Jim,
    737711 JAMES Owen Glyndwr enlisted in the RA at Cardigan on 10th March 1921 aged 18. He was born in Newport. There is also a marriage listed to Mary Jane (Cardigan 24/2/1924) and three children, Eddie, Cyril, David.

    JAMES.png
    Screen Shot 2017-02-03 at 15.51.35.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2017
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  6. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Thank you so much. yes, second name is Cyril, my uncle. This is an amazing starting block for me. I cant thank you enough.
     
  7. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    There is an Owen Glyndwr James born in Wales but as below:
    Name: Owen Glyndwr James
    Registration Year: 1902
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration district: Newport


    Jim,
    TD's information ties in with his Royal Artillery attestation. His age is 18 at enlistment in 1921.
    Guy
     
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  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Hello and welcome to the forum Jim. Nice to have a new member with links to Recce-there are a lot of us about:).
    I see you are in good hands already; good luck with your research.

    Lesley
     
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  9. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Thanks Lesley. The only info i have so far that tells me he was recce, is the info ive obtained from the forceswarrecords site, so im hoping this is accurate.
     
  10. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Im slightly confused with the two different years of birth. Why would it say 1900 on the headstone and 1902 on other documentation. Looking at all the other info, it must be him.
     
  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    It has happened previously that within the family the date of birth (and sometimes place) are passed down through the family but are in fact incorrect for whatever reason. Unfortunately no one in the family thinks to check what the actual facts are and hence the 'errors' live on in family history.

    How the 1900 date came about may never be known, but I would say with 99% certainty that he was actually born in 1902.

    Do you or any of your family know who has created the family tree on Ancestry?
    TD
     
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  12. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Sorry Jim we cannot mention the site you have visited, as to its accuracy .... I couldn't comment

    TD
     
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  13. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    Jim,
    There is a note on his attestation that he was attached to 102 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. This confirms some of the information that you already have.
    Guy
     
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  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

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  15. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    825827 Joesph Owen JAMES MM enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1932.
    JAMES.png
     
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  16. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Thats the chap i found before. Everything is coming together now, thanks to yourselves on this site. In fact, im getting info that quick on here, im going to have to start documenting things properly.
     
  17. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Here is a picture of Eddie in his Royal Army Medical Corps uniform. Not sure if he was regular or territorial or when he served. I now have his date of birth so that should help me tracking down some info on him too.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Jim
    Just to add to Guy’s post #5 above, the attestation also shows that he was discharged on 30 November 1939.

    James_OG.jpg

    Also some other info that may be of interest.
    GRO Death record
    Q4 1969
    James, Owen Glyndwr
    DOB 7 Feb 1902
    Death district Cardigan S
    Volume 8a
    Page 1037

    Q2 1976
    James, Mary Jane
    DOB 8 Apr 1899
    Death district Cardigan S
    Volume 24
    Page 0962S

    GRO Birth record
    Q3 1934
    James, Iris
    Mother’s maiden name Wilson
    District Cardigan
    Volume 11b
    Page 6

    Q3 1924
    James, Eddie
    Mother’s maiden name Wilson
    District Cardigan
    Volume 11b
    Page 9

    I don’t know if this his parents but the 1939 Register has this recorded:

    No 2, Jenkins Row, Cardigan
    James, William, DOB 2.7.1874, married, Old age pensioner
    James, Rachel, DOB 23.2.1874, married, Housewife
    James, Ivor, DOB 28.9.1915, Single, Farm horseman
    [there may be a question on Ivor’s DOB as it also shows 28.9.1911]

    Just to be clear can you confirm that you are happy it’s 737711 James and we are therefore discounting 825827 James?
     
  19. Jim Prout

    Jim Prout Member

    Hi Tony. Absolutely spot on with 737711. All details, relatives etc relate to our family. And i did have an uncle Ivor who passed away in the mid 90s(if i remember rightly). My mum is the last remaining "child" now and id love her to know more about her dad and brothers who served at that time. My next focus is on Eddie who served in the RAMC, mum doesnt know much more,apart from the picture we have. There is also one other capbadge i have and its bit of a mystery, its a Welch Regiment badge, it may have been Cyril as i believe David served with the Merchant Navy.
     
  20. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Jim, found this family in the 1939 Register, names look OK but dates are slightly out from those previously found – strange?

    14 Greenfield Row, Cardigan
    James, Mary Jane, DOB 8 Apr 1900, married
    One closed record
    James, Cyril, DOB 19 June 1925, single, Butchers errand boy
    James, David Owen, DOB 11 Mar 1927, at school
    James, Trevor, DOB 31 Aug 1932, at school
    James, Iris, DOB 24 May 1934, at school
    James, Gwynfor, DOB 12 Oct 1936, at school
     
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