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WW1 soldier interred at Brandwood End.

  • Thread starter Thread starter lappylugs3
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lappylugs3

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Hi everybody, i`m currently trying to research a soldier who lived in kings norton.He sadly passed away in Jan 1919 and is buried in Brandwood end Cemetry with a military headstone.I`m assuming he died from wounds and was a patient in one of the Birmingham Hospitals used for military casualties.Is there any way i could find out which hospital.I fully realise this could be a delicate matter as he was not related to me.Any info would be appreciated.Best regards Kevin.
 
Hi lappyluggs 3

There is another thread on the WW1 section that discussed the various Military hospitals in Birmingham.

https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2867

Monyhull Kings Norton was one hospital used, as well as Rubery Assylum Hospital.

You could also obtain his death certificate to find out exactly where he died and it would also give you a cause of death too.

Hope it helps
Louisa
 
Hi Terry,his name was Frank Richardson.Pte 2o3517 Somerset Light Infantry, aged 25.
 
Be aware that the National Archives shredded 90% of Great War military hospital material and only kept an indicative amount.
 
Could not find any matches in the pension/service records on Ancestry, however his Medal Card Index is on there. As you can see he was entitled to the Victory and British War Medal. His service number indicates the 4th Territorial Bn Somerset Light Infantry. So he could have served in either the 1/4th Bn or 2/4th Bn. below is there brief war history:-

1/4th Battalion:
August 1914 : in Lower Bristol Road, Bath. Part of South-Western Brigade, Wessex Division.
9 October 1914 : sailed from Southampton, landing at Bombay 9 November 1914.
The Division (later renamed 43rd) was broken up on arrival in India.
21 January 1916 ; landed at Basra in 37th Indian Brigade, 3rd Indian Division.
Remained in Mesopotamia throughout the war.
5 May 1916 : transferred to 41st Indian Brigade.
March 1918 : transferred to 56th Indian Brigade, which was attached to 14th Indian Division in September 1918.

2/4th Battalion:
Formed at Bath in September 1914. Became part of 135th Brigade, 2nd Wessex Division.
12 December 1914 : landed in India. The Division was broken up on arrival in India.
August 1915 : moved to Andaman Islands, returned to India January 1916.
25 September 1917 : landed in Suez, Egypt, attached to 232nd Brigade, 75th Division.
1 June 1918 : landed in Marseilles, having been detached from the Division, and proceeded to the Western Front.
19 June 1918 : attached to 34th Division as Pioneers.
 
Checking the Absent Voters List for 1918, Frank Richardson's home address was 14 Victoria Road, Kings Norton. The details supplied are a little confusing. It was probably the next of kin who supplied the details and if they were not 'up' on army terms they tended to give slightly wrong information.

His details are 4 Coy, 13 Bn, 14 SLI.

There was no 14 Somerset Light Infantry so I imagine 14 means 1/4th.

Bn most likely means Pn or Platoon

So he was in 4 Company, 13 Platoon, 1/4th Somerset L.I.

He most likely died of some sort of disease picked up in India or perhaps the Spanish Flu as he died in the UK.

Terry
 
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Many thanks Terry, i could never have put that info together -Kevin.
 
Terry your information is wonderful you are such an asset to this site!
 
Also check out 189 Heath Rd. Kings Norton and follow it through the electoral roll....you might have a suprise
 
lappylugs3 said:
Just like to thank you all for your efforts- fantastic! Kevin.
Click to expand...






"Why is it we spend the first half of our lives doing as much as we can to destroy our bodies and the second half of our lives trying to patch it back together again "- Kevin.
 
Cromwell, please put me out of my misery as i can find nothing for 189 Heath Rd, Kings Norton! - Kevin.:(
 
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