Looking for an Old Goat Major

Hi I am searching for info on my Wifes late Uncle Ithel Williams. He was a Regimental Goat Major, and I dearly want to trace his service record.

Uncle Ithel was a batchelor, he was a lifetime Soldier. He had serious malaria problems, he passed away at Llwynypia Hospital some 32 odd years ago, I was privelidged to be with him. I guess, if he had lived, he would be around a 100yrs old now.

He is in an unmarked grave, and I dearly want to be able to erect a Military Headstone for him, but this must include his service number etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kindest Regards.....Paul Wasley

Hi Paul,

I've moved it here so that the researchers get to see it.

Do you have his full name….any other first names. Do you know his period of service, where he served, which battalion? On an intial glance at our database I don't see an "Ithel" listed, so anymore detail would really help. Although it is quite difficult to identify individuals.

Perhaps John Ithel Williams 4178715, enlisted 14/06/1920, discharged 27/03/1944?

John

As always, it's all about the detail Dr K….Well spotted sir. If Paul comes back with a DOB and home town, I can check the book on Tuesday.

Al,
if Ithel 4178715 was born say 1902, making him 18 in 1920 at enlistment, he'd be about 81 when he died and 113 years old now. Does that fit? Afraid I haven't got access to Deaths indices after 1983.

As a first forename for a Williams Ithel isn't at all common: I found only 10 born England & Wales in the period 1890-1939. If it was his second forename, that's something else.

If you know roughly when he died, would there be an obituary in Red Dragon which could tell you more? There used to be an index to RD in the curators office at King's Mill, which is now probably in Bodelwyddan.

Clive

John Ithell Williams 4178715 lived at Glan Cain, Bridge Street, Llanfyllin when he enlisted in 1920

And there is a death registered June 1974 for that name at Llanfyllin. Born 1902.

The post 1920 book goes to 1939/1940 enlistments.

The above John Ithell Williams is the only Ithell Williams in the transcription.

If he served pre WW2 and isn't him then another possibility is Welsh Regiment. Didn't they have goats?

Hi, Many thanks for the responses. I will research Uncle Ithels details for birthdates etc, and bring them back to this thread. Thanks to all for the time spent thus far.

Uncle Ithel would not have been the gentleman from Bodelwyddan. Kindest Regards....Paul W.

Uncle Ithel was most definitely born in Ferndale in The Rhondda. I was with him when he passed away, which was some..guessing...32yrs ago at Llwynypia Hospital.....my daughter was around 4 at the time, and is no 36

Again many thanks....PaulW.

Hi all.
I found Uncle Ithels death certificate last night.
As I said he died at Llwynypia Hospital, with me at his side.
This was the 7th November 1984. He was borne at Ferndale Rhondda on 29th November 1902.

I really do not know which Battalion or Division he was attached to, however I can only go on what he told me, and that was he was in charge of "Taffy the Goat" whilst in the army.
My late Mother-in-law had a photo of him in uniform, alongside the goat sadly that has disappeared, this could have been lost when she passed away 3 years ago.

He also told me he served in India, also I seem to remember him saying he was in Korea....however, please remember these conversations took place well over 35 years ago!!.....and my memory aint to clever!

Uncle Ithel was a batchelor. He never bought a house, as he ended up with my Mother-in-law....my Wife tells me she can remember him coming there when she was around 11yrs old, ie 1963. My Wife seems to think he lived in London for some time before he came back down to Wales.....this in itself seems quite odd to me.

I do not know if he had an army pension.....I can only surmise he did......would this be a good area to check? : ie go back to the beginning for his Army Number?

Thanks again for the help.....PaulW.

Best apply for his service record, Paul.

See this post:

http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/sho...-WW2-PERSONNEL

John

Hi Paul,

A couple of clues in your last post "Korea" + "Taffy". You will be looking for The Welch Regiment. They served in Korea and their goat was called "Taffy". Ours was called "Billy"
Their museum is at Brecon. http://www.royalwelsh.org.uk/regiment/faqs.htm