Spasm

The matchstick man painter Lowry turned down 5 over the years. He said it was because he didn't want anything "latched" on to him.

Ah, there's another bit of mystery that I've just found out. He was minus 8 !!!!! I think he must have been the milkman's as he was born in 1922. I'm still on the trail of that one. I expect to find out that I'm an orphan and my real name is Oliver :P

Here are the newspaper accounts - hopefully big enough to read

Woolwich Dockyard headquarters were obviously interested in the outcome of the court case as here's the telegram informing them of the jury's verdict

It's funny that there are two different enrolment forms - both saying the same thing

Mervyn I already have most of the records (for those that are interested they are available on Ancestry, there's quite a few pages). I'll post some of the more interesting ones below. Funny how my Dad mentioned a couple of times that my Granddad was murdered by having a tent peg hammered through his head (sorry about it being a bit graphic) and never really said much more. Seems as though there was probably more to the story. He was killed on 29 November 1914. I was quite surprised when I found these records that (sort of) confirmed what my Dad said. I was totally unaware of any previous service within the Fusiliers though and would be interested to find more.

Thought I'd got the sizing wrong on the picture but it's the Chairman's clever do-da thingy he's sorted on the pictures. You need to click on the picture to see the correct size so you can read it Here's a copy of my Granny's accepting note for his Death Plaque and scroll. Items I'd obviously like to own but probably will never find. Thanks in advance Gents Spaz

His short enlistment papers (below) show that he was 12 years with the Royal Fusiliers, discharged in 1903 before joining the ASC. I can find no information as to his service, only that he married while on leave on Christmas Day 1899. Can anyone direct me to where I can get some further info or does anyone already have these records? It'd be nice to find out a little more about him.

Gents Help with this would be greatly appreciated. I've never really known anything about my Grandfather but have recently discovered some items on Ancestry. It seems as though he never made it to Europe in WW1 as he was accidentally killed during a fight in camp in Southampton. The newspaper headlines are reproduced below.

Bit more news on our distant relative and awardee, Simon Fuzzey. The Regiment's museum is only open in the summer months so planning a visit down to Sherborne Abbey and Dorchester in March. Having found from Census records that Simon lived in North Curry in Somerset with his wife Sarah for 40 years I contacted the local archive there (looked after by two very nice ladies over the village's coffee shop - they sell marmalade, cakes and jam at the village town hall every week to raise money for it's upkeep). We're off to visit the archive and to meet them in a couple of weeks to have a look at what they have. Both Simon and Sarah are buried in the local Churchyard. One of the Church's records show that Simon was paid 6 shillings for removing crows nests from that very cemetery and lists him as being a Waterloo veteran (although he's not listed on the medal roll) and the Census lists him as a "Chelsea Pensioner." His discharge papers (above) show that he left the army in 1821. Amazingly, we've managed to find a photograph of Simon's sister and her family outside their home and have located the house which is still there! I'll post the pictures of new and old when we've been to have a look see. (I may even knock on the door to say hello to the present day owners and give them a copy of the photo). I'll keep ya'll updated on how it goes and post anything interesting that the archive may have. Cheers All, Spaz.

And what did you get your wife?????

Gents I'm sorry but having pressed our man at work as to whether the real names could be published, his Granny (the Widow of the Author), has changed her mind and would rather that nothing be published. I've therefore honoured her new wishes and have deleted everything. Really sorry guys but that's that Best and all Spaz

It'll be fine, just turn it off and then on again

Brian And a very Happy New Year to you too sir. Spaz

Gents Didn't really get enough time on this over the weekend. Interested in following up the details in the photo to see if they match. So far I have (from the passbook) Jager Battalion No 14 at the start of Wilhelm's army career in 1903, which would make him 22-ish. Which, I would guess, be about the age of the guy in the picture. Just joined up so have me picture taken in a posh photographers to show me mum. He appears to have a white (even in close up after scanning) bayonet troddel. Which seems to be right for a 1st Company member - confirmed by the Passbook - 1 Kompagnie. The Cockades took a bit of finding but this Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 14, was from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The cockades on his hat (Kratchen is it?) should be the imperial German Black/White/Red above the Mecklenberg Blue/Yellow/Red. To be honest I can't really make this out on the photo but it could be. I haven't the faintest what colour bands or braiding the hat should have but I will try searching for that next. The shoulder boards do have someting on them but who knows from the photo. So far then, I have no reason not to connect the photo with the rest of the items. I'd be pleased to hear from you experts as there's tons of stuff out there on WW1. Spaz

Uwe - thanks for that, gives me a start on the difficult handwriting Ulsterman - something else for me to look up. Why do I do this? maybe its because telly only has Eastenders, Corrie, Emerdale and Come watch me sing and dance and make me famous on it

Pages 16 and 17. Pages 14 and 15 are not missing, they have been glued together, but there's writing in there. Didn't take any photos of any of the later loose pages that start in Sept 1917 and run through to Feb 1920 but can do so if you are interested. I'm intrigued to find out a bit more detail from the entries and why the pages should be purposely stuck together.

And the next last "smaller" pages. However, the right hand page has again been stuck to page 13. You can clearly see writing again hidden between the glued pages. Is it worth finding out what it says?

The next "smaller" pages with just the one entry?

This is the next "smaller" page. I'm asuming this is the "battle" page referred to by Chris. However, you may have noticed that there is a skip in years from the previous pages. This is because the two previous "smaller" pages have been stuck together. There's writing in between (it can be seen when held to the light). Could this be something that the owner wanted to hide? I'm tempted to try to steam apart as the glue wouldn't be anything too strong from those days. Any advice here? These pages seem to be mid war years, 1916 - 1917

Pages 12 and 13. Which is the start of the "smaller" sized pages with no numbering. Again, a page I'll have to start translating this weekend.

I thought the t'tinternet had broke then but I'd forgotten to reduce the size of the picture - silly me . Here's pages 10 and 11: This has a strip of paper stuck in (a weird sort of hand written form) with purple (faded blue?) ink that has spread making it difficult to make out.

Here's pages 8 and 9 which is where the more detailed writing starts. No idea yet on what it says. It seems pretty clear so I will be translating over the weekend. Chip - I'm sorry I have no idea about WW1 German troopies, units, where they were based or uniforms. This is the first real buy for me along those lines (all your fault in here obviously) other than some photo books and a few medals. So any help would be appreciated.

Just got to take a few more pictures and have had a bit of a look at the pass. It says he was born in 1881, so that'd make him 33ish in 1914. I agree, in the picture he looks a lot younger (twenties maybe?) but it looks like the dates in the pass start in 1903 and, with all the added pages, run through to 1920. There's also a piece of paper stuck inside the front cover dated 1943 (A Rontgen-Kataster?) which has a note printed at the bottom that says something like "keep this in a safe place with your personal paperwork". So this pass covers 40 years! Anyway here's the thin paper envelope on which "Baumann" can be read. No idea what the rest says but there is a date 7.5.41 Chris - I'm not so sure about the faded ribbon. It's the same constant gold (really good coloured metalic gold not yellow) even when the ribbons are prised apart. Also why hasn't the red in the centre ribbon therefore faded? Surely if one had faded then so would the other and you wouldn't bother just replacing one, you'd get a whole new thing.

Here it is from the back. Is it the ribbon for the wound badge? The only one of similar colours that I can find is the 1813-15 commemorative medal, but that can't be right.