Clegg Family

Discussion in 'WWI (1914 - 1918)' started by Solo, Sep 6, 2016.

  1. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Hi, I'm a new and novice member. My father, William Clegg was born in 1898, served in the army as a batman in WW1 and died in Bolsover in 1989. His father was Charles Clegg, born 1869 died 1969 in Bolsover. I have no other information about my fathers WW1 record, presumably destroyed. I recollect a large photograph of him in army uniform but this appears lost also. Can anyone help with information on his WW1 activity. The 1901 and 1911 census shows he was in Handsworth District. Will absent voters list help with my enquiry, if so we're do I find them please? Thank you and kind regards.
     
  2. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you and kind regards.
     
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  3. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Hi Solo, when looking for an Uncle in Surrey in those years, I emailed the Croydon Library . [ I knew his address or likely one]
    They very kindly sent me a copy of the page showing where he would have been had he not been away in the Army, along with a copy of his address when he was again home with his wife.
     
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  4. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Just had a thought Solo, do you have your Parents marriage certificate? If your Father was Army personnel then perhaps it mentioned so or even his outfit.
    Have you also tried newspapers which may have covered troops return home, marriages or births of children.

    Family search has a couple but the images have to be viewed at their Libraries.
    One said to have been born in Claycross 8-10 miles from Bolsover, so probably wrong chap.
    The only chap coming up on subs. site was b. 1891
     
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  5. Chimp

    Chimp Moderator & Cheeky Human IMP Staff Member

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    Definition of a Batman by gord97138 on The Great War Forum

    "A batman was in British Army parlance an officer's uniformed servant or
    orderly, supposedly taken on as a voluntary extra duty, for which the
    officer paid for the service. In addition to his normal duties, the batman
    was responsible for the officers clothing and kit and also in preparing and
    serving meals. The duties varied depending on the officer's rank and role
    and whether he was serving in barracks, on training or on operations. In
    the trenches, a batman carried his personal weapon and often acted as a
    bodyguard, while the officer carried out his duties as a platoon, company
    or battalion commander. There is anecdotal evidence of continuing close
    relationships between officers and their batmen and of officers going under
    fire to rescue their batman and vice versa.
    Senior officers on the staff and in command positions were entitled to a
    personal staff, including a batman. It was usual to seek a volunteer from
    the senior officer's regiment who was detached from the regiment and posted
    to the senior officer's headquarters or unit."
     
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  6. Bay Horse

    Bay Horse Can be a bit of a dark horse

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    Yes, I saw him yesterday on FMP - I think he was too old. His age was given as 33/34 - occupation coalminer.

    There were other records for a William Clegg in the RFA, again a little too old, (although my grandfather was born 1899 and fibbed about his age to join up so his year of birth is way out on his service record). These were Burnt Records and hard to read.

    Edited to add, forget him. He was from Dewsbury. Just found his home address. :rolleyes:
     
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  7. arthurk

    arthurk Well-Known Member

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    My wife found her grandfather in a similar way - also at Croydon Library, though at that time we were living close enough to visit. In our case the electoral register included his regiment and service number, though I don't know if this was just a Croydon thing, or normal throughout the country.

    EDIT: Just noticed - if William was born in 1898 he wouldn't have been old enough to be on the electoral register until some time in 1919 (and I've a feeling that in those days, it wasn't until after your 21st birthday).

    If he hadn't been demobbed by then, I'm not sure what the arrangements would have been for those coming of age to get on the register for the first time while still on active service. If he had been demobbed, then he presumably wouldn't be an absent voter anyway.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2016
  8. Lusmum

    Lusmum Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the site...I think I found William on the 1939 roll...WilliamClegg b 7 Jan 1898 ...Gen Lab Colliery....Emily b 24 Dec. 1900 ...William son b 27 Sep.1921 ...Colliery ScreenHand (surface) ...living 26 High Street Bolsover U.D. Derbyshire....so I looked for a wedding incase that might lead you to Williams Army Records...William Clegg to Emily Wright 4quarter 1920 Chesterfield Derbyshire...vol 7 b page 1906 ...so in my opinion the marriage cert won't give you anything on the Army Recordif he was demobbed after the War...I tried looking for his Army Record but with more than 1,000 William Cleggs it's like looking for a needle in a haystack...I guess you have this information already...sorry I couldn't help you ...Val..
     
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  9. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Back from holiday so can now reply. Thank you for the info, although already known. I remember the missing photograph of my father but not the detail. It looks as though this would have provided the key to solving my search. He was in army uniform. My sister and brother in law also remember this but nothing else, my father didn't speak about it only to say he used to take messages from his officer. Thank you.
     
  10. Solo

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    Back from holiday, thank you for the info. I've been recently advised elsewhere that he would not appear on a voters list at that time because of age and that at that time he would have to be a land owner. So I guess I should forget looking for an absent voters reference. Thank you
     
  11. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you, what is RFA please?
     
  12. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you, back from holiday so can now reply. I understand that someone with these duties may also have been known as an Orderly or Servant with slightly different duties. A Batman, I understand would have perhaps a much closer relationship than the other two.
     
  13. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you, I've tried some of the local papers in Sheffield without any luck so far, but will carry on with this suggestion.
     
  14. Bay Horse

    Bay Horse Can be a bit of a dark horse

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    Sorry, Solo - Royal Field Artillery.
     
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  15. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you, but the it looks as though my fathers age and status at that time would not allow him to appear as an absent voter.
     
  16. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you
     
  17. Chimp

    Chimp Moderator & Cheeky Human IMP Staff Member

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    Not true. My grandfather was born 1900 I have his birth cert. He added 2 years to his age so that he could join up. This would give him a birth year of 1898. He wasn't a land owner. He appears on the absent voters lists, twice in 1918 again in 1920 and one more time in 1921.

    The 2 years he added to his age followed him to his grave. His death cert says he was aged 54 when he died in 1952. Even the 1939 register gives his birth as 1898.

    Edited to add - I found the Absent Voters book in the local archives.
     
    Last edited: Sep 19, 2016
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  18. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you, very interesting. I need to visit the local archives to follow this up.
     
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  19. Flook

    Flook A True Gentleman. Rest in Peace.

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    Electoral registers for Handsworth appear to be split between Sheffield Libraries & Archives in Surrey Street, Sheffield and West Yorkshire Archives Services which was in Wakefield.

    The West Yorkshire Service is closed until early 2017 when they will open in a new building and so it would be well worth contacting Sheffield Library and seeing if the registers they have cover the latest address you have. I certainly wouldn't give up on him being in the absent voters register.

    Sheffield Libraries have a very good guide to Handsworth's community history which can be accessed here (just copy and paste this address into your browser address bar)>

    https://www.sheffield.
    gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/community-histories/handsworth.html
     
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  20. Solo

    Solo Member

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    Thank you. Yes I understand the Sheffield Libraries do not have these records,they have some but do not cover Intake,Handsworth District. Will follow up with West Yorkshire Archives and also the community history link. Kind regards.
     

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