General Chat

hi all

does anyone know the best place / site for researching Victorian soldiers?
I have recently come in to possession of my g g grandfather's long service medal (with Victoria's head on the medal) where he served in the 1st volunteer battalion royal west kent rgt.
I have his service number and name also stamped on the medal but I am not having much luck with tracking down any information on him.
any help would be greatly appreciated

Try the long long trail site, also Ancestry and Findmypast. I have just had the privilege of completing along with a history society a WW1 research project covering the lives of 778 local men.
Good luck with your research. If you have problems please feel free to pm me and I will take a look for you

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13532757

If you email the above they may be able to help you.
Good luck :-)

Have you tried Findmypast? if you don't have a sub to them post the service number and I will look.

thanks all

I have tried looking on Findmypast, and have tried various other searches but it's not giving me anything (unless I am just not looking in the right places)
the full inscription around the outside of the medal is - 887 pt? A. COATSWORTH 1st VB R. W. KENT R.
the inscription on the back of the medal reads - 'for long service in the volunteer force

Nothing coming up on FMP
, this may help

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/30bd1e6d-c8db-4810-87e6-f02acdb33030

I am almost positive that the west kents (aka the buffs) have an archive and maybe museum, try a google search or contact the Imperial War museum which may be able to point you in the right direction.
I hope this helps


EDIT I have just googled and the museum is based in Maidstone.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/30bd1e6d-c8db-4810-87e6-f02acdb33030


There is a page on Facebook..

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-West-Kent-Regiment-443133152495183



http://janetandrichardsgenealogy.co.uk/QORWK%20C%20T%20Atkinson%20A%20to%20D.html



http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/regiment.php?pid=1418



http://www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance/

Will look for more info for you.

Did he survive the war?

https://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/queens-own-royal-west-kent-regiment-museum-p204311


https://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/queens-own-royal-west-kent-regiment-museum-p204311

With the 2 above sites they hold the papers for some Soldiers.

One record on Ancestry......

VIEW British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: Arthur Coatsworth
Regiment or Corps: Royal West Kent Yeomanry Queen's Own, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment
Regimental Number: 2413, G/43153

http://www.hut-six.co.uk/GreatWar/WestKentYeomanry_C.html

If it's the A Coatsworth on Keiren's tree he would have been rather old at the start of WW1 ? so it may be that it would be records for service before then?

in which case Maidstone is the place to go both for the Regt museum and Kent History and Library Centre

He could well have served in the ASC Army service corps at his age that is why I suggested the Museum as I know they usually keep records of such men. :-). That is the way I have tracked down some of our info and I have found the regimental museums extremely helpful in pointing me in the right direction on many occasions