I know my Grandad, Greenwood, was in the Army during the 2nd Boer War as I have had some access to part of his diary from the time, sadly his regiment and number, and all the other details I would need to get more information, is missing. He joined up again for the first World War and served with the Cheshire Regiment I think, he was a Sergeant at some point and I do have a photograph of him with an unknown friend standing outside the Sgts Mess, but I don't know where or when the photograph was taken. Any help would be truly appreciated, I have hit a brick wall with this one.
Is this he?: Greenwood Halliwell Military Year: 1914-1920 Rank: Driver Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal Regiment or Corps: Royal Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery) Regimental Number: 13780 Sub Unit: Royal Field Artillery Previous Units: R.F.A. 13780 Dvr. Several trees on Ancestry have him listed. Have you seen them? ps Victory ,British medals & Star. qualified in Aug 1915 theatre of War + France
I'm not sure Wendy, I did see one but the paper work stated he was single whereas my Grandad was very definitely married with two children by the time WW1 came around. He was in France, that I do know, my grandmother said he was gassed there and it ruined his health, unfortunately I didn't get much more information when I had the chance. Thank you for this.
When & where was he born Layla? there are two of same name. I did see a maerriage earlier to an Elizabeth I think.
I had no idea there would be so many Greenwood Halliwells/Helliwells - if you have an idea of his date of birth Layra, that would help in pinpointing which one he was I don't mean they were all in the Army, but the only likely one I have found so far, would, I think, have been too young. Also, what was his wife's name?
Reg't no.113780 (missed a numeral earlier0 Regiment Royal Horse & Field Artillery 1889 Birth town Todmorden Birth county Yorkshire married joined in Todmorden with wife Louisa nee Clarke -son Walter in Rochdale do you have subs with Ancestry or FMP Layla? Sorry, I need to leave now.
He was born in Manchester in 1879 married Elizabeth Whittaker nee Wright in 1905 and they had three children before 1914, my mother was born in 1918, he lived in Manchester all his life apart from his military service naturally, I know he served in Africa during the Boer War but the details are sketchy, and I did have access to his medals from WW1 at one time but they have now been lost sadly. I have searched Ancestry, FMP has no records that I could find. Thank you for helping.
Thanks for the extra info, will have a rummage later on. Is there anything specific you are after, other than his military career? Don't want to bombard you with things you already know
It's mostly his military career I was interested in, I think I have most of the information, I know he got into a spot of trouble as a youth and ended up in an Industrial School which is probably how he ended up in the Army and the Boer War. Thank you for the assist.
Ah yes! 1891 census he was an inmate/scholar age 12 at Rumworth. Born Lancashire 1879. Freebmd has a birth reg at Prestwich Lancashire 1879. Lots of Greenwood Helliwell's in Yorkshire so I gather that is where his family hails from.
My grandad's grandad, also named Greenwood was born in Hebdon Bridge in 1824, he was a weaver so I have presumed that the move to Lancashire was due to the wool trade failing in Yorkshire. His son Rodger was born in Manchester in 1845 and he was grandad's father.
I see that they were living at 7, Boundary Street when Greenwood was baptised, Roger was a labourer in Alum (?) works.
Yes that's right, the Alum was in powder form and caused all sorts of health problems many years before health and safety rules applied and face masks were worn. I believe Rodger suffered a great deal.
My Greenwoods also moved from the West Riding to Manchester. As has been stated, there are an awful lot of them. I have Yorkshire Helliwells too. Do you know which industrial school he was sent to as a lad? Possible records there?
In 1913 they were living at In 1913 they were living at 24 Holland Street, Miles Platting, Manchester, I think they were in that general Miles Platting area for some time, my mother being born in 29 Mayor Street, Miles Platting in 1918.
My grandmother once remarked that the Greenwood's and Helliwell's had been closely connected for many years, this was only part of a conversation she was having with my mother (I think) so I only remember a snatch of it, I didn't realise at that time that Greenwood was a surname so thought she was referring to my grandad's name which was recurring until my uncle broke the chain by naming his son Henry. I think our Helliwell's and Greenwood's joined up when Roger bn in 1785 married Hannah Greenwood bn 1790 in 1808 all in Yorkshire.
The 'spot of bother' was reported in the Manchester Courier 30th August 1890, the gist of it being - A boy named Greenwood Halliwell, Hayes Street, Newton Heath, was charged before with the theft of money from the house a man Jones, also of Hayes Street. Prisoner was also charged with the theft of another sum of money, the property the Manchester City Mission......... and the money missing was found concealed in the lining of his waistcoat. When arrested the prisoner admitted the theft..... Prisoner's grandmother said that the boy had got among some very bad lads, and no good could be done with him. The prisoner would be committed to the Lostock Industrial School for five years.
That was in 1890 so he didn't go into the Army from there is he only served five years, I wonder what happened next then, just thinking aloud here. Thank you for the help everyone.