-----Original Message----- From: liverpud Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 10:04 AM To: gene.genie@4email.net Subject: B&S] BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET Digest, Vol 8, Issue 165 Hi Lisa, Lovely to hear from you. I have his medal card which states he recd two medals the Service and the Victory. I have the service medal with his name on the perimeter and the T--- number, which means he was in the Transport. I would love to get the ribbon replaced as it is a mess. What I did was retrieve pictures of the two medals and kept them on file. My Mum said he was in France but she was just a little one at the time. Don't think he spoke much about it probably too horrible to relate the stories. He was a sign writer and did work for a brewery. He was fairly artistic in that way. He wasn't a soldier that was in there long only for WWI and that was enough, I suspect. Probably your Gr-grandfather and my Grandfather soldiered together. Edwin Thomas Blake (1873-1930) m. Ada Amelia Worth (1870-1947). She was b. in Abersynchan, Wales along with her twin Eliza. They married and lived in Bristol. Don't want to spend the money on a researcher as I have spent enough already. All the best, Edna - Ottawa -----Original Message----- From: gene.genie@4email.net Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2013 7:33 AM To: BST_SOM LIST Subject: Re: [B&S] BRISTOL_AND_SOMERSET Digest, Vol 8, Issue 165 Hi Edna, I have just caught up on this, yes if is true that much of the WWI records were destroyed int he Blitz in WWII. However, I can confirm that it you are very lucky and your great grandfather applied for his pension, the records might be at the National Archives in London. Unfortunately, it's a matter of hiring a researcher or getting a friend to visit in person. I note you can obtain a copy of his Medal Card online via the website (Online Records) I can confirm that RASC was in France as my great grandfather James Wm Denning (also born Bristol 1875) had served in the same Corps by the time he left the Army. Your ancestor was also an older man - had he served before? My great grandfather was an 'Old Contemptible' i.e a professional solder from age 17, and despite his age he was sent to France, after a stint in Whitewater Barracks on the Isle of Wight where I assume he may have been helping to train younger men. He re-enlisted in the Welsh Regiment in 1914, but because he was a miner he did not serve until 1915, his records show he served with quite a few Regiments before ending his service in the Labour Corps. He was injured and sent back to Bristol Royal Infirmary, then back to Front after his recovery. It's a thought that both Bristolians might have met and talked of home. I was lucky, in 1920 he applied for a pension and I have his Service Record. I believe the records were sent as part of the application, which means there is a chance they escaped the Blitz (being kept by the Pensions Dept). Mind you, if he applied after 1920, the 100 year rule may apply. James was also one of the lucky ones, returning to his home in the Rhondda where he lived until he was in his 70's. Sadly, his son, playing with his medals sometime after the war lost them. I'd love to track then down. Lisa ----

Edna >>Don't want to spend the money on a researcher as I have spent enough already.<< You don't need to spend money on a researcher - all the pension records are on Ancestry and indexed. However only soliders who were left with a disability due to wounds or illness were alloted a pension, although there are somefiles for those who applied but weren't granted a pension. However most soliders sadly didn't qualify. Kind regards Polly

Hi again Only a small but salient point The prefix T stood for Horse Transport (not just transport) You can buy replacement ribbon, however I would keep it original if possible You can also buy replica medals if you wanted to have the missing one or you could buy an original that is up for sale A good way to display medals is a framed mount to hang on the wall, there are many varieties Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hi Lisa, Lovely to hear from you. I have his medal card which states he > recd two medals > the Service and the Victory. I have the service medal with his name on the > perimeter and the T--- > number, which means he was in the Transport. I would love to get the > ribbon replaced as it is a mess. > What I did was retrieve pictures of the two medals and kept them on file.