Military Chat

Hi
Could anyone help with finding out anything about this chap please? We have his 1st World War Medal with the above engraved around the edge.
I don't think he is family but we don't know why we have it.
I looked him up in military records last night and got as far as finding his name was George and he was a driver in the war but after that it was subscription only.
I would be interested to find out about his history both military and before and after the war if at all possible.
Many thanks for any help
Best wishes
Margaret

Only the medal roll seems to have survived.
No clues as to his age or POB, unfortunately.

G A Ward
in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: G A Ward
Military Year: 1914-1915
Rank: Driver
Medal Awarded: 1914-15 Star
Regiment or Corps: Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery)
Regimental Number: 2249
Sub Unit: Royal Field Artillery. Territorial Force


Disembarked 18/03/1915. Doesn't say where.


ADDED:

Perhaps the Dardanelles ?

"18 March 1915
On 18 March 1915, the Allied fleet, comprising 18 battleships with an array of cruisers and destroyers began the main attack against the narrowest point of the Dardanelles, where the straits are 1 mile (1.6 km) wide."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_campaign

Are you sure of the service number as I can't find a G. Ward with that number although it does come up for four other men in the Royal Artillery.

What site did you find his name and the fact that he was a driver?

Kath. x

Hi ArgyllGran
As it says 1914-1915 does that mean he died in 1915?
Hi KathleenBell
I have the medal and that's what it says around the edge.
Thanks
Margaret

I meant which site did you look him up on. ArgyllGran seems to have found a record for him but I can't find it on Findmypast which is usually pretty good for military records.

Kath. x

H
Seems a coincidence that he disembarked on the same day as the attack.
Is there a site for 1st world war deaths from that attack?
Margaret

No, it doesn't mean he died in 1915.

The name of the medal was the 1914-15 Star, and he was awarded it for service in the year 1914-15.


1914–15 Star - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › 1914–15_Star
The 1914–15 Star is a campaign medal of the British Empire which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the First World War against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915.

The record is on Ancestry, Kath.

FMP

Rank Driver not Gunner

Service number 2249, 960429
Second service number 960429
Rank Driver,Driver
Second rank Driver
Regiment Royal Field Artillery
Second corps Royal Field Artillery
Service record Soldier Number: 2249, Rank: Driver, Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Second service record Soldier Number: 960429, Rank: Driver, Corps: Royal Field Artillery

Hi Kathleen
I now can't remember which site it was. Maybe was the Royal Artilliary solders. Sorry not very good researching.
Margaret

also found this

name: George Allan Ward
Residence: Bolton, Lancs
Death Date: 30 Dec 1917
Death Place: France and Flanders
Enlistment Place: Bolton, Lancs
Rank: Gunner
Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Regimental Number: 230402
Type of Casualty: Killed in action


different number but a Gunner

The image of the Medal Roll record - a card with several men's names - is date-stamped 5 March 1920, verifying that they were entitled to be awarded the Star..

Hi
This medal I have is the 14-18 war medal not the star.
Do you know why he would have had 2 service numbers?
Margaret

Has it got his service number on or just his name. Is his name as George or just G.A.?

There are several George As and there could be even more G A Wards who served.

Geo A Ward
in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: Geo A Ward
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Gunner Lance Bombardier
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery)
Regimental Number: 960429
Sub Unit: Royal Field Artillery. Territorial Force
Previous Units: RFA.T. 2249, Gnr

Entitlement verification dated 19 Oct 1920.

Found the record now on Findmypast using the second service number given by PatinCyprus:-

First name(s) George A
Last name Ward
Year 1914-20
Service number 2249, 960429
Second service number 960429
Rank Driver,Driver
Second rank Driver
Regiment Royal Field Artillery
Second corps Royal Field Artillery
Service record Soldier Number: 2249, Rank: Driver, Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Second service record Soldier Number: 960429, Rank: Driver, Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Image link
Country Great Britain
Medal type British Army Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920
Archive reference WO372/20
Archive reference description Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
Record set Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Kath. x

He's a Gunner Lance Bombardier in the last record I posted. (from Ancestry)

There were problems with numbers. At the time the regiments all did their own numbering so if you were transferred to another regiment or your regiment decided to redo their numbers you were given a new number.

Now you get your own unique number all your service life.

Pat,

The medal Margaret has gives his service number as 2249 GNR G. A. Ward R.A. (as in title of thread).

Kath. x

I know but it shows the possibility of others as I don't know where the number or rank come from whether from research or medal.

Have asked and no verification given