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Hi Folks,

This is my first post in some time. I hope I have placed it in the correct location.

I purchased a Mediterranean Medal to 6337 DMR J Daly, Munster Fusiliers, a few years ago from Noonans. I've been busy researaching other medals and therefore the first I really starrted looking into Daly was a few weeks ago. I have an Ancestry account and performed the usual searches. I came accross a 6336 Daly but could not locate any Boer war service information but did find that he served in WW1 and died 29 September 1918. The Med medal roll indicates 3 Daly's recieved the medal (J, M & S Daly). Other than 6337 J Daly appearing on the roll of the Permanent Staff, 5th Royal Munsters, I was unable to find anything else (Tried searching for John, Jason, Johnathan with various permutations of service number with no luck).

The J daly who died in 1918 (John) did not apear to receive the Med medal but it's odd that I couldn't find any Boer war service. Here are my thoughts;

- If both of these gentlemen are unique, then would we not have some record of 6336 Daly during the Boer War (Now that I've written this, I realise I have nothing for 6337 either, which would be correct if both were militia troops guarding prisoners!
- Could 6336 & 6337 Daly be the same person - Error with naming on medal?

I'd appreciate your thoughts of suggestions as to other reseach avenues.

Cheers
Grant
Dublin, Ireland

6336 J Daly who died (pneumonia while P.o.W.) 29.9.1918 has a card in Fold 3 Pension Ledgers

www.fold3.com/image/668544976/daly-john-...s-1914-1923?xid=6792

on which his dob is given as 24/6/1890 - so not same man as 6337

Pete

Thank you - That is very helpful. Onwards with the research

Thinking about this a bit more. Would it be usual for Drummers to be quite young? - I'm happy that both identified J Daly's are different people, but would it be possible for a Drummer to be 12 years old in the militia ?

What it be usual for two service numbers to be so close together but one person served in the Boer war and another in WW1?

Questions for a Sunday

The easy answer is that the militia regiments had their own soldier numbering system which was not integrated with the regular battalions or the later service battalions.
6336 Daly, according to his MIC, landed Balkans 24/5/15

www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collectio...168&_phstart=success Source&pId=3901683

That is the date that the 1st Batt RMF landed at Helles, Gallipoli. 6336 therefore might be a regular battalion enlistment number c.1908? (at age 18years)You would need to check the WW1 service history of adjacent numbers to get a better picture.
.
On drummers in Militia, I suggest you follow the career of 6373 M Clair 5 RMF, on the same roll as your man 6337, and with a reasonably close number. He had an interesting career.
An entry in his medical file in 1916 (on Findmypast) indicates that he had a birth date in 1885, making him 15years in 1900. That age would fit much better for a boy drummer. His army service would count from age 18 but he kept his same number right through.
Pete

search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=S2%2FG...FMH106%2FP2%2F170709

Thank you for the information and advice.