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Hi Phoenix, RE: Charles Leonard Titley. I know there is a chance that his is one of the files that didn't servive, as I'm sure that many didn't. Thank you for taking the time to look, I'm very grateful. Fiona.

Marian I think that William Stibbens ought to appear in earlier records, but he appears to fall between stools. I was hoping to find a physical description, but I don't think there will be. The records are very confusing and even the index wasn't in straight alpha order. But, in BT 112/67 page 209 I found 55.746 William Stibbens age 37 South Shields Ticket number 15952 Then it says: C......................................................C 75/1012...........................................75 1012 Dec 42..............................................Dec 43 Roy Union.........................................Roy Union I need to check this out, but I think it means that throughout the two periods he was working on the Coastal trade. I think 75 is the port (which I think is Sunderland) and Royal Union is the ship he was on. An awful lot of ifs, but that should lead at least to crew lists for the Royal Union.

Fiona Sorry to have raised false hopes. There is no trace of Charles Leonard Titley in WO 364/4227

From Diana Thank you very much for trying Best Wishes Diana

Hi Collette What I've been doing is the easy bit: looking for people where you would expect to find them. I don't pretend to understand army records. I think that there are experts around who do know what the next step is. There are lots of books on the subject, though as far as I can see you need to be keen and dedicated and spend a lot of time, patiently working your way through records, in the hopes that you will find something relevant. How much would have survived varies hugely: not every record seems to give physical descriptions and some are much fatter than others. It's no comfort to those for whom I haven't been able to help, but it is amazing how much does survive. We are really lucky that the burnt documents have been filmed, as they are far too fragile ever to be handled by the public. What is worth doing, however, is putting the name into the Catalogue, and searching under the WO reference for 1914 -1918. Volunteers are steadfastly working through to spot misfiles and these are being catalogued individually. When you consider that there are over 1000 reels of film for some letters of the alphabet, you will realise what a mammoth task this project is, but how useful when complete.

Hi Phoenix and thank you for all the time you spent looking for Edward Joseph Pratt, can you think of what i should do now if hes mentioned in dispaches would there be something written about him. As i was looking at all the results and saw eye colour hair etc i was getting excited, oh well its not to be he remains a mystery. Once again you have done wonders for others pat yourself on the back. Colette

Kelly George R Rattan the surname Rattan doesn't seem to exist in WO 363 /R936 or WO 364 3168.

David, I'm told there are 6 different places to look for WW1 records. I'm not sure whether this covers officers etc as well as men. I've just looked in two places. It is probable that the records have not survived, but it is worth searching for your surname in the Catalogue, as volunteers are steadily working through the microfilms - and I think there are more reels than there are for all the censuses - noting all the records that have been misfiled.

Frances JOHN CREW ADM29/17/237 Vol [unteer] [born] Deptford [joined aged] 20 327 Prevoyante 10 Sepr 1814 AB.... ......12 Augt 1815 off [period has been crossed out] 32. ditto vol.......... 6 Novr 1815 2r Gr..... 22 June 1816 per order [period has been crossed out] 176 ditto ...............30 July 1818 Cooper 24 Janry 1818 Run at Chm [Chatham?] Wages unpaid [period has been crossed out] 392 Liverpool vol 11 July 1820 ditto ......9 Novr 1821 1[year] 4[months] 1 [week] 3 [days] 6... Ganges......... 10 Novr 1821 Invd AB 31 Octr 1822 off 12[months] 2 [weeks] 6 [days] [total] ..................................................................2[years] 4 [months] 2 [days] Greenwich 21 Augt 37 Admy 1 Mar /42 (I've tried to imitate the columns. First is the man's number - which enables you to find him in paylists and muster books. Second is the ship Third is date joined Fourth is rank Fifth is date left Sixth is reason - it looks as if he ran from the Prevoyante, so none of his time on that ship counted towards a pension. Seventh is the time on board. I think the work on the principle of 4 weeks to a month and 13 months to the year.)

