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I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.
Further research:
From the Naval & Military Press
Coldstream Guards 1914-1918
Appendices include the war service record of all officers who served in the Regiment with any awards; awards to Other Ranks; VC citations; list of those commissioned from the ranks (410 of them) and the regiments or corps to which they went and finally the Roll of Honour of officers. Recommended.
Read my other posts on numbering in the Foot Guards regiments:
Grenadier Guards
Scots Guards
Irish Guards
Welsh Guards
Identify a Foot Guards soldier by his uniform: Identifying the Guards - Army Ancestry
57 comments:
Paul - I've got a few Coldstream Guards locally, and two of them enlisted within a few days of each other, and fill a small gap in your list:
10243 Reginald Lisher 19/7/13
10253 Victor Grover 24/7/13
Thanks Sue
Looking at my database I see I had those two men, the source acknowledged as Unchanged by Time... and so it comes full circle.
The data I publish here is just a sample - one number and date per year - from a larger database. But I'm always pleased to hear of confirmed numbers and joining dates for men who enlisted between 1881 and 1918. It's a never-ending job; a bit like painting the Forth Bridge - without the paint.
Paul
Im trying to trace an ancestor's service record..... Francis O'Neill Coldstream Guards Number 5006... I think he was part of the 5th Reserve.... did he see any action?
Jonathan
Jonathan, he did serve. There is a medal index card for him which shows that he arrived overseas on 21st August 1914 and therefore qualified for the 1914 Star with Mons clasp (although he doesn't appear to have claimed this) as well as the British war and Victory medals.
Paul
Hello Paul
Any chance you could be more specific for James Hall 16359
16357 Bertie Kirby joined at Caterham on 22nd June 1915 as did 16360 Victor John Cook. Both these men have surviving service records in WO 364.
Hello Paul, could you shed any light on my great grand fathers service with the Coldstreams ? He was 4997 William Hill. He was discharged and re enlisted with the Clyde RGA at Gourock, Scotland. I have his MIC and Silver War Badge card, also copies of the Victory and Silver War Badge Rolls.
Really looking to find his service papers and which Battalion he served with.
regards
Dean.
Dean
Guards' records survive but you'll need to make personal application to the archive:
Regimental Archivist
APPLICATION FOR INFORMATION FROM SERVICE RECORDS
Regimental Headquarters Coldstream Guards
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London
SW1E 6HQ
Also see here: http://rhqcoldmgds.co.uk/shop/page/3?shop_param=
Your man's number indicates that he joined up in January 1903 and so he'd have been a reservist when war was declared.
Hello, could anyone shed some light on these medals which were my fathers friends father.
9683 GDSMN E.J.Mattews Coldstream Guards. The medals are suspended from a WW2 bar for defence so could he have been in home guard?
Any information would be great.
Thanks
I suppose he could have been. I believe the National Archives has records for the Home Guard and so you could enquire there.
Hello Paul:
I'm trying to come up with credible information on my great-grandfather, a Liverpool native who died during WWI. His name is George Pearson. Through the CWGC website, I found 2 record entries that seem plausible, one of which is Coldstream Guards #14943. Any information you could share would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Charlie (USA)
Hello Charlie
14943 for the Coldstream Guards dates to around 20th January 1915. This man was born in, and was living in Lye in Worcestershire when he enlisted. He joined up at Birmingham.
Good Luck.
Paul
Hello Paul, Not sure if you are interested in after 1918 but my Grandfather, William Henry Reynolds was attested to the Coldstream Guards on 25th February 1919 in Sheffield and was given the Regimental number 28890. I believe he stayed for about 2 years. Before that he served in the Machine Gun Corps but I have no information on which bit.
Thank you Sue; they all help.
