Military Chat

Hi Can anyone tell me how to find a Regimental Number please , My granddad Alexander McNaught 1887 Glasgow Scotland and was in the King's Own Scottish Borderers and served in India in 1911 , I am now trying to find if he was in WW1 but not been able to find anything else about him ,I know he died in 1938 in a Military hospital in Erskin Scotland , when I try searching the WW1 records it ask,s for a regiment number and I do not know how to find this any help would be great many thanks Nellie

Nellie, the problem is that at least 70% of WW1 records were destroyed during WW2.

The medal cards survived but don't give any indication of the place of birth or age of the soldier.

This is one medal card using the key words King's Own Scottish Borderers but there's no guarantee it's for your grandad. There were absolutely loads of soldiers with the same name!

Alexander McNaught
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Private
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Regiment or Corps: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Regimental Number: 9708
Previous Units: 2nd. KOSB. 9708 Pte.

Do you know if he was in the army when he married or when any of his children were born? If so, then sometimes a regimental number would be on the certificate with his profession.

70% of WW1 records were destroyed in a fire so it isn't always possible to find them even if y ou have a number.

Kath. x

I know he married a Melinda Smith in 1907 Scotland but do not know if he was in army then

You could buy the marriage certificate to see what his occupation was at the time but no guarantee that the number would be on it even if he was in the army. Have you found them in the 1911 census?

EDIT - I see he was married and in a military establishment in the 1911 census.

Kath. x

Yes Kath he was in India on the 1911 census ,but could not find his wife ,she died 1918 Glasgow Scotland

Hi Kath I have found the marriage certificate and it does say he was in the army when he married Nellie x

I guess it doesn't give his army number then?

Kath. x

no sorry it didn,t Nellie x

I would also like to say a big thank you to you for all your help Nellie x

This is probably his wife (mistranscribed) in 1911:

MCMAUGHT
MCLINDA
1911
F
24
644/10 16/ 6
Blythswood
Lanark

There are no other McNaughts with her.

These people are in the same household:

TAIT
JESSIE
1911
F
13
644/10 16/ 6
Blythswood
Lanark

TAIT
WILLIAM
1911
M
19
644/10 16/ 6
Blythswood
Lanark

To see the image of the census record, you'll need to buy credits on Scotlands People website.

The Erskine Hospital Records, including patient lists, are held at the University of Glasgow archives. See this link for further details

https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/0314f38a-5816-3cf4-bf08-0295954f0a25

Thank you ever so much
Nellie

there is a record for an A Mcnaught in the kings own Scottish borders. Private 9708
On the FWR site if anyone has a sub , mine has run out

9708, Alexander McNaught , 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers,
His medal card states he landed in France 15th August 1914 so was one of the few "old contemptables" that survived the War and qualifying for the 1914 Star.

The 2 nd Battalion KOSB were part of the 5th Division and saw a lot of actions. see
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/kings-own-scottish-borderers/