5th Battalion

[rancher]

My grandfather joined the 5th Batt on 1st March 1907 No 7373. I would be grateful for any information on tracing his records

[harribobs]

hi rancher

welcome to the forum

what was his name?

chris

[rancher]

Hi Chris
His name was Alfred Bruce. I have a Militiamans Small Book showing his place of enlistment as Ashton Under Lyne

[harribobs]

hi rancher

i have had a look on the national archives site but i can't find any trace of him serving abroad in WW1, but you might want to try some variations of spelling etc

http://www.tiny.cc/kewsite

the 5th battallion was based at wigan, see this on the mother site  http://www.themanchesters.org/5th%20batt.htm

when Alf joined up the battalion was known as the 1st volunteer battalion manchester regiment, in 1908 the territorial force was created and they became the 5th battalion

perhaps Robert could tell us what records are held at the archives regarding enlistment etc? 

cheers

chris

[Robert Bonner]

Anyone really interested in the old 5th Battalion has got to go to the Wigan Records Office which is in Leigh Town Hall. An appointment has to be made beforehand with the archivist on 01942 404 430. They are very helpful but it is a small set-up.

The regimental archives at Ashton-under-Lyne have recently acquired the attestation & discharge ledgers for the inter-war years 1919 - 1939.  These are currently being catalogued and will shortly be available for research.  They are regular and territorial  and contain a lot of fascinating detail.  I will keep the forum posted on progress.

[themonsstar]

He will not be at Wigan or Ashton if he was in the Militia, The Militia records are at the National Archives, for the Manchester Regiment Militia Battalions 3,4,5 & 6

WO96 Militia Attestation.

They range in date from 1806-1915( I have not found any yet with a date later then 1908).

You would need to look at WO96/991 (Brow-BUR), they are not on line yet so you would need to go to the NA yourself or get a researcher to look for you.

[themonsstar]

Alfred joined the 5th Militia Battalion Manchester Regt, on 3rd Jan 1901. His address was 26 Mellown St or Melbrown St, He was born in Hulme Manchester. Age when joining up 18/2 months, He served in the SA War and was discharge 30th July 1906 from the 5th Battalion.

He is on the South Africa medal roll to the 5th Bn with clasps 1901 1902, and on his service record Orange Free State, Cape Colony.

[mack]

great work roy.
mack

[rancher]

Brilliant.What makes your information even more amazing is tha he was born in August 1884 so his actual ages at joining was 16 yrs and 4 months. Did those recruiting chaps actually look at the recruits or just sign them up. I am now eager to find out more..Suggestions as to where I can go ? keep it clean now! to find what medals he was awarded campain activity etc.

[harribobs]

there were a lot of underage soldiers in the TF, as the joining age was lower than the regulars, i'm sure the same was true of the militia. i suppose the the key is was he sent abroad underage (ie under 19)

[rancher]

You chaps are amazing.
I know from your hard work that my Grandfather was in the 5th Manchester Militia Batt. 1901-1906.
His Army Pension Records show that he joined the 6th Batt Kings Own on 17/8/1914 and was disharged medically unfit 6/3/1915 unfortunatly for Syphilis and VOH what ever that was.Other papers show him in the 64th Training Reserve nad finally an award for a War Badge (is that for wounds). So three diff Batts. I would have thought that he would have re enlisted with the Manchesters.

[mack]

his medal card says pte 30733 alfred bruce,training res,64th battalion.
the 64th training batt was formerly the 21st and 22nd batts royal welsh fusiliers
mack