9 replies to this topic

[Emma E]

Hi All

I have just discovered one of my ancestors he is Arthur Robinson private 23280 11th battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in France during the first world war. He is buried in Ovillers military cemetery.
I have been trying to find more info on him, I realise I might not be able to find his army records but I cannot find a medal card for him. I know he was serving in 1915 and was killed in 1916. Does anyone know why he would not have a medal card?

Emma

[shawndymond]

Hi Emma

He is there,  listed as ALFRED Robinson, Lancashire Fusiliers 23280.

Entered Theatre of Operations 16 December 1915
Killed 20 August 1916

1914/15 Star
BWM
VM

Kind Regards

Shawn

[Graeme Clarke]

Hi

Born Saltaire, Yorkshire

Enlisted Manchester

Resided Cheetham Hill, Lancashire

KiA 20 August 1916

At the time of his death his battalion was in trenches at Thiepval having just moved there from Hedauville the same day.

Regards,

Graeme

[Graeme Clarke]

Emma,

There were72 Arthur Robinsons who were killed in the war.

Can you give us a few more details re age, occupation etc. Especially re his son killed in WW2.

Graeme

[corisande]

Quote

Arthur was born in Manchester and was living in Crimpson St Newton Heath when he enlisted  

I am not sure if I am missing something, but I cannot find a "Crimpson St" or similar in Newton Heath

You need to give us his marriage cert details, and tell us how you are sure you have the right cert. The only Arthur Robinson to a Bosworth marrige I am getting is in 1899 to an Annie Bosworth in Kingston, Surrey

How did you know that he was "born in Manchester and was living in Crimpson St Newton Heath when he enlisted."

And why did you think that he was "Arthur Robinson private 23280 11th battalion Lancashire Fusiliers"

As has been said there are so many "Arthur Robinson" that you need to be sure of the groundwork and the details

[Emma E]

Hi

I forgot to add I am certain the marriage certificate is the correct one as 44 Lathbury Rd was the family home, Arthur was my Grandma's brother.
My Grandma carried on living there after her parents died, I visited her there many times when I was younger.

Emma

[corisande]

On Ancestry, do you know about this, if you don't you need to check the details as it could be rubbish

"Arthur Robinson was born in Manchester England in 1891 the son of John and Emma Robinson. He married Mary Bostock in Manchester in 1914. In December 1914 their son Harold was born.

Arthur was sent to France in late 1915 before his second child was born. In 1916 a daughter Elizabeth was born. Arthur was killed on the battle field in 1916, having never seen his new daughter Elizabeth. Mary never remarried and brought up her son Harold and daughter Elizabeth (Bett) by herself.

Mary was a remarkable women, she had lost both her husband and son in two world wars, but she remained a kind, jolly person, with a great sense of humour. Harolds son Trevor, Mary's grandson, married Olive in the 1960's, but unfortunatley they never had any children. Prior to her death in the 1970's Mary travelled to Malta to see Harolds grave. Harolds widow Dorothy, his son Trevor and Trevors wife Olive, travelled with Mary to Malta. Sadley Mary never lived to see the grave of her husband Arthur who was buried in France. Mary's daughter Elizabeth married Jack Dawson in 1939, they had two daughters Pamela and Susan, Susan died when she was very young.

Mary had a large extented family, which I think helped her a great deal in getting over her grief. Mary's family was the Bostock family of Newton Heath Manchester England. Most of her family, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and other relatives lived in the same street or very close by. The Bostock family orginally came from Knutsford in Cheshire, where Mary was born. The family moved to Manchester in the early 1900's.  

And they have him as
Lancashire Fusilers 11th BN Private 23280. Died in France 20 August 1916, buried in Ovillers Cemetry France, grave No.V11.Q.4
So that makes all they have suspect!

[Emma E]

Hi

I know the first line is correct, The person on Ancestry gave me the details for Arthur's military history, they thought the details were correct. When I looked into it I couldn't understand why there was no medal card. Since contacting this site today I have found that the military history I was given was wrong as the soldier was Alfred and not Arthur.
I know where Arthur was born and his date of birth, I know his marriage certificate is most definitely the correct one.

I hope from these details we might be able to pinpoint the correct Arthur.

Emma

[corisande]

The problem you have first is to separate the fact from the fiction in the above. You really need to go through it line by line and verify each fact. I always do that as you can never be sure that you are being given correct information.

Arthur/Alfred and Bostock/Bosworth are classics that get perpetuated if not checked.

In my opinion to get anywhere you will need
1. Birth cert for Arthur
2. 1901 census for him
3. 1911 census for him
4  1914 marriage
5. 1914 birth cert Harold
6. 1916 birth cert for Elizabeth - either of these may have more details of Arthur, possibly his regiment or service number
7 Harold's death on CWGC click

The thing should hang together logically in the end with all facts supporting other facts. "Crimpson St Newton Heath" is the sort of basic fact that you need to check - where on earth did the niece get that from, and why did she use the "wrong" service number

[Emma E]

Thank you

I think the birth certificates for the children are a good idea, I have a christening record for Arthur plus the 1901 and 1911 census so I can confirm his parents. I have the marriage certificate I just need the birth certificates as you say they might contain Arthur's regiment details.


Emma