William Walker, b. 1896 Hucknall, Notts

[SmallTownGirl]

I have a copy of his Certificate of Discharge from the army, dated 2 March 1919.

Says:

Name - William Walker
Rank - Private
Certifcate of Discharge of No. G29250
Regiment of Corps to which first posted - Sherwood Foresters
Unit and Regiment or Corps from which discharged - 3rd Battn. The Buffs
Enlisted : Hucknall, 21 February 1916
He is discharged in consequence of - being no longer physically fit for War Service, Para 392 (xvi) KR
after serving - nil years 318 days with the Colours and Two years fifty-seven days in the Army Reserve
Medals, clasps, decorations, mentions in dispatches - nil
Wound stripes - one
and somewhere between "Specialist Qualifications (Military)" and Medals, clasps etc it says "One Blue Chevron"

I've looked for him without any success on Ancestry. There is another William Walker in Hucknall - a baker - but it's not my man. My man is a coal miner.

Do I just have to resign myself to the fact that his WWI enlistment papers etc were among the 60% that went up in flames, or might FMP have more info - if anyone could look for me please?

STG

[Barbara Dodds]

Hi there

I've just been trying to backtrack to a website which has more details of Sherwood Forresters but I have unfortunately drawn a blank. IT may be worth while contacting/visiting the Sherwood Forresters museum in Nottingham Castle for further information too.

Going back to have another google for you

[margaretmarch]

FMP only have records up to 1915 :(

Margaret

[Barbara Dodds]

Not had any more luck- sorry. :(

[SmallTownGirl]

Ah well!

Thanks to both of you for trying.

STG

[Chrissie Smiff]

IT may be worth while contacting/visiting the Sherwood Forresters museum in Nottingham Castle for further information too.

That's interesting Barbara, I didn't know about that museum. At least two, if not three, of my grandmothers brothers were in the Sherwood Forresters and when I was quite new to all this I went to Crich stand, as I was told there were names on a plaque. There weren't but a man who runs a little cafe up there had loads of books with names in to look through.

[Barbara Dodds]

Lol Chrissie.

I found the museum by accident, but OH was interested as his dad's stepfather had been in the Sherwood Forresters. There was a touch screen to search some records but it wasn't complete as our chappie wasn't on it. He was dead easy to trace elsewhere though as he had received the BEM


PS excuse the pun - it wasn't even intentional!

[Chrissie Smiff]

didn't follow the pun I'm afraid. What's a BEM? - ahhhhh think I may have got it -does BEM stand for dead?:D
My three were easy to trace too and all their graves in France :(

[SmallTownGirl]

> BEM

British Empire Medal ?
STG

[Barbara Dodds]

> BEM

British Empire Medal ?
STG

Sorry - yes

[Barbara Dodds]

didn't follow the pun I'm afraid. What's a BEM? - ahhhhh think I may have got it -does BEM stand for dead?:D
My three were easy to trace too and all their graves in France :(

"dead easy"

[annswabey]

The Sherwood Foresters website has been down for a few days. They do know about it and it will be sorted out asap. Contact the Archives at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell - they might have something on him, although not his full service record. Tel 0115 9465415 or email archivist@wfrmuseum.org.uk

[SmallTownGirl]

Contact the Archives at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell - they might have something on him, although not his full service record. Tel 0115 9465415 or email archivist@wfrmuseum.org.uk

Good idea. Thanks v.much.

STG

[Darksecretz]

does it say for definite that he was born in Hucknall?? he might have enlisted there, but night not have been born there.. alternately there is Hucknall under Huthwaite which isnt that far away, and also Ault Hucknall..

if he wasn't born in Hucknall then it might be Bulwell/Linby/Bestwood/Papplewick he was born.

[Darksecretz]

I've looked for him without any success on Ancestry. There is another William Walker in Hucknall - a baker - but it's not my man. My man is a coal miner.


STG

erm, what about this one??

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=angs-g&gsfn=will**&gsln=walker&msbdy=1896&msbpn__ftp=Hucknall%2c+Nottinghamshire%2c+England&msbpn=1672875&msbpn_PInfo=8-%7c0%7c0%7c3257%7c3251%7c0%7c0%7c0%7c5279%7c1672875%7c0%7c&cpxt=1&catBucket=rstp&uidh=lg3&msbdp=2&cp=11&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=22418651&db=1911England&indiv=1

[SmallTownGirl]

Sorry Julie, been out all day so only just seen this.

Should have been clearer. I have found him on the 1901 and 1911 census records (inc the one you found) etc, but can't find his military records on Ancestry.

STG

[Mary from Italy]

Have you tried the Silver War Badge records? They don't have an awful lot of information, though.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=2456

[Darksecretz]

Sorry Julie, been out all day so only just seen this.

Should have been clearer. I have found him on the 1901 and 1911 census records (inc the one you found) etc, but can't find his military records on Ancestry.

STG

ahhh I see now.. I got the wrong end of the stick didn't I? (sorry)


as a side note..arent 'The Buffs' an East Kent Regiment?

i'll be back in a bit.. have to go out for a while now..

[SmallTownGirl]

Have you tried the Silver War Badge records? They don't have an awful lot of information, though.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=2456

Oh, I didn't know about the Silver War Badge. I've found him on the listings. Thanks v.much Mary.

STG

[SmallTownGirl]

> aren't The Buffs an East Kent Regiment?

Oh dear. This is showing up my pitiful military knowledge.

Admit that I googled The Buffs and found that it said East Kent Regiment, which puzzled me a bit, but then during the war peeps did get moved about between regiments seemingly at will.

Think I'll start with the SF regimental museum and see what they can tell me about his days there and if they can give me a lead into The Buffs.

Sound logical?

STG