Family Military History

[Loyalist]

Do you have any ancestors or relatives who have served in any armed conflict? Please feel free to elaborate on any such individual in as much detail as you wish.

I'll get us started, beginning with the most recent.

World War II

Great-grandfather: Served with the British Army, and in the same unit as his brother (my great-great uncle). At first stationed in England, he later saw combat in Italy, the Netherlands, and was eventually posted to occupation duty in Germany. He survived unscathed, but his brother was shot during the Anzio campaign and left permanently disabled.

Two great-uncles also fought in the European theatre, including one who, as a medic, was forced to pull corpses out of the English Channel following the failed raid on Dieppe.

World War I

Great-great grandather: Served with the British Army (Grenadier Guards) on the Western Front, and was present at the Battle of Passchendaele (aka Third Ypres), among others.

Great-grandfather: Served with the British Army on the Western Front, although with which regiment is unclear.

War of 1812

Great-great-great-great grandfather served with the British Army (4th Lincoln Regiment) and was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

On a wider level, I'm descended from a number of individuals who served with Loyalist militias during the Revolutionary War, as well as combatants of the Seven Years' War (maternal ancestor served in the Prussian Army), the English Civil War, and the Wars of the Roses.

[Treffie]

Good thread Loyalist!

Maternal grandfather.
He served in WWII, was sent to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Burma and was captured by the Japanese and imprisoned in a POW camp.

Paternal grandfather
Served in WWI, and was involved in the Battle of Jutland (Denmark).

Father
Served in WWII. Joined the army at 17 and was sent to Palestine as a peace keeper.

[Barreldriver]

William Reeder(my gggggrandfather):

Regiment: 41 Tennessee Infantry
Side: Confederate
Company: E
Soldiers Rank In: Private
Soldiers Rank Out: Private
Alternate name: William Reader
Film Number: M231 Roll 36




Andrew Burgess(my gggggrandfather):

Regiment:12 Tennessee Cavalry
Side: Union
Company: G
Soldiers Rank In: Private
Soldiers Rank Out: Private
Alternate name: Adrew J. Burgess



Starling Neal(my ggggreat grandfather)

Regiment: 25 Tennessee Infantry
Side: Confederacy
Company: H
Soldiers Rank In: Private
Soldiers Rank Out: Private
Alternate Name: Starling/Neel
Film Number: M231 Roll 32


Gen. John Adolphus Horne, born July 1598 in Sweden. taken at 5 years of age into Kings household and raised. Made Commander in Chief of the army. Moved to England and settled there in 1642 with a retinue of 500 men and joined Oliver Cromwell. Married Mary McDonald in 1643. Built "The Oaks" in Chestershire.


Then my grandfather Reeder's uncles served in WWII, I have a few relations that served in Desert Storm and the current Middle East disputes, can't remember if it was Afghanistan or Iraq. I don't know much about the last one, never met the feller's or knew about them until I heard my grandfather discussing the War in Iraq and some names came up.


I don't want to get into the Revolutionary War, I've got quite a few that fought in it, I'll post those tomorrow, have to dig through my Legacy files.

[Psychonaut]

I'll start with what I can recount from memory:

My father served in the Navy (retired E-8) and was deployed during both Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Much of his time was spent as an airborne MI operative.

My maternal grandfather also served in the Navy (and also retired as an E-8). He served during the entirety of WWII in the Pacific. Since he was a native French speaker, much of his tenure was spent as a translator.

My great uncle Wiltz (http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7103) (retired as an O-7) had an extremely lengthy career as a combat pilot, flying 102 combat missions during WWII. During that time, he "destroyed one Japanese bomber and five fighter aircraft, and was credited with damaging three more. He was shot down twice by ground fire but each time parachuted to safety and successfully evaded enemy capture behind the lines."

Lewis Moore (1760-1831) served in the War of 1812.

Adolphe LaBauve (1828-1908) fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

That's all I can think of off hand. I know that I had a few fight during the French-Indian War, the Hundred Years War, the Crusades, the Norman Conquest of England and countless Frankish wars, but due to ancestry.com's poor search functions, I'm unable to pull up specific names just now.

[Electronic God-Man]

WWII

Grandfather fought in the 8th armored division. The "Thundering Herd" if I remember correctly. He was a sergeant and worked in reconnaissance. He fought in Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Germany. Also, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge) through the Ardennes. It was apparently pretty intense.

