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Could any-one help me trace the WW1 records for Ben Stuttard? Ben was married to my grandfathers half sister Jane Nuttall. Ben's grave is photographed on this site at St James and he is also mentioned in an article by Thowd Syker as being in the Briercliffe football team.

I have found Ben and his family on the 1901 census. He was aged 6. He is living at 4 Talbot Street Harle-Syke with his parents John and Sarah Stuttard. His brothers and sisters were listed as Fred 21, Smith 18, Rennie,17, Ada 15, James 12, Hartley 5, and Harry 3.

I have the wedding photograph for Ben and Jane which I would like to put on the site but before I do I would like to know what happened to him during WW1 as he was wounded and lost an arm.

I cannot find any record of him myself. There is a possibility that he was in the Navy. Hope some-one can help.

There's usually a medal card on the Documents Online site but I couldn't see anyting for Ben when I just looked. There was one for a Rennie Stuttard.
Kris (Leaver) might have more ideas. He has quite an interest in military history.

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Mel

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I've also had a look to see if there is a WW1 pension record for him on ancestry but there isn't. I don't think the database is complete yet though.

I don't know enough about service records and where they are kept to help with this one. I believe that some service records were lost in WW2 due to bombing. Can anyone confirm this theory?

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Mel

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Yep, you are right Mel. I also had a look but cannot find anything.

DavidB has emailed me to ask if it is one of the two at this link. How he found it I don't know.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... diaarray=*

The first is a Ben Marsden Stuttard from Harrogate. I have just been looking at his pension record on Ancestry. The second is a possibility I think.

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Mel

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Any of these from your lot Pollyanna?

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bi ... n=benjamin

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David
Genealogists do it in the library.

Thanks for checking, especially David. I may contact Andrew Mackay to see if he can help me further. I don't like to see any-one who fought in WW1 not getting a mention somewhere especially as Ben was so badly wounded.

He married my grandfathers half sister Jane Nuttall after the war. They had one son Harry who went to live in Annan Scotland. After Ben's death Jane remarried and moved away.

I have no contact with the family but when I find an old photograph I feel the need to find out the story behind it.

It's possible/probable his injuries were reported in his local newspaper but unless you have an idea of the date, that would be a blanket search for the war years.

Just as an afterthought, it might be worth contacting Burnley library. They ahve some sort of database for soldiers. He may be listed. I think they also refer to andrews site. (I assume it is Andrew of the Burnley in the Great War site)

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Mel

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Pollyanna
Was this Stuttard a relation?

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/bur ... tardmm.htm

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David
Genealogists do it in the library.

Sorry David don't know anything about the Stuttard family only Ben. It's not a line I have researched.

I have just spoken to Andrew Mackay and he is going to contact his dad Alan Mackay who runs the great war web site with the othe Andrew.

He says it is very difficult to find information on soldiers who came back wounded. Most just got on with life and unless they received a bravery medal there is little to go on.

Andrew is currently researching the St Andrews war memorial.

I'll let you know if he finds anything new.

I'll email Mel and get the photo on the site soon.

Anne has sent me the picture. It is on the site and can be viewed at http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Photo%20Archive/Briercliffe%20People/Ben%20and%20Jane%20Stuttard.htm

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Mel

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Must apologise. Ben Stuttard was in fact married to my grandfather's sister Jane Bradshaw not his half sister.

Sorry for getting my Nuttalls and Bradshaws mixed up.

Thanks to Mel for putting the photo on this site.

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David
Genealogists do it in the library.

Not a problem, I have amended the name with the picture.

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Mel

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No luck I'm afraid regarding Ben. Andrew couldn't find out anything about him. He did suggest that I check Ben's obituary the next time I'm at the library incase anything is mentioned but it does seem unlikely.

He did recommend a book though

Briercliffe's dead in WW1 Volume 1 by John R Bentley.

Limited copies but he says there is one in the reference library at Burnley

I'll put it on the military thread incase this thread is overlooked