Paul
hello i don't know if you can help have only just found out about my greatgrand father only information i have got is that his name was Private G. Wilkes 20850 1st bn Coldstream Guards he was killed on the 27/11/1917 and is burried at ANNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY any further information you could give me will be very greatfully received, also i have never seen a photo of him would there have been a regimental photo taken ?
thankyou A. Bartlett
His number dates to between the 8th and 15th December 1916. He could well have appeared in photos but if he did, his name would almost certainly NOT have been captured, and so you'd have difficulty picking him out. But you should definitely get in touch with the Coldtsream Guards archive as they still retain service papers for WW1 soldiers: http://rhqcoldmgds.co.uk/shop/page/3?shop_param=
my great uncle.. Lance Corporal Greenwood Hartley Eastwood was in the 2nd battalion Coldstream Guards.. his army number 16186.. shows that he enlisted between 13th may and 2nd june 1915.. he was 16 years old at the time he enlisted. He was killed in action, aged 18 years, in the battle of the somme on the evening/early hours 15th/16th september 1916. The report from another guardsman suggested he was killed by enemy artillery whilst attacking the small village of Ginchy. His body was never recovered and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial. if anyone has any other information such as where the 2nd Battalion trained, when the battalion was deployed to France, where the battalion was stationed in France and any other action the battalion was involved in prior to attack on Ginchy in mid september 1916 i will be grateful.
David
If you've not already done so, you should consult the regimental history of the Coldstream Guards and also the battalion war diaries at Kew, albeit these should shortly be available on line via the TNA. You could also post this query on The Great War Forum.
Paul
Searching for my grandfather who served in Coldstream Guards, WWI, known to have survived through 1918.
Sdl. James Shaw, Swaythling, Southampton, England
#22277.
Susan, I couldn't find a medal index card for this man, although the number appears to date to June 1917. Try contacting the Guards archives but you'll be charged £35 for a search: c/o The Archivist, Regimental Headquarters Coldstream Guards, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1E 6HQ. No enquiries accepted by email or telephone.
My ggrandfather Joseph (Bennett) Barnes, born 1880 in Durham, is on 1901 census, at Kidbrooke Hospital as a patient, Private in 3rd Coldstream Guards. Can't find any further trace of him in records. Can you help please?
Jenny
Try contacting the Guards archives but you'll be charged £35 for a search: c/o The Archivist, Regimental Headquarters Coldstream Guards, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1E 6HQ. No enquiries accepted by email or telephone.
I have found a photo in my late grandparents possesions of my Great Great Great Uncles Gravestone. His name was William Geddes, his number was 20669 and he died 11th April 1918. I looked up the cemetery details and have discovered he 'Died of Wounds' but can find no info more than that. I was wondering if you knew whereabouts he would of been fighting to be injured and die at this time?
Thanks.
Nicola, I'm afraid I don't but you have two options:
1. Check the war diary for the relevant battalion of the Coldstream Gaurds. This is housed at The National Archives and may also be online.
2. Contact the Guards archives who should hold his original papers. Note that you'll be charged £35 for a search. The address: c/o The Archivist, Regimental Headquarters Coldstream Guards, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, London SW1E 6HQ. No enquiries accepted by email or telephone.
Paul
Hello there Paul,
My husbands Great Uncle George Powell service no. 7183 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards enlisted before the war on 19/03/07 and served for 7 years he then became a reservist. He was recalled at the beginning of WW1 in August having got married earlier that year but he sadly died aged 24 on 21st October,2014We got in touch with the Regimental Headquarters and paid to get his service records, it was well worth it. We also looked on the War Graves Commission site and found a photograph of the graves at Poelcapelle British Cemetery where we presume he is buried. We notice on his service records he states he is 19 years 4months in 1907 but as he was born in 1889 it looks as if he was younger than he stated and this tallies with his age when he died.
Regards, Val
Thanks for posting, Val. The Guards normally joined for 3&9 - 3 years with the colours and nine on the reserve but men could enlist for different terms of service which your husband's great uncle clearly did. The Guards' archive is, I think, an under-used resource but well worth the investment in my opinion. I also have a Coldstream Guards ancestor - a fairly distant relative - who died in 1918 and I obtained his records some years back. Again, it was quite common for men to lie about their age and there was no verification process at the point of enlistment, as there would be today.
Hello again Paul, thanks for your reply. Since the last post in August I have had a photograph and short obituary about my husbands Uncle (not Great Uncle as I first thought). I found it on a website www.ww1photos.com/ColdstreamGuards.html, it cost just £3.95 and they download the information to you by email. We were thrilled to receive it as we had no picture of him. They cover the 1st - 4th Battalion of the Coldstream Guards and have Photos/Obituaries and POW information on the Coldstream Guards listed. I thought your readers may be interested if they don't already know about it.
Regards, Val
Thanks for highlighting this, Val. I may well mention this in a post on my Army Ancestry blog. Glad you had a success.
Paul
Hello Paul - if you don't have this record ,perhaps you would add it to your database.
