John, Many thanks, somehow the presence of a Branch in Newcastle and Ashington managed to slip under my radar for the past 3 years (on and off). That will be my first port of call. One of the guys on GWF interpreted his medal card for me, however since updating the website i can't access my old posts (nor PMs) on that website currently, so can;t get the exact wording but in an email around the same time to Gateshead Cemetery a few years ago i wrote: "Laurence Allen is mentioned in the supplements 1914-15 star and And the QSA bars Driefontein, Diamond Hill, Belfast and cape colony The Silver war badge list 49, 1036 Pte Lawrence Allen, joined 22/8/14 , discharged 9/8/15 - GSW left fore arm and head" and he was only the same height as my mom! The newspaper report at the time also agrees, but I am not a military expert hence I got the excellent and knowledgable guys on GWF to explain this to me, and also rule out the uniforms of the other armed forces heroes in my grans suitcase, but none were of any known relatives' Corps Many, many thanks for the pointer for the local branch, I feel a bit embarrassed that somehow this slipped me by, but am equally excited as i feel this is has a much higher likelihood of success! Jack --- On Sun, 1/8/10, John Gallon <little.blobby2@btinternet.com> wrote: > Dear Jack, > > You might of already done this, but have you contacted the > Local Coldstream Guards Association? If not http://www.shinycapstar.com/contacts.htm#8assoc scroll > to the bottom of the page where there is contact address. > There is branches in Newcastle & Ashington . I would of > thought that they might have a record of him, or even a > photograph. Or write to the http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/ they have all the > guards records. > > If you do not mind me asking, what medals was he awarded > & which of these were the 5 bars attached. > > John > little.blobby2@btinternet.com > > > > > >