An older cousin recently advised me that my paternal grandfather, Samuel Wakefield born Nottingham 1876, may have had a somewhat chequered military career. It appears he joined the army as a young man, went to India and subsequently landed up in a military prison for striking an officer, but was released under an amnesty when Queen Victoria died. He then rejoined the army under a false name and got caught up in the 1914-18 war as an artillerymen or gunner where I am told he achieved the rank of Lance Bombardier. He was my grandmothers second husband and they married around 1914. My father also Samuel Wakefield was born February 1916. The 1901 census lists a Samuel Wakefield, birth date 1879 occupation Soldier 2nd North Lancs, in a Southampton prison. I am presumming this is my grandfather. I also know he received a war pension from the 1914-18 war. However, I cannot find any record of this pension and am presuming it is because he enlisted under a false name. Do any readers know of a way I could obtain information on his original crime, his subsequent amnesty and finally a way of researching the 1914-18 war records to try and find a way of identifying the fictitious name he enlisted under. I believe he was awarded a few medals and was a Legion member. **************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)