Introduction

[Allangibbs]

Hi to everyone
                   My Name is Allan Gibbs,I am 52 and live in Manchester. I am a new member of the Gallipoli Association which I joined to research my grangdads service record.They kindly pointed me to this forum to help in my research.My grandads name was William Knight,
he was a private in the 1/10th Manchester Reg.He enlisted on 2/2/1914 in Oldham age 16.His service No was 1725 which changed to 375290 in 1917 as far as I know.He may of been in C company but not to sure of this.I do know that he fought at Gallipoli and later in Europe where he lost both legs 4 months from the wars end.He did survive and lived untill 1957 aged 60.If anyone could help me find out his own personal records or point me in the right direction I (and my family) would be very gratefull.We do have photos of him in Egypt and also in France but I will have to learn how to post them.
                                                                          Many Thanks
                                                                                           Allan.
                                                                                                                                                                                     

[timberman]

Hi Allan

Welcome to the forum.

There is a medal index card for your granddad that gives the information you have.
It has him listed as 1/10th under both numbers and he entered the war on the 5/5/1915 and was entitled to the 1915 star, British and Victory medals.

There is also a card for his Silver War Badge with his number as 375290, giving an enlistment date of 2/2/1914 as you said and a discharged date of 7/3/1917 but has him listed in the 1st/9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment.

I can't see any other records for him on Ancestry.

Timberman

[harribobs]

Hi Allan

there is a short potted history on the old tenth on our main site here 10th battn

for a more complete history, you need the book Amateur Soldiers by Keith Mitchinson, it is available from Manchester and Lancashire family history society on a CD called Oldham's Battalions 1899-1938. There no direct mention of William Knight as far as i can see though

cheers

chris

[Allangibbs]

Hi Chris & Timberman,
                             Many thanks for the info,I have managed to copy my grandads medal card with his 1915 Star etc.I have only recently heard of the Silver War Badge so this is very interesting but also creates a mystery as to where it may be as my mother only gave me his 3 other medals.It is also a surprise he was discharged 7/3/1917 as my mother seemed to think he was in till mid 1918.
I had found a paper with his no375290 C company 1/9th Battalion but had thouht this to be a mistake so I shall now start finding out about
the 1/9th.Would it be to much to think there would be transfer papers or was it so common an event they didnt bother??
I also believe he may of been entitled to the Territorial Medal,would there be a card for this??
                                               
                                        Many thanks again
                                                                Allan.

[mack]

hiya allan
there wont be any transfer papers,he was still serving in the manchester regt,but posted to a different battalion.
the silver war badge was issued to soldiers who were no longer fit for service,it was worn on their civilian clothes to indicate that the man had served his country,walking around in public without the badge would leave the man open to verbal or physical abuse from people who thought he was a shirker,your grandfather probably didnt apply for his because folks can see that a man who has lost his legs is not fit for service

the colonel[linda]who is one of our moderators,has built up a magnificent site about the 9th manchesters,if you google ashton territorials,that will bring it up

mack

[Allangibbs]

Hi Mack
          Thanks for info, I shall try the site for 9th Manchesters as suggested.
                                       Many thanks Allan

[harribobs]

courtesy of the National Archives



The Silver War Badge, sometimes erroneously called the Silver Wound Badge, was authorised in September 1916 and takes the form of a circular badge with the legend "For King and Empire-Services Rendered" surrounding the George V cypher. The badge was awarded to all of those military personnel who were discharged as a result of sickness or wounds contracted or received during the war, either at home or overseas.



The Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to members of the Territorial Force only. To qualify, the recipient had to have been a member of the Territorial Force on or prior to 30 September 1914, and to have served in an operational theatre outside of the United Kingdom between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.



and Linda's 9th Battalion site

THE ASHTON TERRITORIALS

[mack]

hiya allan.
your grandfather would not be entitled to the territorial war medal because he already had the 1915 star.

mack

[Allangibbs]

Hi to all,
          Thanks for info on Silver war badge and Territorial medal.I now think I may of seen his Silver badge but unfortunatly I remember my mum losing a badge so sadly it may be lost for ever,although it is good to know he received it.
         Is it possible to get copys of his medal cards or would I have to go direct to the National Archives??
                                               Thanks again
                                                                Allan.

[themonsstar]

We can not post MIC on here as the cards have a copywrite on them from Ancestry, but if you buy them you can post them on here.


But we do have the medal rolls for them.

I hope this helps with your research if you need anymore help just ask (Mack or Harribobs)


Cheers Roy

[harribobs]

I hope this helps with your research if you need anymore help just ask (Mack or Harribobs)


Cheers Roy

cheers Roy!!! 


Alan, you don't need the medal index card as Roy has given you all the information and more that is on them

William arrived with the rest of the 10th battalion on the 5th May 1915 in Egypt, later going on to fight in Gallipoli

10th Battalion

The rolls also tell that he did move to the 1/9th at some later date and that he was discharged through wounds or sickness

chris

[Allangibbs]

Hi to themonsstar
                       Thanks so much for showing me the medal rolls.I will still look into getting copys of the cards though.Its really good to see the rolls as I have noticed his discharge date is 7/3/1919 and not 1917 as suggested, this conformes with what we have always be told in the family so I am rather chuffed at the minute.
                       I am hopeing to get to the Manchesters Museum in June for the talk there so I am looking forward to that.
                                                   Many thanks
                                                                    Allan