No.16061 Guardsman Porteus C.A
4th Battalion(The Pioneers)Enlisted 3rd May 1915. Demobilised 9th January 1919 to Class Z reserve list.Stretcher bearer throughout the Somme Battles. Wounded in action. RTU and served until end of conflict.
My grandfather Edward John Gloster enlisted on 9th September 1914. His service number was 12088. His service records show he was wounded on 8th May 1916 and again on 31st July 1917, presumably at Passchendael, but I have no evidence that his unit was in that battle. Soon after that he was transferred to 5th Battalion in reserve until recalled to the unit for the 1918 spring offensive, when he was transferred to the 3rd Battalion until demob in 1919.
I have searched men of Coalville Leicestershire, I had:
6227 Private Joseph Wardle, Coldstream Guards, 3rd Battalion
Joseph was born in 1887 in Coalville; he was the son of the late Abraham Wardle of Margaret St- Coalville, who died 20 years before.
He was the brother of James Wardle killed in action at Neuve Chapelle between the 10th and 14th March. 1915.
He was single and worked at the South Leicestershire Colliery before the war. He served three years in the Army in peace time, one of these being spent in Egypt and he would have completed nine years on the reserve about six months after his death.
Military Service
Joseph was called up as a reservist when war broke out and he had taken part in several battles, having been twice wounded. He went out with the first British Expeditionary Force , being in the great retreat from Mons. He recovered from a wound and was taking his place again in the firing line in fighting near Ypres when he had two fingers shot off.
In February 1914, the Coalville Times reported:” Pte. Joseph Wardle, whose widowed mother resides in Margaret Street, has been twice wounded in the war and is now at Windsor. He is in the Coldstream Guards and went out with the First Expeditionary Force, being in the great retreat from Mons. He recovered from a wound and was taking his place again in the firing line fighting near Ypres when he had two fingers shot off. Last week, Wardle paid a short visit home and returned to Windsor. He is a brother of Private Wardle of the Grenadier Guards, who as reported in a recent issue was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle.”
Joseph enlisted in Coalville with the 3rd Coldstream Guards.
He was killed in action and died on 15 September 1916, he was 29 years old.
He is remembered with Honour on the Thiepval Memorial in the Somme (80) France -ref: Pier & Face 7D & 8D; as well as on the Clock Tower War Memorial in Coalville, and in Christ Church Coalville.
Many thanks, Francoise; RIP Joseph Wardle.
Hi Paul,
I wonder if you have any info on my great grandfather (Harold Foster). Harold served in the Coldstream Guards during WW1 from January 1915 to 1917. His service number was 15071. If you have any info on him I would be extremely grateful.
many thanks,
Adam.
No, I'm sorry I don't have additional infiormation on this man but his entry in the silver war badge roll will tell you when he enlisted and when he was discharged. You can access this on Ancestry or Findmypast. Ancestry will also have medal car and medal roll information.
Paul
Thats great, many thanks for your help Paul.
best wishes,
Adam.
REGINALD CHARLES HONOUR No.18320 ENLISTED IN Ist.BATTN, COLDSTREAM GUARDS ON 14.4.1916.HE WAS AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL. DIED AT No.29 CLEARING STATION ON 17.10.1918.HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE BATTN.INTELLIGENCE SECTION.
RIP Reginald Charles Honour; thank you for posting.
Hi Paul,
Am researching my grandfather George Pitts who served with 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, Service No 9434, during WWI and can't find out when he joined. Do you have this information and anything else which maybe of use? I know from my father that he was injured twice and after treatment, each time returned to the front line.
Your help would be appreciated.
Dave
Guards' records survive but you'll need to make personal application to the archive:
Regimental Archivist
APPLICATION FOR INFORMATION FROM SERVICE RECORDS
Regimental Headquarters Coldstream Guards
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London
SW1E 6HQ
Also see here: http://rhqcoldmgds.co.uk/shop/page/3?shop_param=
My Grandfather William Hackett joined the Coldstream Guards on September 20th 1914 Service no 12916. I have his birth certificate and he was born on 7 th December 1899 so he was 14 when he enlisted. He gave his birth year as 1895. I wonder how many enlisted underage without any checks being made. He joined the Coldstream Guards because he went with his brothers to join the Staffordshire Regiment and they realised from the ages of his brothers that he was underage.