His buddies and him were actually in a jeep accident and they all ended up with dental damage. Well, they thought they were smart and decided to let one of their German POWs who had been a dentist try to fix their teeth. The German dentist apparently fixed whatever problems they had but with the shot of novocaine he gave them there was also some sort of poison. On the jeep ride back to wherever they were staying most of the guys fell over dead. Seeing that something was obviously wrong my grandfather and the other guy still living shot the German and threw him out of the jeep. Grandpa was in the hospital then for quite some time. I still don't know what kind of poison it was (I could probably contact someone) but it fucked up their hearts.

He received various medals including three bronze stars and two purple hearts.

Civil War

Union: Four of them for NY and PA.

Confederacy: One. Fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_gettysburg). Apparently when he saw that they were beaten and it was basically over for the Rebels he ran off and moved north.


Mexican War

John Carpenter: He later fought in the Civil War too. He was honorably discharged in the newly captured Mexico City. A lot of these guys that fought got really sick from the diseases down there. He weighed only 105 pounds when he got back but he was about 6 feet tall.
He received the following disabilities: right inguinal hernia rupture and chronic diarrhea due to bloody dysentery. He must have gotten better because, like I said, he fought in the Civil War then too.

Revolutionary War

I was trying to see if I could remember all of their names, but I can't right now. There were more than ten. I do remember some of the battles they fought in though. Here are those I can remember:

- Battle of Brandywine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brandywine)
- Battle of Monmouth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monmouth)
- Battle of Paulus Hook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Paulus_Hook)
- Battle of Cowpens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cowpens)
- Battle of Guilford Courthouse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guilford_Court_House)
- Battle of Hobkirk's Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hobkirk%27s_Hill)
- Battle of White Plains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_White_Plains)
- One of my ancestors was with George Washington at Valley Forge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_forge)

One family I am descended from escaped from what is called the Wyoming Valley Massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming_Massacre)

Before that I have ancestors that fought in the Pequot War, King Philip's War, and the French and Indian War.

[Barreldriver]

I've got some more family military history:

John Adolfus Horne, Gen. John Adolphus Horne, born July 1598 in Sweden. taken at 5 years of age into Kings household and raised. Made Commander in Chief of the army. Moved to England and settled there in 1642 with a retinue of 500 men and joined Oliver Cromwell. Married Mary McDonald in 1643. Built "The Oaks" in Chestershire.

Seigneur Reginald Courtenay, Crusader 1147; held barony of Oakhampton.

MISC: According to Ancestral Roots:

1150 - Witness in Rouen, Normandy of charter of Henry, Duke of Normandy (later Henry II of England).

1160 - received grant of the Manor of Sutton, Berkshire from the king; from that date in cons tant attendance on the king, perhaps a royal secretary.

1171 - accompanied the king in his campaign in Ireland.

1175-1176 - appears holding land in Devonshire for the first time. [Could this possibly relat e to his late (1172) marriage to Maud Fitz Edith or to the son Reginald's marriage to Hawis e de Courcy, Heiress of Okehampton?]

1175-1176 - in the king's train in his travels in England and France.

[Ladejarlen]

My mothers father was in the Norwegian resistance with the shetland bus.
http://www.shetland-heritage.co.uk/shetlandbus/

Here is a picture of him
http://img7.nettby.no/users/a/u/r/aurgelme/files/morfar002.jpg

[Loki]

A split from this thread can be found here (http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4065), which discusses the possibilities of long-term ancestral research.

[SwordoftheVistula]

All my ancestors for at least the past 150 years have avoided any actual combat experience, due to age and/or occupation. One cousin of a grandparent was a member of a flight crew of one of the atomic bombing raids though.

[Tabiti]

My maternal grandmother's first cousin was an artilety general in WWII. The others were too young to go to the front, or were just mobilized farmers with no special military honours. There are some cavallerists as well, fighters in local uprisings and so on - nothing interesting if it's about military carrier in our family.

[quotablepatella]

My 12x great grandfather Sir Gilbert Houghton was involved in the English Civil War.

A brother of my great grandmother was killed at Ypres in 1917, and his body was never found.

A brother of another great grandmother was killed in Malta in 1942 when his plane crashed. He was one of a large family which inclued 8 brothers, all of whom served in WWII.

One of my great grandfathers was in the last cavalry charge made by the British in WW1.

[Laudanum]

My 12x great grandfather Sir Gilbert Houghton was involved in the English Civil War.

A brother of my great grandmother was killed at Ypres in 1917, and his body was never found.

A brother of another great grandmother was killed in Malta in 1942 when his plane crashed. He was one of a large family which inclued 8 brothers, all of whom served in WWII.

One of my great grandfathers was in the last cavalry charge made by the British in WW1.

That looks very interesting!

