Hello, I am writing to ask if there are any documents available for public inspection relating to Kempston Barracks. I would be particularly interested in lists of soldiers in service there around 1900 - 1909. My gt grandfather died at Ypres in 1915. He was Pvt 3/6538 Arthur Loveridge. I have been told by a historian that the number indicates that he was a member of the 3rd battalion and therefor a special reservist. However, according to the CWGC site he was a member of the 1st battalion at the time of his death. Not sure why this difference of opinion should occur. I am wondering if he might have seen earlier service around 1900 since I can find no trace of him anywhere on the national index for the 1901 census. This led me to wonder if he might have been overseas with the army at the time. Although he was born in Fenny Stratford Bucks in 1880 and was still there in 1891 we know that he lived in Kempston for some time between then and his death. My grandfather was born in 1909 and Arthurs address was given as 20 Church Walk Kempston at his death. I do hope that someone can help me to gain some additional information. Regards, Chris

Chris, try the BLARS site as they may have info about Kempston Barracks. www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/archive/ As Arthur was born in Fenny was he a member of the Gypsy LOVERIDGE family who travelled in the Bow Brickhill and Fenny Stratford area? I see in 1891 that Arthur's father George is a sweep - did Arthur follow in the business as there are some records of the issuing of chimney sweepers certificates at BLARS. Dianne [email protected] wrote: > Hello, > I am writing to ask if there are any documents available for public > inspection relating to Kempston Barracks. I would be particularly interested in lists > of soldiers in service there around 1900 - 1909. > > My gt grandfather died at Ypres in 1915. He was Pvt 3/6538 Arthur Loveridge. > I have been told by a historian that the number indicates that he was a > member of the 3rd battalion and therefor a special reservist. However, according > to the CWGC site he was a member of the 1st battalion at the time of his > death. Not sure why this difference of opinion should occur. > > I am wondering if he might have seen earlier service around 1900 since I can > find no trace of him anywhere on the national index for the 1901 census. > This led me to wonder if he might have been overseas with the army at the time. > Although he was born in Fenny Stratford Bucks in 1880 and was still there in > 1891 we know that he lived in Kempston for some time between then and his > death. My grandfather was born in 1909 and Arthurs address was given as 20 Church > Walk Kempston at his death. > > I do hope that someone can help me to gain some additional information. > > Regards, > Chris

Chris, Cant help with your specific enquiry, but I too had a number of missing males on the 1901 census. On researching the army service papers 1883-1914, I discovered that most of my missing men were serving in the army in South Africa in the Boer War. Sandra ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 2:50 PM Subject: [BDF] Kempston Barracks and the Bedfordshire Regt > Hello, > I am writing to ask if there are any documents available for public > inspection relating to Kempston Barracks. I would be particularly > interested in lists > of soldiers in service there around 1900 - 1909. > > My gt grandfather died at Ypres in 1915. He was Pvt 3/6538 Arthur > Loveridge. > I have been told by a historian that the number indicates that he was a > member of the 3rd battalion and therefor a special reservist. However, > according > to the CWGC site he was a member of the 1st battalion at the time of his > death. Not sure why this difference of opinion should occur. > > I am wondering if he might have seen earlier service around 1900 since I > can > find no trace of him anywhere on the national index for the 1901 census. > This led me to wonder if he might have been overseas with the army at the > time. > Although he was born in Fenny Stratford Bucks in 1880 and was still there > in > 1891 we know that he lived in Kempston for some time between then and his > death. My grandfather was born in 1909 and Arthurs address was given as > 20 Church > Walk Kempston at his death. > > I do hope that someone can help me to gain some additional information. > > Regards, > Chris > > > > > > > > The List Guidelines > > http://bedfordrootsweb.blogspot.com/ > > The Bedfordshire Surnames List > > http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/bedford.html > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > _______________________________________ No viruses found in this outgoing message Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.4.5 http://www.iolo.com

Have you got his First World war medal card this is available as a download (cost £3.50) from the National Archives, sometimes they will show some history. The index card is available on Ancestry.Com and shows him in the 1/Bed Regiment. This shows that he qualified for the following: Victory Medal, British Medal and 1915 Star. You might find when he enlisted he joined the 3rd but was then transferred to the 1st on going to the front. The following web-site may be of interest: http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/ It contains a lot of details about the regiment including the regimental diaries. Kevin (england)

Hi Chris, One man who may be able to help is a guy called Nigel Lutt. He is a member of staff at the Beds Archives and you will find an address at BLARS on the BedsCC website. Nigel I know specialises in the military history of the county. Hope this helps dave -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 31 July 2008 14:50 To: [email protected] Subject: [BDF] Kempston Barracks and the Bedfordshire Regt Hello, I am writing to ask if there are any documents available for public inspection relating to Kempston Barracks. I would be particularly interested in lists of soldiers in service there around 1900 - 1909. My gt grandfather died at Ypres in 1915. He was Pvt 3/6538 Arthur Loveridge. I have been told by a historian that the number indicates that he was a member of the 3rd battalion and therefor a special reservist. However, according to the CWGC site he was a member of the 1st battalion at the time of his death. Not sure why this difference of opinion should occur. I am wondering if he might have seen earlier service around 1900 since I can find no trace of him anywhere on the national index for the 1901 census. This led me to wonder if he might have been overseas with the army at the time. Although he was born in Fenny Stratford Bucks in 1880 and was still there in 1891 we know that he lived in Kempston for some time between then and his death. My grandfather was born in 1909 and Arthurs address was given as 20 Church Walk Kempston at his death. I do hope that someone can help me to gain some additional information. Regards, Chris The List Guidelines http://bedfordrootsweb.blogspot.com/ The Bedfordshire Surnames List http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/bedford.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.5.9/1583 - Release Date: 31/07/2008 06:17