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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-11 > 0973165669


From: "brian and jean cook" <>
Subject: [WW1] great uncles
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 2000 11:47:49 -0000


Hello everyone,
I have been a member of the list for a short time and have been learning
about WW1 events and history. With my cousin, we are trying to unravel the
activities of two great uncles in the war and we have a number of questions
with which we would appreciate help.
1) Thomas William O'Connor, born 1892, emigrated to the USA and returned to
become:
696425 Driver T O'Connor, A Battery, 286 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
An agent, searching the PRO files for us, found that he received the Victory
Medal and the British War Medal. He could find nothing else and suggested
that Tom's records were amongst those burnt.
We have a letter from Tom to my mother dated December 27, 1918. In it, he
explains that he could not get out to buy Christmas cards, he had had a few
brought in for him, but not enough. I seem to remember my mother telling me
that he died, either as a result of an accident or the flu epidemic which
swept the world after the war. We cannot find evidence of a death
certificate within a couple of years of 1918. Immediate questions are:
a) Where was A Battery, 286 Brigade stationed at the end of 1918?
b) If he were hospitalised, would he be with the rest of his unit?
c) If he died, would the army or his next of kin register the death?
d) Where else could we seek information on his army career? It would be
helpful to know whether he was discharged and, if so, when.
2) Tom's brother, John Edward O'Connor, born 1887, also emigrated to the USA
and fought in the war. Our agent could find no trace of him in the medal
rolls or other documents at the PRO. Maybe he served in the US Army. He
visited the family home in Liverpool during his military service and he
returned to the US after the war. (He was an expert horseman). Is there
anything else we can do to see if he served in the British Army? How do we
go about looking for him in he US Army?
3) In the family archive are postcards (dated 1910 and posted in
1916?)showing military activity at Windmill Hill, Ludgershall. The view
shows troops on horseback with some sort of 4-wheeled carts probably
carrying ordnance. In the background is a railway with goods wagons and
possibly a station. Can anyone tell us more about this place? I can scan the
cards if it would help.
I'm sorry this posting is so long, but we would appreciate help.

Brian Cook
Helensburgh
Scotland

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