Did He Enlist or Not? Joseph Morris

[WilmaM]

I've a puzzle with this chap:
Joseph Tait Morris born 1896 in the Old Monkland area of Lanarkshire.

His youngest daughter seems to think he was in the army in the Great War, but that was long before she was born. Nobody else in the family seems to know [or remember]

On his marriage cert - 1915 - he was a 'farm servant' and the next document [a son's Birth in 1921] he is a Ploughman.
On his death cert [1950] there is no mention of any military service either.

So how would I or could I find out if he enlisted, was conscripted or was exempted as an essential worker?

I've looked at the Glasgow Evening Times Roll of Honour to see if he was wounded, but no sign.

The National Archives have a few Joseph T Morris medal cards. I downloaded 1 sheet:
2 Army Service Corps - 1 ended up a Corporal but enlisted in 1914 so can't be him.
The other doesn't have any info apart from reg number and medal roll number. [others on the page say Dead so I assume this one survived]
The others are English regiments so unlikely.
The ASC seems appropriate as he worked with horses all his life.

Ancestry just throws the same thousands of records at me - regardless of any search refinements.

I know there were older children in the family - but their births are all less then 100 years ago - so no clues can be had from their Birth details [yet]

any bright ideas I could try?

[SarahND]

Hi Wilma,
I'm sorry I can't help you with the question... if it were U.S. service records I have a bit more experience, but I'm sure someone will come along who knows more. However, I do have over a decade of experience searching Ancestry and can at least help with that...

Ancestry just throws the same thousands of records at me - regardless of any search refinements.

Always use the "old search." The "new search" as you say, just throws thousands of records out.
Always check "Exact matches only"
You can use wildcards, as long as there are at least 3 letters and it doesn't both begin and end with a wildcard.

That said, I don't see any sign of your man. The medal cards just don't give enough information to be able to pin him down and there is no sign that he drew a pension. He is not in the surviving service records either, although that doesn't say much since so few of the records still exist.

All the best,
Sarah

[WilmaM]

Thanks for looking Sarah.

I've a feeling this one will be a brickwall, unless somebody unearths his medals or what have you, in an old shoe box!

[apanderson]

Hi Wilma,

Did Joseph stay in Old Monkland and if so, which part? (Baillieston end/Coatbridge end etc.)

If he and his family moved somewhere else, then this new location would possibly show on his attestation or discharge papers.

The only other thing I can suggest is that quite a lot of Churches had their own Rolls of Honour and list not only men who died, but those who survived as well.

For an example, have a look here: (Baillieston/Crosshill Old Church): http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtop ... warmemscot

Anne

P.S. 6 years seems a bit of a delay in their first? child being born - looks like it would indicate he was elsewhere?

[WilmaM]

Anne, he did stay in more or less the same area at that time.
Bartiebeath 1896, Shettleston 1911 & 1901, Burntbroom in 1915 then Greenfield farm 1921.
All within a stone's throw of the other until they moved to Cardross [1930's ?]

There are children born before 1921 [that's just the one who's details I have - he's still alive]
but I don't know which order they were born in or even years of birth.
As at least 4 of the family are still alive those details aren't public.

I did look through the local churches on the war memorial too - no sign and unfortunately Kenmuir's memorial only names the fallen
[the church who's minister married them]

Side note: the 1881 census shows his grandparents living at "Ruffian Bridge Provanhall"
that was Bellerophon Bridge over the Monkland canal pronounced by the locals as 'Bully Ruffian!'

[Anne H]

Hi Wilma,

I had a look on Find My Past but nothing that I can see for Joseph.

Regards,
Anne H

[SarahND]

There’s information about British Army WW1 enlistment here. http://www.1914-1918.net/recruitment.htm

During the early stages of the War there were no reserved occupations and it was possible then to enlist in any regiment you chose.

After conscription was introduced in 1916 a conscripted soldier had no choice of regiment and was sent wherever he was needed.

The following has been extracted from a long article in The Scotsman, 7 February, 1916, about The Military Service Act 1916.

“AGRICULTURAL EXEMPTION.
Under Section 2 (2) of the Act, Government departments are empowered to certify that men engaged in certain occupations (known as "certified occupations"), may be exempted on the ground that the work of such men is work of national importance; and the agricultural occupa­tions which have been so certified by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, are as follows:—
Agricultural enginemen, and Mechanics.—Agri­cultural machinery, steam ploughs, and threshing machines.—Attendant, driver, mechanic.
Farm Workers. —Farm bailiffs, foreman, grieve, steward, beastman, byreman, cattleman, stockman, yardman, carter, horseman, ploughman, teamster, waggoner, hind (if foreman or ploughman), servant (if foreman or ploughman) (Scotland), shepherd, thatcher.
Farmers and Market Gardeners.—Farmer (in­cluding market gardener and fruit farmer), pro­vided that (a) farming is his sole occupation, and his personal labour or superintendence is indis­pensable for the proper cultivation of his holding; or (b) if he is partly occupied in another occupa­tion, and his personal labour or superintendence is indispensable for the proper cultivation of his holding, and such cultivation is expedient in the national interest. Hop, fruit, and market gardens. Foremen in all. departments.
Stud Attendants.—Stallion man (a man who looks after and travels a stallion), stud groom (Scot­land.)”

If a British Army WW1 soldier did not leave the UK he would not have been eligible for the usual medals and there would not be a medal card for him.

Hope that helps,
Alan

(Posted by SarahND but really from Currie)