Military Chat

My Great Uncle enlisted for the army age 20 and served with the Royal Garrison Artillery until his death on 23/09/1917 age 22.

I have details of his burial plot (France & Flanders)

I also know his Service No:. 61344

He was awarded 2 medals (Victory & British War).

The problem is, his father (PRIVATE) WALTER GEORGE GRIFFITHS signed for the medals and personal effects.

how can I find out what happened to Walter George Griffiths and the medals.

If the medals were kept in the family, they were probably handed down via a sibling's descendent line. Its always possible that they were deemed of little value and disposed of - some families cherish momentos, other's were disgusted at what their relatives went through in WW1 and don't want any reminders.

Would this be the entry on the CWGC site for his death?

GRIFFITHS, H W
Rank:Gunner
Service No: 61344
Date of Death: 23/09/1917
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery 88th Siege Bty.
Grave ReferenceIV. F. 10.
Cemetery BULLY-GRENAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, BRITISH EXTENSION

Additional Information:
Son of Agnes Griffiths, of 43, Jersey St., Cheltenham.

As his father isn't mentioned, one can understand why you want to know where Walter disappeared to!

You say that Walter signed for his son's effects. What date was that, and is there an address recorded? I can't find H.W's record on Ancestry, but perhaps someone else can.

What does H.W stand for? May be we can find him with family on the 1911 census - if we can then find Walter's yob (+/- 1) we can look for subsequent deaths.

OK - could H W actually be W H, Walter after his father?


Births Sep 1895 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Griffiths Walter Henry
Cheltenham 6a 436

His parents married in 1892

Marriages Jun 1892 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Griffiths Walter George Cheltenham 6a 806
Hackett Agnes Cheltenham 6a 806

There are numerous Griffiths births in Cheltenham, some of whom must be to another couple as there is a Griffiths/Langley birth in 1912, and a Griffiths/Hackett birth in 1913

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/military_chat/thread/1340811

(above looks to relate)

Chris :)

This must be the service record

British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
Name: Henry Walter Griffiths
Estimated birth year: abt 1895
Age at Enlistment: 20
Residence: 17 Sherborne Street, Cheltenham
Document Year: 1915
Regimental Number: 61344
Regiment Name: RGA
Number of Images: 14

When he enlisted he gave his father Walter George Griffiths as next of kin. Address for father is same as above but then written above is 38 Union Street.

His parents appeared to still be together in 1918. His personal effects were forwarded to Pvt W G Griffiths at 21 Columbia Street, Cheltenham but it was Mrs A Griffiths who signed.

Mother's signature
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/7301428

The info on CWGC may have been collated quite some time after the actual death.

There is also a date of 2 May 1919 at the same address, signed by A Griffiths.

So either they had separated, he was still in Service, or had died!

Since I couldn't initially find anything on the Military Records, can anyone find the family on the 1911 census? That way we'd have an idea of Walter's yob, and could possibly find other descendents if Anthony wants help with that. We'd need to know what research he has already done so that it isn't duplicated.

Is it likely that all of these children are to the same couple? (From http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/)

Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry

GRIFFITHS Georgina A M GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1892 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 112 133 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Beatrice R GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1893 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 114 210 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Walter H GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1895 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 117 390 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Reginald G GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1896 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 120 225 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS William J GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1899 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 3A 369 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Charles E GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1901 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 8A 266 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Alice M GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1903 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 13A 57 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Emily C GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1905 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 16A 395 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Alfred F GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1908 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 21A 3 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Harold V GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1910 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 25A 30 Additional Entries

GRIFFITHS Doris M GRIFFITHS GRIFFITHS HACKETT 1913 Cheltenham Cheltenham, Cheltenham 30A 33

If we can find any on 1901 or 1911 census then it could give details of Walter George to perhaps find him later on?

Here's the 1901:

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census

Walter George Griffith Head Married Male 33 1868 Tailor Worcester, Worcestershire
Agnes Griffith Wife Married Female 30 1871 - Leamington, Warwickshire
Mary Griffith Daughter Single Female 8 1893 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Beatrice Griffith Daughter Single Female 7 1894 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Harry Griffith Son Single Male 5 1896 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
George Griffith Son Single Male 4 1897 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
William Griffith Son Single Male 2 1899 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

House number 1
House name West View Cottage
Street St Pauls Lane
Parish Cheltenham
County Gloucestershire

(Harry must be Henry Walter)

Could be worth following up:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Walter G Griffiths
Birth Date: abt 1867
Date of Registration: Mar 1937
Age at Death: 70
Registration district: Bristol
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 1

All 1911 England Census Summary Books (Ancestry)

Griffiths Mr 17 Sherborne Street Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
(11 Persons, 7 Males 4 Females)


1911 (Find My Past)
George Griffiths Head Married Male 41 1870 Tailor Wor Worcester
Agnes Griffiths Wife Married Female 40 1871 - Wor Leamington
Beatrice Griffiths Daughter Single Female 17 1894 Box Maker Glos Cheltenham
Harry Griffiths Son Single Male 16 1895 Erand Boy (Butchers) Glos Cheltenham
George Griffiths Son Single Male 14 1897 Erand Boy (Butchers) Glos Cheltenham
William Griffiths Son Single Male 12 1899 School Glos Cheltenham
Charles Griffiths Son Single Male 9 1902 School Glos Cheltenham
Maud Griffiths Daughter Single Female 7 1904 School Glos Cheltenham
Datie Griffiths Daughter Single Female 6 1905 School Glos Cheltenham
Fred Griffiths Son Single Male 3 1908 - Glos Cheltenham
Victor Griffiths Son Single Male 1 1910 - Glos Cheltenham
Address 17 Sherborne St Cheltenham
Parish Cheltenham County Gloucestershire
Country England
Registration district Cheltenham
Registration district number 333
Subdistrict Cheltenham
Subdistrict number 2
Enumeration district 14
Piece number 15549
Schedule number 6
Census reference RG14

Chris :)

(Datie 1905, as Catie, the Emily C above probably!)

Many thanks to:

DetEcTive.

Chris

MarieCeleste