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William Pitt World War 1 Veteran

Hi Lu

In my opinion, and others may give different ones, I believe he must have been a pre-war territorial due to the the Imperial Service badge on his tunic breast pocket. Only Territorials were issued with them in 1914 when the units they served in volunteered for active service. When the Territorial Force was formed in April 1908, men who had signed on for 8 years would have left the army in April 1916. Which William Pitt probably did or was given an option to still serve King and Country re-enlisted into the Army Service Corps on 24 June 1916. The two pictures taken in Italy wearing a pith helmet would be in 1918 when British units were serving there. The guy seated appears to have the ASC badge on his pith helmet.

So maybe somewhere in ancestry there are papers regarding service with the RE.

Terry
 
This is certainly a wonderful piece of detective work. Looking at the records on ancestry, I didn't think that any of the William Pitts in the RE were him. So have I understood this correctly, he was in the RE when he was in the Territorial Force? I've just had a word with my mother, she has no stories about his military service apart from him being gassed and his discharge. Also we don't have any medals or badges for him.
 
lulibell said:
My great grandfather William Pitt born 1876-7 in Birmingham served in WW1.
Lived at 9 North Western Terrace, Newton Place, Hockley, B'ham in 1911 with wife Rose Anna and family.
He was a carter.
We have these photos of him in uniform, I was hoping that may help identify his regiment and his service record. We do know that he was gassed whilst serving.
He died in Henley in Arden Hospital 6 Oct 1943, age 66 years.

Any help or guidance would be wonderful,
Many thanks
Lu

:)
Click to expand...
Was William Pitt's father a William Pitt whose father was William Pitt? If so we are distantly relaled.
 
It seems that William's father was also William, though the elder William appears to list his father as Thomas when he marries, though it is possible that he was actually illegitimate.
 
Well my great grandfather was Thomas Pitt, son of William Pitt.
Thomas had a brother called William too. He was born in 1850, and died in 1893.
Thomas's brother William had a son called William in 1876.
Thomas's son William was born around 1891 and died in 8th July1955. He was born in Junction Road Handsworth. The Pitts worked together making beds, I think based in number 2 Blake Lane, Bordesley Green.
If he was the son of my great great grandfather then he would have been legitimate, as Thomas married Charlotte who had been a general servant in his dad's house.
 
The William Pitt mentioned above that marries Rose Hannah (Jones) appears to be a the son of William Pitt and Louisa Willis.

William Pitt the elder was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire and was still alive in 1901 so probably two different people.
 
MWS said:
The William Pitt mentioned above that marries Rose Hannah (Jones) appears to be a the son of William Pitt and Louisa Willis.

William Pitt the elder was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire and was still alive in 1901 so probably two different people.
Click to expand...
OK, it really doesn't help that victorians called their kids by their own name and their brothers called their kids by the same names too.
 
  • Appreciate
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