First and Second World War service records

[Thunder]

The recent release of MOD Army files may hold more records than we expected. I delved at TNA into one such case (WO 423/25343: [1939-1963]: Name: J F V Lavis. Service number: 2049140. Date of birth: 24 May 1895). His full name was John Francis Victor Lavin who was born in Bovey Tracey in Devon
and he appears to have died in the Newton Abbot Registration District of Devon in the October-December quarter of 1968. I think that includes the parish of Bovey Tracey. He was according to the file born on 24 May 1895 in Bovey Tracey, Devon, and was in the Territorial Army in the Royal Engineers for four years from 8 November 1937. He had also served in the Royal Artillery from 3 September 1939 as part of the Reserve, he was discharged in 1943. He had previously served from 9 December 1915 to 20 November 1919 (when he was demobilised) in the 1/5 Lincoln Regiment, his short service form from 1915 is in the file. If this is not an isolated case then WO 423 where the men were born up to 1904 and certainly in the Nineteenth Century then their First World War service records maybe in this series (WO 423).

[AdrianBruce]

I had wondered if that sort of thing might happen but I don't remember anyone confirming it, so thanks for that.

[Thunder]

Of course any man aged at least 18 years old between 1915 (when the compulsory call-up started) and 1918 should have been called up for service during the First World War (unless they were in a 'Reserved Occupation') and certainly anyone born up to 1900 should have served. Having said that there are some strange surnames on TNA's catalogue who don't appear to have existed!, e,g . WO 423/40542: [1939-1963]: Name: E Winteaingham [there is no such person on ancestry]. Service number: 1941650. Date of birth: 7 October 1906.

[VALLMO9]

WO 423/40542: [1939-1963]: Name: E Winteaingham [there is no such person on ancestry]. Service number: 1941650. Date of birth: 7 October 1906.

Looks to be an E Winteringham, who served with the Royal Engineers circa 1940. He's on Casualty Lists from 1941-1943.

[Thunder]

Thanks, I'll check it when the record is due to be opened at the end of the month.