What is the best site to find WW1 UK Enlistment details?

Question

I found a WWI death.  I searched The UK National Archives with the service number but no result.  I am trying to find this ones age or parents to check if he is the right one

Name:	Albert Edward Courtney
Birth Place:	Botley, Southampton
Death Date:	12 Oct 1918
Death Place:	Palestine
Enlistment Place:	Southampton
Rank:	DVR.
Regiment:	Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery
Battalion:	Territorial Force
Regimental Number:	618099
Type of Casualty:	Died
Theatre of War:	Egyptian Theatre

Answer 1

Hi Veronica,

Go to Commonwealth War Graves Commission [www.cwgc.org/]
Search under “Find War Dead”
In results, click on name for additional details (for this result:)

COURTNEY, ALBERT EDWARD

Rank:                     Driver
Service No:             618099
Date of Death:             12/10/1918
Age:                     32
Regiment/Service:        Royal Horse Artillery 20th Hants Bde.
Grave Reference:        A. 40.
Cemetery:                 DAMASCUS COMMONWEALTH
                        WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:    Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Courtney.
                        Born at Meonstoke, Hants.

Comments

Thanks Peter that looks like him.

Answer 2

I found a discharge record for a different Albert Edward Courtney (different county of birth) on Findmypast:

First name(s)	Albert Edward
Last name	Courtney
Service number	189
Regiment	Dorsetshire Yeomanry
Unit / Battalion	-
Event year	1908
Age	22
Birth year	1886
Birth town	Gillingham
Birth county	Dorset
Birth country	England
Residence town	Gillingham
Residence county	Dorset
Series	WO 363
Record set	British Army Service Records 1914-1920
Category	Military Service & Conflict
Subcategory	First World War
Collections from	United Kingdom

Comments

Thanks Star. He is the right age but not my one I'm afraid.

Answer 3

The WWI records in England were bombed and destroyed in WWII. They are known as the "burnt" files because those that are left are definitely singed around the edges. Consider yourself lucky that you found someone there.

Comments

A sobering reminder.

---

I didn't know that, thanks

Answer 4

National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 811001-812500; Reference: 492  (on Ancestry)

date of death, 12 October 1918

place of death receiving centre Syria

Royal field Artillery, 6108099, Driver

Effects £29 6 3 + what I think is the 'war grant' in red of £19 10 0 to his grandmother Abigail 

On the 1891 Census for 1891 , Holdenhurst, Bournemouth RG 12 piece 902 Folio 146 P 9

Abigail Courtney 48 head wid Housekeeper Droxford Hants

Abigail A  Courtney 20  dau  S   Dressmaker Woolwich Kent

Albert E Courtney 4 g son Meonstoke Hants

(edit just read the profile; should have done that before checking Abigail out. It would seem to confirm your identification)

 

 

 

Comments

Thanks Helen, this confirms it.  This is him.  How sad, I had been hoping it wouldn't be him.  It looks as if that is the end of my line in the UK.  I had been hoping he would have married and had descendants.  Thanks for your time.