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Could anyone please tell me what information I could find out about someone if I have their rank:

Rifleman 12640
5th Battalion
Kings Royal Rifleman

Where would I start looking please?

Thanks, Carole

If you can provide a name, I can do a search through military records on findmypast for you.


Deb:)

ancestry have army records

they are doing a free trial at the moment may be worth a look

lorraine

Thank you Deb and Lorraine,

Name is James Hassall

Carole

Do you have a place and date or year of birth please?

Robert, no place of birth. Marriage cert in 1915 states age 21. Another possibility is a death cert in 1936 showing age of 49. This death cert is definitely my grandfather James Hassall.
Therefore could be either approx 1887 or 1894? Don't know if these certs are 2 different 'James Hassall' or the same one. Trying to find a link.
Thanks,
Carole

Hi Carol,

There's only one James Hassell showing in National Roll of the Great War. He was sent to the Western Front in 1915 and demobilised in 1919.

I think your James bumped his age up so he could join the army, probably around 1910. He was already enlisted when he volunteered to go to the Western Front.



Deb:)

On Ancestry there are four James Hassall, one born 1888 and another no age on the index. I'm going through the records now but it might take a little while as there 8 pages for 1888 to download and 26 pages for the no age.

Does Nantwich or Cheshire ring any bells?

James Hassall 1888 gave NOK as mother Mrs Martha Hassall - am I on the right track?

Robert, I am focusing on the Cheshire area at the moment. That seems to be the place with most possibilities.
Thank you, Carole

The other was 48 in 1918 from Cadishead, Manchester, enlisted RAMC 1918 but previously served in South Lancs Regiment and then Royal Fusiliers. Age seems way out

Robert, re NOK as mother Martha Hassall, I don't know. That could be another name for me to look for. thanks, Carole

James Hassall , occupation Packer, aged 26 years 2 months on enlistment 8th Sep 1914 service number 16438 Cheshire Regiment; discharged 14 Oct 1914 medically unfit. NOK Mrs Martha Hassall, mother, 135 Welsh Road, Nantwich.

Still going through as he might have re-enlisted when medical history was not such a high priority.

The death cert I have for my James Hassall (in 1936) has old gun shot wounds mentioned on it.
Carole

There are no other service records that are relevant - many were lost in a fire following German bombing unfortunately.

However there is a Medal Record Card - which only gives basic information - for Private James Hassall, Machine Gun Corps, regimental number 7103, he was also in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, regimental number 12640: awarded British War Medal and Victory Medal; Medal Roll reference MGC/101 B4, page 349.

Robert, yes that reg number is the one I have at the beginning of my thread. I know he received some sort of war medal, it is with a relative of my grandmother's in England. I am downunder in Australia, but am leaving next week for a holiday in UK. I will be visiting that relative and she wants to give me the medal.
Is it possible to find anything else out about that James Hassall? Do the records give any personal information?
Thanks for your time and patience!
Regards, Carole
PS I will be going offline now, it is midnight here. I will check back in tomorrow morning.