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John Edward Bamford -any information?

Started by bam4d, June 24, 2008, 01:07:16 PM

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bam4d

Hi, all
a newbie here so please be patient,

I wonder if anyone could help me, I'm trying to find out about my grandfathers military service.
his name was John Edward Bamford although his enlistment document which I found on the Ancestry.co.uk site shows him as John Bamford.

Born in 1884 he seems to have enlisted in Aug 1902, I have the scans of the "Short Service" enlistment document There are various numbers on the records including
Labour corp number 410049, Serial Number R18558 and possible a document number 7845. Theres also a stamp for the Royal Army Ordanance Corps. The military history sheet show him:
at home 5.8.1902 to 6.2.1903
South Africa 7.2.1903 to 28.10.1906
India 29.10.1906 to 1.2.1910
France 15.8.1914

he died in 1948 before I was born and never got much information about him from my father who is also now deceased.

Ideally I like to know what his job/duties may have been, I'm curious to know anything about what campaigns the regiment were involved in around those periods, with his enlistment being before the WW1, was this voluntary. If there's any reading material I could be pointed toward I'd be very grateful.

regards..Ian Bamford

mack

hiya ian.
your grandfather enlisted in the 1st batt,manchester regt on 5-8-1902
his service number,was 7875
after service in france with his battalion,he transferred to the 885th area employment coy,labour corps.and renumbered 410049
he was suffering from rheumatic fever,it looks like he was transferred,because he was no longer fit for front line service.
on 6-11-18,he transferred to the RAOC at his own request,pending expiry of his terms of service,renumbered as private S/8675 john bamford,RAOC

he originally signed up for 3yrs with the colours and 9 in the reserve,his terms of service would have ended on 5th aug 1914.
but mobilisation for war,began on 4th aug 1914,so your grandfather rejoined his battalion.
he had a fine service record
he was a qualified marksman,he also recieved certificates for transportation.
also served as a officers servant.

do you have any photos of him,that we could include in our photographic roll of honour.

mack

bam4d

thanks you Mack for the info, its much appreciated. I've been researching my family history for a while now and whilst its good to have names and dates of birth its even better when details of their lives are filled in like this. I'll contact my family to see if anyone has photos of John during his military service, the only picture I have of him was taken in the 1940's.

thanks again.....Ian

bam4d

Hi again,
as a footnote the this thread I went down to the Manchester Regiment museum and spent a good couple of hours looking through the displays which were very interesting. Toward the rear of the collection were banks of draws containing a medal collection, an index of which showed a listing for pte John Bamford, (hairs on the back of neck were bristling). Opening a draw I saw two medals attributed to John Bamford, unfortunately  there was no serial/regiment number listed. I would have liked to have been able to see the back of the medals to see if there was any further information on the back they were however behind protective perspex. Does anyone know of the likelihood of there being say a serial number printed on the back or edge or perhaps an email for for the Museums curator, I'd love to know one way or another whether they belonged to him.
Ian

timberman

Hi Ian

On the star it's stamped on the back and on the Victory and British it will be stamped around the edge, for soldiers that the medals have been issued to.
Hoping to have a look myself this week for some relatives medals, so thanks for the info.

Timberman

harribobs

Ian

i am sure the museum would be happy to let you know the details of the medal

you can contact the curator (Garry Smith) through this link

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom/opinions

cheers

chris
"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply
  to serve as a warning to others."