He survived the War discharged from service in 1919 eventually joined Birmingham City police, he passed away in 1983.
Nice story, thank you for sharing it here. Your grandfather's papers almost certainly still survive with the Coldstream Guards archives at Wellington Barracks.
Trying to find more details of my great uncle 9910 3rd battalion George William Hilson died Christmas Eve 1914 age 19. I would like to know where he fell.
@Anne, he probably died at a CCS close to where he is buried. Thsi from the CWGC website: "Lillers was used for billets and headquarter offices from the autumn of 1914 to April 1918. At that time it was a hospital centre with the 6th, 9th, 18th, 32nd, 49th and 58th Casualty Clearing Stations in the town at one time or another. These units buried their dead on the right of the central path of the communal cemetery, working back from Plot I."
Just found your site. My grandfather 2182 Ernest Edward Evans enlisted Birmingham, served SA both medals. Called from reserve and served through mons, Marne and 1st Ypres. KIA at Langemarck, 25 October, 1914.Remembered with honour on the Menin Gate.
Survived by wife and 4. Two if whom followed him into the Regiment, 22 & 42 years service. I followed suit in the1960s.
Private Armitage Brooke service no. 13732 volunteered on 14/11/14 . Discharged on health grounds on 25/08/1916. He played rugby league for HunsletRLFC in Leeds.
Hi. Im trying to find out some information on my grandfather Harold Liddiard. I believe he was a private in coldstrem guards. He served in mesopotamia (now Turkey). He was born in 1885. Im not sure but i think his number was 4099. My father, Harolds son, has dementia and I would love to give him some more information about his dad while he still remembers him. Any information would be much appreciated. Many thanks, Clive Liddiard
Dear Paul
I am researching my uncles father who was a RSM at Buckingham Palace byvthe name of Cyril Fear I think he was in the coldstream guards sorry no dates but probably 2nd world war time. Can you help Thanjs
Clive, thank you for comment but I need to refer you to my text on the comments' page. "Thank you for visiting this blog. I welcome insights about regimental numbering but I do not have time to respond to individual research queries here. If you want me to undertake paid research, please follow the instructions on the RESEARCH tab."
Re RSM, WW2. No, sorry, that's beyond my scope. Please contact the MoD who will have his papers: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
Hi Paul,
This is a great resource - well done!
My great grandfather F Rawlings served in the Coldstream Guards in the second Boer War, we have his QSM and he was also awarded the KSM - his number is 7360 which from the sample list above would have him enlisting sometime between March 1887 - 1888. He was born in 1871.
He was also in the Met Police as we have his Queens Jubilee Medal from 1897! Really confused as to how he could have joined the army in 1888, then served in the police and back in the army in time for the Boer War - or is there another logical explanation? We always assumed he left the Police in 1998 and the joined the army!!
Many thanks
Simon
There's a simple explanation, Simon. He signed up for three years with the colours and 9 years on the reserve and was therefore back in civilian life (as a reservist) when he was recalled to the colours in 1899 when Britain went to war with the Boer Republic.
Hi Paul,
My grandfather, William Alfred ELLIS, No. 16423, according to your list of joining dates, would have joined the Coldstream Guards in mid 1915. He died of natural causes before I was born and my grandmother, surviving him by 50 years, regularly mentioned the regiment with pride but never said anything about his service. Would he have served overseas ? If so, are you able to say where ?
I have learnt more about the Coldstream Guards after half an hour on your site than anywhere else.
Thank you, Wendy Charles
Hi my grandfather was a strecher bearer ww1 in the guards but need details of where he served etc army number 20491
Re 16423 Ellis, he did serve overseas but I am afraid its not clear which battalion he served with. He later served with the Labour Corps. The MoD should have his papers still: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
Re 20491 Paul George, Coldstream Guards. There are papers which you can access from here: http://www.britisharmyancestors.co.uk/search-result/?q=20491+coldstream
Hi Paul
Reading through your posts, I saw one asking for info on a Harold Foster 15071 his Great Grandfather. I have just acquired his Wound Badge No 171313 in an auction job lot.
The guy asking for the info, posted 3rd Jan 2017 only identifies as Adam.Is there some way of contacting him please?
Many thanks
Kev
Unfortunately not, Kev Smith. For that matter, if he contacted me now, I wouldn't be able to contact you either. I don't see any email addresses when people post comments.
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