Oliver William BOWDLER, 13th Batt. Gloucester Regt (General)

by JaneyH , Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Saturday, May 03, 2014, 17:24 (3852 days ago) @ slowhands

I have previously posted on this forum trying to uncover details about my great-grandfather's service during WW1. Here's a quick recap so far:

Information suggesting he DID serve:
- 1922 newspaper article relating to court case, describing him as a "discharged soldier", receiving a pension
- family story handed down saying his experience as a miner meant he helped with digging trenches in France
- entry on the WW1 soldiers database on this website with his name, residence as Ruspidge, but no further information (I've been in touch with David Drinkwater separately about this and he's kindly explained the background to the database)

Information suggesting he DIDN'T serve:
- no medal index card or other information, either on Ancestry or National Archives
- no records on Forces War Records website or soldier listings on Glosters regiment website

I've now obtained a copy of the birth certificate for his son George Godwin Bowdler who was born in October 1915, and this shows Oliver William's occupation as "Private, 13th Bt Gloucester Regiment; coal hewer". So finally I have something more specific to place him in the Army.

I've done some quick searches on the "Long, Long Trail" website which shows that the 13th battalion was a pioneer battalion ... which, among other things, dug trenches. This would seem to bear out my Mum's story. The lack of Medal Index Card is still a concern, but I will shortly apply to the Western Front Association for a pension record search in the hope of uncovering more information.

Meanwhile if anyone on this forum has knowledge about the 13th battalion (which I believe was recruited mainly from the Forest of Dean) and its activities, then I'd love to hear from you.

Jane