Researching a soldier

[Buck Rogers]

Trying to find more information on a soldier for a friend.

His name was John James Doherty from Convoy in Co. Donegal, Ireland. He served in the Boer War and in WW1 - he was wounded in WW1. That's pretty much all I know (I've asked my mate for more info).

I know that's very sparse info but it's all I have for the time being. Don't know his service number, regiment or even DOB/DOD...

Do I stand any chance?

[badger123]

Needle in a haystack job without his regiment or number.

The only John Doherty from Co Donnagal I can find on Ancestry was declared a deserter in 1914 so not so sure its your man.

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by badger123

Needle in a haystack job without his regiment or number.

The only John Doherty from Co Donnagal I can find on Ancestry was declared a deserter in 1914 so not so sure its your man.

No don't think so and unfortunately Doherty is a very common name in Donegal - think Smith in the UK.

I'll ask him more tomorrow, see if I can at least get a regiment. Thanks for the help

[Buck Rogers]

OK so there's a JJ Doherty in the Highland Light Infantry around the right time. Would this help?

[ubervamp]

Hiya

If he got a SWB there might be a record of that.

Cheers

Colin

[Buck Rogers]

Excuse my ignorance but what's that?

Brian

[ebro]

Brian,
It's a Silver War Badge issued to soldiers who were no longer fit for military service through wounds, injury or illness.
Eddie

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=83577

[ubervamp]

Brian

Silver War Badge.
http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/swbrecords.html

Colin

[Buck Rogers]

Thanks fellas! I'll get on to him again tomorrow

[Hussar100]

I see you've repeated your post on the 1914-18 Invisionzone site. That's probably where you'll get your answers from, if any exist. They're a very switched on bunch over there on this type of thing. Not to know this site of course but in my experience they've a very wide range of skills on the 14-18 site.

[Buck Rogers]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

I see you've repeated your post on the 1914-18 Invisionzone site. That's probably where you'll get your answers from, if any exist. They're a very switched on bunch over there on this type of thing. Not to know this site of course but in my experience they've a very wide range of skills on the 14-18 site.

Yeah, I thought they'd be worth getting in touch with - they've already come up with one good lead too

[oc14]

There were three soldiers by the name of John Doherty served in the Boer war with 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers - not uncommon for 2nd initials to be missing - could be one of those ?

PL

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Buck Rogers

Yeah, I thought they'd be worth getting in touch with - they've already come up with one good lead too

I still have an account there too. It actually helps me stay in touch with friends in the ROI who aren't on this or my regimental site. Michael Pegum for example who runs the Irish War Memorials site. I came across him in 2004 when researching the Smith Memorial at TCD.

[Buck Rogers]

They seem a very switched on bunch!

Also, my mate reckons JJ Doherty was in the HLI as the census record he found was correct...does that help? The census was 1911 so pre war...

[Hussar100]

Well it certainly helps and it makes sense. Given that many of the HLI were Glaswegian it stand to reason that someone from Donegal could have finished up there. Now that you think you have narrowed it down to one man from the HLI though you could do a search on the Imperial War Museum site for his medal index card which will give you his service number and that should be of immense value in future searches.