Military Chat

Can anyone tell me the best way to look up my granddad`s service record. He survived the Great War but was injured by shrapnel and suffered from his injuries for many years, it was thought that he may have been at Gallipolli, he died in 1949. I can find the records of those who were killed in action but not those who came through it.
Any help or advice gratefully received.

Hello Margaret Ann - you may not be aware, but around 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed during WW2, it's possible your grandfather's were amongst them.

Where have you been looking?

If you want to give his name, when/where born we'll see what we can find. Even if his service records were destroyed we may be able to find a medal card - that may say which theatre(s) of war he served in. It's also possible to find regimental history and diaries which may give some clues.

Thank you for replying so quickly
His name Henry King Wiles born 1880 in Ipswich Suffolk.
In the 1911 census he was living at 15 Burgess Road,Stratford E, District of West Ham , Essex . A railway Carman by occupation.
If you can find any information that would be great.

I can't see service records for him on Findmypast. Sorry.

Kath. x

Thanks for looking Kath, I`ll keep trying x

I think Findmypast has all service records that survived so if it isn't on there I don't think you will find them.

Kath. x

Although there aren't any service records immediately apparent, there are quite a lot of medal cards for men called Henry Wiles (a middle name isn't necessarily recorded). The medal cards don't give any personal info, such as age or birthplace.

If there's any chance that you could get some clues as to which regiment he might have been in then that might give us a start.

Thanks MarieCeleste,
I`ll ask around my older cousins and see if they shed light on his regiment x

Henry King Wiles
England and Wales Birth Registration Index
Name Henry King Wiles
Event Type Birth Registration
Registration Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration Year 1880
Registration District Ipswich
County Suffolk
Event Place Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Volume 4A
Page 706
Line Number 67




Attach to Family Tree
Henry Wiles
England and Wales Census, 1881
Name Henry Wiles
Age (Original) 1
Gender Male
Birth Year 1880
Birthplace Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Relationship to Head of Household Son
Marital Status Single
Address 63 Stoke Street
Event Place Ipswich St Mary Stoke, Suffolk, England
Record Type Household
Affiliate Publication Number RG11
Piece/Folio 1871 / 94
Page Number 36
HOUSEHOLD

ROLE

GENDER

AGE

BIRTHPLACE

Walter Wiles Head M 30 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Eliza C Wiles Wife F 29 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Frederick Wiles Son M 8 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Walter Wiles Son M 4 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Henry Wiles Son M 1 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Edward Death M 15 Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Samuel Wiles Boarder M 26 Ipswich, Suffolk, England

Thank you Malyon, that is him, now to find any WW1 connection