I am trying to find out about my grandfathers military service in WW1. Unfortunately I do not know either what regiment he served in or his service number. All I know is that he was married on Christmas Day 1915 at Gleadless church as he was 'drafted' in 1916 and that according to family legend he was wounded (gassed according to my oldest living relative) but that's all I know.
Anyone have any ideas as to how I can progress this?
Thanks
marriage at Gleadless Parish Church
25 Dec 1915
Frank HOLMES Bachelor 21 miner 5 Albert Rd Hollinsend
father: Arthur HOLMES miner
Lily NEEDHAM Spinster 20 128 Main Rd Hollinsend
father: James NEEDHAM miner
Phil,
The draft was introduced in March 1916 for single men. Then in May it was extended to married men. However, coal miners were exempt from the draft, so Frank Holmes , miner. who married Chrismas Day 1915 should not have been drafted.
Dave
It is more likely that he volunteered rather than drafted.
I have three family members who were coal miners from Eckington and Mosbro' all volunteered.
Phil,
I should just add a rider to my earlier comment on the draft. Men in exempt occupations would be drafted, but they were then allowed to apply for exemption if they wished.
Clearly Frank was not yet a soldier on Christmas Day 1915. If you purchase the birth record of his first child born born q3 1916 that will tell you if by then he was a soldier. Birth records are currently cheap online from GRO (£6)
Unfortunately there were many Frank Holmes who had medal cards. However, if he was wounded he should be on the war pensions list on Ancestry.
Dave