[Barreldriver]

Nathaniel Maddox, Chief of the Name of the Maddox family. Served in the American Revolution under King George, died in the service of King George. A Red Coat basically.

[quotablepatella]

Nathaniel Maddox, Chief of the Name of the Maddox family. Served in the American Revolution under King George, died in the service of King George. A Red Coat basically.

One of my distant cousins, Nathaniel Greene (4th cousin 9 times removed), was involved in the American Revolution. George Washington is my 14th cousin 8 times removed.

Also, I'm a distant cousin of both Abraham Lincoln and General Lee (12th cousin 7 times removed and 17th cousin 11 times removed respectively).

[Hors]

My Father was in Military Intelligence and participated in military conflicts in African countries.
My paternal Grandfather was qualified as a fighter pilot but served in the Ministry of Armaments during the War, supervising the Katysha rocket launcher production.
My maternal Grandfather fought as an infantry sergeant in the War, he took part in the Dnieper crossing.
I have other more distant relatives who fought in the War.

[Loki]

My Father was in Military Intelligence and participated in military conflicts in African countries.


No doubt involved in the Border War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War) in Angola? ;)

[Hors]

No doubt involved in the Border War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War) in Angola? ;)

Ethiopia and Sudan. Thank Lord, not for long. We won and he was soon promoted to head the GRU network in a large NATO country. :)

[Amarantine]

well, as I am Mne, for us will be better question, do we have ancestors which were not in the wars.

hm...well...to be honest...each generation in my familly were involved in some kind of wars and so many battles...just in the past century they didn't miss even one battle-both Balkan wars, many Herzegovina's Risings which Mne King sent our Army as help, to Toplica Rising (Toplicki Ustanak) in WWI, and all WWI, WWII. One of my grand grand fathers didn't have time to come in Mne on time during the WWI (it was tradition that each Montenegrin no matter where he lived, immediately come to Montenegro and defend Montenegro) so he was so desperated and stays in USA in their Army :P

[Smitty]

I was going to start a thread on this subject, but I'll resurrect this one instead. Counting only direct ancestors that I'm aware of:

WWII: My maternal grandfather fought in the Pacific Theater and received a shoulder wound on Okinawa.

Franco-Prussian War: My 3rd-great grandfather Karl Linnemann fought for Prussia.

Civil War: My 2nd-great grandfather George Washington Smith and my 3rd-great grandfather Charles Kyger both fought for the Union, from Indiana and Illinois respectively.

War of 1812: My 4th-great grandfathers John Cromer and John Dunivan both fought for the USA. According to a published genealogy on the Cromer family, John Cromer fought in the Battle of the Thames against Tecumseh and the British.

Revolutionary War: John Cromer, Sr. (father of the above), James Henthorn (6th-great grandfather), and a 6th-great grandfather whose name I don't know participated. The latter "was shot through the breast [and] recovered" according to a county history.

[Armand_Duval]

My great great grand father was a Colnel of the Mexican Army and in 1865 he fought a battle in the mountains of Puebla against the French army and defeated them, it is a notable feat because those french soldiers were veterans of Magenta and Solferino battles.

It happened during the sencond French Intervention in Mexican Soil.

Here is the full story, only it comes in spanish..

https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batalla_de_La_Laja

[Brianna]

They fought and served in most wars. I found around twenty ancestors who fought against the British in the Revolutionary War and the War Of 1812. I found many who fought against the North in the Civil War. My great-grandpa was decorated for bravery in World War I. Most of my grandpas, great-uncles, and their cousins served in different military branches in World War II. My dad, uncles, and their cousins were in the military during the Vietnam War. Some of my cousins and cousins' husbands served during the Gulf War. Sadly, I never served in the military. I almost joined the Marines after one of my girlfriends begged me to enlist with her on the buddy system. I also planned to attend a military academy before my grades nose-dived in my freshman year of high school.

[Marusya]

My Ukrainian grandfather was conscripted into the Russian Imperial Army under the last Tsar, Nicholas II. He was stationed in St. Petersburg, rode a horse and played a bugle. :D He also marched in military parades in front of the Winter Palace, where he saw the Tsar and his "beautiful daughters." He lived with my family when I was a small child and he was a very old man. He used to regale us with stories of his homeland.