Hi Phoenix, Thanks for your efforts on my behalf. Where I go now I don't know but anyway thanks once again. Dave Dumelow

Collette No sign of EDWARD JOSEPH PRATT in WO 363/P 1464

Carla I found the man you asked about, but I wonder whether he was actually the man you were looking for. WO 364/1410 21858 FREDERICK GEORGE GRAY. Devon regt. 13th Labour Battn Discharge 9 September 1916 Age 40 yrs 7 mo. Ht 5' 2''. Eyes blue, hair dark brown, Painter Intended place of residence 154 Cowick St St Thomas, Exeter No longer physically fit for military service Character good Character awarded in accordance with Kings Regulations A steady man Campaign Home 3.12.15 - 9.9.16 Valvular heart disease mitral & aortic Two years ago he had rheumatic fever [May 1914] which affected the valves of the heart. During the last month he has been spitting blood. He suffers from a dry cough and is breathless on exertion. 3 Dec 1915. Frederick George Grey 154 Cowick St Age 39 years 300 days Painter, single Next of kin Miss Emma Gray 154 Cowick St sister

Jonathan WO 399/1062 for ROSE BRUNSKILL is a buff folder containing 16 documents On the folder, the date of registry is 19.2.18. It concerns the resignation of Brunskill Miss RE. It is stamped Closed, and was weeded in 1935. The schedule of correspondence shows four letters, dated 14.2, 25.2, 18.3 and 27.3 1918. Miss Rose Elenor Brunskill arrived at Tidworth 2 October 1914 Write re unifrom allowance. Tidworth I, Rose Eleanor Brunskill of Norfolk & Norwich Hospital...... Herby offer...to serve....as a nurse to HM Forces. 28 September 1914. Signature Nearest relative - the Matron, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Register no. 2 Reserve B/869 Miss Rose Elenor Brunskill Resignation... ADM4 19.2.18 Has signed AFW3538 but is willing to refund extra pay. Resignation accepted AMD4 25.2.18... Command reminded re insurance & gratuity AMD4 18.3.18...... Command asked on what date this lady signed AFW3538 AMD4 27.3.18..... Gratuity recommended Accounts 5b. Insurance please AMD4 9.4.18 [Signature] Matron in Chief QAIMNS Cashier Passed to you to stamp & despatch please Accts 5 17.4.18 AMN4 Card stamped & despatched. Cashiers 23.4.18 2 Reserve B 869. Miss R Brunskill. Address on discharge c/o J Wilson esqre 50 Fore Bondgate Bishop Aukland Co Durham. Name of approed society & membership number Nurses Insurance Norwich. Period in Army 2.10.14 - 7.3.18 180 weeks at 3d £2 5s Claim for gratuity on cessation of service Reason for ceasing to perform duty marriage Name Brunskill Rose Eleanor Rank Sister Corps QAIMNSR Date of joining 28.9.14 Date of resignation 7.3.18 Sister Brunskill has been in charge of the Officers Hospital for some months and her work is excellent in every way. [signature] matron QAIMNS Military Hospital Tidworth I concur [signature] Lieut Colonel RAMC I/C Military Hospitals Final sheet adds nothing more, but is Rose's letter of resignation. NB Looking at original documents from WW1, I am amazed that so much of the soldiers' documents survived the bombing in WW2, as some of these items were so thin and flimsy, they were almost transparent.

Margaret No trace of SAMUEL HALE in WO 364/1478

Marian No trace of WILLIAM STIBBINS in BT 143

Diana No sign of HENRY WILLIAM PEARCE in WO 364/2898

Netty THOMAS HABBERLEY is in WO 363/H1, images 468 - 501. He was born in Smethwick nr Stafford and was aged 40years 299 days when he joined up 29 August 1914. His occupation was a Driller and he had previously served in the KRR. His address 21.1.21 was 7 Rupert Avenue, Victoria Park, Smethwick. His next of Kin was Lilly Habberley, formerly Wallis and they married 3.2.09 in the Register Office Birmingham. He had five children. His height was 5' 6¼'', weight 140 lb. Complexion fair, eyes blue, hair brown. He had a scar on right cheek and one on right thigh, also Buffalow Bill (tatoo?) And Butterfly ? On left forearm. He also had continual problems with a carbuncle on his neck.

Wulliam I found the servicce record for FRANK WILLIAM ASHMAN. WO 363/A567 images 16 - 40. Some of these documents are very hard to read and I'm suspect that photocopying will lead to a greater loss of detail. When discharged, he was living at 81 Byron Road, Small Heath Birmingham. His year of birth was 1897. He joined up 4 December 1915. Height 5' 2 ½'' weight 109lb.aged 18years 1 month. Religion C of E, father Herbert William Ashman. He was apointed unpaid L/Cpl 12.5.18, then promoted Cpl 2.8.18. There is mention dated September 1919 of the military medal (though this appears to relate to actually handing it out) and two images of a casualty sheet, but as I say, they are quite difficult to read.

David There was no trace of WILLIAM DUMELOW in WO 363 D1046 (It went from Thomas Redvers to William Egbert) or in WO 364/5189, where the names went from Dumbrell to Dummer.

Fiona I need to check, but I THINK I found CHARLES L TITLEY in WO 364/4227