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Military records look up please.

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Jane

Jane Report 20 Sep 2021 13:17

I am trying to find military records for Leonard Arthur Abel. DOB 26/08/1898.

His parents were William Abel and Sarah Ann Jones.
He was born in Birmingham
Baptism date 14/09/1898

He married Eva Pinson 1930ish
He was in the South Staffordshire Regiment.

I would like to find any information about what he did in WW1. I know he was injured during the war but I do not know when,where or what injuries he received.

I couldn't find anything onThe National Archives site about him.

Thanks for helping me with this.

Jane

Maddie

Maddie Report 20 Sep 2021 13:44

in the England, The National Roll of the Great War, 1914-1918
Name: L A Abel
Military Date: Aug 1914
Residence Year: Abt 1914
Residence Place: 51, Devonshire Street, Hockley, Birmingham, England
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: 5th South Staffordshire Regiment
Section: Section VI, Birmingham

wounded in action sent home demobilised 1919
full image available on ancestry


in the Midlands, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965

Name: Leonard Arthur Abel
Residence Year: 1920
Ward or Division/Constituency: West Birmingham
Street Address: 61 Devonshire Street
Residence Place: Birmingham, West Midlands, England
with parents william and sarah and brother william

full records probably amongst those destroyed

Jane

Jane Report 20 Sep 2021 13:57

Thanks Maddie that has been a great help.

All the best

Jane

ArgyllGran

ArgyllGran Report 20 Sep 2021 14:11

Full wording of the National Roll record posted by Maddie.
You may already have seen this, as you knew he was wounded, and it gives no details of his wounds.

ABEL, L A, Cpl, 5th South Staffordshire Regiment.
He volunteered in August 1914, and shortly afterwards was sent to France, where he fought on various sectors of the Front. He took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and in attacks on the Hohenzollern Redoubt and in many other engagements until transferred to Egypt. He was wounded in action during his service overseas, and finally returned home for demobilisation in February 1919, holding the 1914-15 Star, and the General Service and Victory Medals.
51 Devonshire Street, Hockley, Birmingham.



He obviously recovered well, as he was a builder's labourer in 1939:

Leonard A Abel
in the 1939 England and Wales Register
Name: Leonard A Abel
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Birth Date: 27 Aug 1898
Residence Date: 1939
Address: 150
Residence Place: Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Occupation: Builders Labourer Heavy W[ork]
Line Number: 25
Schedule Number: 144
Sub Schedule Number: 1
Enumeration District: QAPX
Borough: Birmingham
Registration district: 384/4
Inferred Spouse:
Eveline Abel
Household Members Age
Leonard A Abel 41
Eveline Abel 45

Jane

Jane Report 20 Sep 2021 14:26

Thanks ArgyllGran. I had heard about this roll but not seen it. So thanks for that.

All the best

Jane

Jane

Jane Report 20 Sep 2021 14:34

So would this be his regiment during WW1 " South Staffs Battalion during world War 1 "

1/5th and 1/6th Battalion Territorial Force
04.08.1914 The 1/5th stationed at Walsall and the 1/6th stationed at Wolverhampton, both as part of the Staffordshire Brigade of the North Midland Division and then moved to the Luton area and then to Bishops Stortford area.
03.03.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre where the formation became the 137th Brigade of the 46th Division and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;
During 1915
The German liquid fire attack at Hooge, The attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt.
Jan 1916 Moved to Egypt
Feb 1916 Returned to France and once again engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;
During 1916
The diversionary attack at Gommecourt.
During 1917
Operations on the Ancre, Occupation of the Gommecourt defences, The attack on Rettemoy Graben, The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The attack on Lievin, The Battle of Hill 70.
During 1918
The Battle of the St Quentin canal, The Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, The Battle of Cambrai, The Battle of the Selle, The Battle of Sambre.
11.11.1918 Ended the war in France, Sains du Nord S.E. of Avesnes.

The reason I question this is that there is no mention of the Battle of Chapelle which he is supposed to have taken part in.

Maddie

Maddie Report 20 Sep 2021 14:46



1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment in the Great War
https://wartimememoriesproject.com › greatwar › allied
By February 1915 the Division had been reinforced to fighting strength and they were in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle ...

Jane

Jane Report 20 Sep 2021 14:57

Thanks Maddie

I will take a look at that.

All the best
Jane