I still have his military papers. A couple of photos below, including one of the Russian Imperial Two-Headed Eagle stamp. I found out a lot about my Ukrainian family from having this document translated.

http://i58.tinypic.com/2vxlqgw.jpg


http://i58.tinypic.com/3525d9w.jpg

[Armand_Duval]

My great great grad father met the emperors of Mexico, Maximilian of Habsburg and Charlotte themselves, they offered him a lot of money for him and his soldiers to join the French Empire and betray the republic, he rejected their offerings and soon after that, he received a letter from Ferdinand Latrille Count if Lorencez himself in which This Count warned him that French forces were going to destroy my Great great grand Pa's forces, he engaged them and got victorious.

[Armand_Duval]

My Ukrainian grandfather was conscripted into the Russian Imperial Army under the last Tsar, Nicholas II. He was stationed in St. Petersburg, rode a horse and played a bugle. :D He also marched in military parades in front of the Winter Palace, where he saw the Tsar and his "beautiful daughters." He lived with my family when I small and he was a very old man. He used to regale us with stories of his homeland.

I still have his military papers. A couple of photos below, including one of the Russian Imperial Two-Headed Eagle stamp. I found out a lot about my Ukrainian family from having this document translated.

http://i58.tinypic.com/2vxlqgw.jpg


http://i58.tinypic.com/3525d9w.jpg

One of my uncles used to have some documents and old pictures about my great great grand dad's war actions.

[Proctor]

Battle of Hastings (Unclear what side they fought on)

King Philip's war (Probable though not certain)

Revolutionary war (Patriots)

Civil war (Union)

World War 1 (British)

[Brianna]

World War 1 (British)

Your American ancestors fought in the British armed forces during World War I?

[Smitty]

They fought and served in most wars. I found around twenty ancestors who fought against the British in the Revolutionary War and the War Of 1812. I found many who fought against the North in the Civil War. My great-grandpa was decorated for bravery in World War I. Most of my grandpas, great-uncles, and their cousins served in different military branches in World War II. My dad, uncles, and their cousins were in the military during the Vietnam War. Some of my cousins and cousins' husbands served during the Gulf War. Sadly, I never served in the military. I almost joined the Marines after one of my girlfriends begged me to enlist with her on the buddy system. I also planned to attend a military academy before my grades nose-dived in my freshman year of high school.

Were you a military kid by any chance? You fit the stereotype.

[Marusya]

One of my uncles used to have some documents and old pictures about my great great grand dad's war actions.

You should try to get copies, if possible! I've been collecting photos and documents from both sides of my family for the past few years. I've also been working with a researcher in Ukraine to get more documents. I am now considered the "Family Historian." :D I'm in the process of organizing the information into a book form. I find family histories very interesting.

[Armand_Duval]

They fought and served in most wars. I found around twenty ancestors who fought against the British in the Revolutionary War and the War Of 1812. I found many who fought against the North in the Civil War. My great-grandpa was decorated for bravery in World War I. Most of my grandpas, great-uncles, and their cousins served in different military branches in World War II. My dad, uncles, and their cousins were in the military during the Vietnam War. Some of my cousins and cousins' husbands served during the Gulf War. Sadly, I never served in the military. I almost joined the Marines after one of my girlfriends begged me to enlist with her on the buddy system. I also planned to attend a military academy before my grades nose-dived in my freshman year of high school.


I was going to start a thread on this subject, but I'll resurrect this one instead. Counting only direct ancestors that I'm aware of:

WWII: My maternal grandfather fought in the Pacific Theater and received a shoulder wound on Okinawa.

Franco-Prussian War: My 3rd-great grandfather Karl Linnemann fought for Prussia.

Civil War: My 2nd-great grandfather George Washington Smith and my 3rd-great grandfather Charles Kyger both fought for the Union, from Indiana and Illinois respectively.

War of 1812: My 4th-great grandfathers John Cromer and John Dunivan both fought for the USA. According to a published genealogy on the Cromer family, John Cromer fought in the Battle of the Thames against Tecumseh and the British.

Revolutionary War: John Cromer, Sr. (father of the above), James Henthorn (6th-great grandfather), and a 6th-great grandfather whose name I don't know participated. The latter "was shot through the breast [and] recovered" according to a county history.


Battle of Hastings (Unclear what side they fought on)

King Philip's war (Probable though not certain)

Revolutionary war (Patriots)

Civil war (Union)

World War 1 (British)

My great great grad father was considered a local hero and it feels good to descend from someone like him, now imagine you guys with so many dustinguished ancestors in your genealogy!!!.

[Brianna]

Were you a military kid by any chance? You fit the stereotype.

No, my dad didn't make a career out of it. I have friends and relatives, who are/were military kids, though.

[Armand_Duval]

You should try to get copies, if possible! I've been collecting photos and documents from both sides of my family for the past few years. I've also been working with a researcher in Ukraine to get more documents. I am now considered the "Family Historian." :D I'm in the process of organizing the information into a book form. I find family histories very interesting.

