Advice required- army death Aldershot-DEATH CERT NOW RECD!!

[angboy]

Just starting out on search for records for my grandmother's brother. He died 1918-21(18-21yrs oldapprox) whilst in the army and stationed at Aldershot, apparantly after being beaten up. Would there be a civil death certificate or would the death just be registered in army records? He would have been in a Scottish regiment but I do not know which one.

Any help appreciated

[Russell]

Hi angboy

Welcome to TalkingScot. Although there can be a lot of chat on here there is often some serious study going on too and breaking down brick walls is a specialty

To begin answering some of your questions

Would there be a civil death certificate

Yes - by law all deaths must be Registered as must all Births and Marriages. There are differences between England & Wales and Scotland with regard to the information recorded and the sets of records are held quite separately (See the Guidance section and Hints and Tips section at the beginning of the Index page)
Although your greatuncle was possibly in a Scottish regiment, because he was stationed in England the record of his death would be made there.
In Scotland there is a 100 year closure on personal records but if he was born in Scotland, his birth around 1900 would fall outwith this closure time. Births up to 1906 are available on-line from scotlandspeople.gov.uk which is a pay-to-view site where copies of the original Register entries can be downloaded. (The pale blue link at the top of the page takes you there)
Have a look at our 'Armed Forces' threads for ways of finding out about regimental placements over the years.
Finally, give us some names, dates and places to get to work on

Russell

[angboy]

thanks Russell


I am familiar with Scotlands People and have birth cert. extract
Feel a bit daft to have asked if there would be a civil death cert, now that you confirm it!

as my details are very limited I think that tracing the death cert. would probably be a good place to start to narrow down the army service years and details...which are probably quite limited....what do you think? I am particularly interested in the circumstances surrounding his death as the army advised this was following an illness, however the family were told years later that he had been beaten up. He was buried at aldershot. From what I gather army details are at PRO for up to 1920 and later records still held with MOD...?

My uncle was Patrick Ward (parents Godfrey Ward and Mary O'Donnell)
He was born at Dalmaney 22/04/1901.

Angela

[paddyscar]

Hi Angboy:

Pandabean has recently posted a good write-up on service records that may help in your search.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... ice+record

Hope this helps,
Frances

Original link:
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/conte ... r=551&1314 was posted in error. Correction made June 16 by Frances

[eilthireach]

A search of the English death indexes on FindMyPast over the years 1918 to 1925 throws up only one Peter/Patrick Ward where the age fits: there is a Patrick Ward, aged 20, whose death was registered in the first quarter of 1922 in the Registration District of Andover (Deaths 1922 1st qtr Andover Vol. 2c p. 335).

Unfortunately this date is before they started including the mother's surname in the entry in these listings, so you won't know whether that is the right one until you either apply for it or get supporting evidence from other sources.

Andover, of course, has military associations (RAF Andover was established there, apparently, as early as the the First World War.

You can apply to GRO Southport or to the local registrar (The Register Office, Wessex Chambers, South Street, Andover, SP10 2BN. Tel: 01264 352513.) for a copy of the certificate ...

[angboy]

you are a star! .........I have just applied for that one so fingers crossed!

I had been checking the Death Register Index on Ancestry.com and drawing a blank until I realised they only have about 50% of the records available.

I am hoping it may include occupation or some kind of reference to the army on it which would help confirm if it is the correct one.

Will let you know.

And thanks again - much appreciated.

Angela

[angboy]

I take that back re Ancestry search! I see now that they do have all the records. There are 3 separate databases and I was just looking at the one which is only partially complete!!



Angela

[angboy]

Hi,

Just an update to advise I have now rec'd teh death certificate for my great uncle Patrick Ward - and it looks to be the correct one.

Thanks to Eilthireach, Russell & Paddyscar for all their help.

The death cert shows he dies in South Tedworth Military Hospital and was based at Bulford. It shows he was a gunner 80th Battery RFA, which I presume to be Royal Field Artillery.

I have written to request his service record, short as it may be! Hopefully it will give details of where he is buried. My grandmother had said it was at Aldershot but I have checked with Military Cemetry and he's not there.

Angela

[paddyscar]

Glad you're on your way with this one, Angela.
Frances

[angboy]

Thanks. Yes, getting there.

I did read a post however which talked about service records of deceased serviceman which had been 'weeded' from MOD archives. I just hope this fate has not befallen the records I am looking for!


Angela