Unfortunately my uncle died years ago and I donno where those papers and pictures are...:picard1:

[Marusya]

Unfortunately my uncle died years ago and I donno where those papers and pictures are...:picard1:

:( Try to collect what you can about your family, and write down what you know. Your children will thank you one day!

[Brianna]

My great great grad father was considered a local hero and it feels good to descend from someone like him, now imagine you guys with so many dustinguished ancestors in your genealogy!!!.

It's somewhat weird that I can't find any ancestors or relatives involved in the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, or the Korean War.

[Smitty]

My great great grad father was considered a local hero and it feels good to descend from someone like him, now imagine you guys with so many dustinguished ancestors in your genealogy!!!.

I think you know more details about your great-great grandfather than I do about all my ancestors put together. Very cool story, Armand_Duval.

[Armand_Duval]

It's somewhat weird that I can't find any ancestors or relatives involved in the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, or the Korean War.

I might descend of this guy.

https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crist%C3%B3bal_Lechuga

Altough it is not confirmed, I should have to do an intensive genealogical research to prove it, he was an acomplished spanish military during the XVI century, captain of the famous Spanish Tercios.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tercio

My Great great grand dad, the Colnel was part of a distinguished criollo family and I think he descended from the Captain of the Tercios I am talking about.

[Proctor]

Your American ancestors fought in the British armed forces during World War I?

Newfoundland ancestor serving under the British (Newfoundland was still a part of the British empire at that time), he died while in service unfortunately. Not a direct ancestor but he was the brother of my great-great grandfather and had the same Y-dna as me.

Thomas Francis ******* (blanked his last name for privacy, he had the same last name as me)

Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve

Died on 3 September 1917 Age 20

Not sure if he's in this but here is a picture of some of the men in his reserve (there was less than a thousand people in it, pretty small).

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/HMS_Calypso_c.jpg/800px-HMS_Calypso_c.jpg

[Proctor]

Civil War: My 2nd-great grandfather George Washington Smith and my 3rd-great grandfather Charles Kyger both fought for the Union, from Indiana and Illinois respectively.


No way!!! My Civil war ancestors were from Indiana too! My direct gx4 grandfather was named George Washington Harris (same first and middle name as yours haha) he first fought in a cavalry division, was mustered out then joined an infantry battalion. Whereabouts in Indiana was he from?

[Brianna]

I might descend of this guy.

https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crist%C3%B3bal_Lechuga

Altough it is not confirmed, I should have to do an intensive genealogical research to prove it, he was an acomplished spanish military during the XVI century, captain of the famous Spanish Tercios.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tercio

My Great great grand dad, the Colnel was part of a distinguished criollo family and I think he descended from the Captain of the Tercios I am talking about.

It gets really interesting when you discover your ancestors' participation in military events from the distant past. I have ancestral ties to all of the countries in the British Isles. English forebears fought Scottish forebears. Ancestral clans feuded with ancestral clans. Irish natives clashed with Scots-Irish settlers. My ancestors probably were represented by both sides in the movie, "King Arthur".

One of my Irish ancestors served under the Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars. There's little doubt that my British Isles predecessors were not one big happy family.

[XenophobicPrussian]

I would've been so proud if any of my grandparents on either side were a part of the SS(aslong as they were in combat roles and not behind any atrocities, and yeah yeah, sue me) or the Wehrmacht. Two of the greatest fighting forces in the world of any period, and fighting for the 'cause of true sovereignty of nations.

Unfortunately, the German side of my family was already in Canada, and my Nordic as fuck looking grandfather on my Polish side fought in the Polish army against the Nazis and got run over by a tank(died a few years ago). My German-Canadian side seems to be a bunch of panzies in terms of war contributions, from what I know anyway. I don't mind though, I hate violence and I don't exactly plan to join the military either(and would prevent my kids from doing so), not like Canada or Germany would fight for the interests of their own people anyway.

I wish people in Medieval times and Victorian times kept better records, I would love to know what my ancestors were. I would be so fucking elitist if I found out there was some nobility in there, even a Baron.

[Smitty]

No way!!! My Civil war ancestors were from Indiana too! My direct gx4 grandfather was named George Washington Harris (same first and middle name as yours haha) he first fought in a cavalry division, was mustered out then joined an infantry battalion. Whereabouts in Indiana was he from?

Jefferson/Jennings County area. Southeast corner of the state if I remember correctly, near the Ohio River. The naming conventions of the times don't help any with genealogy, huh? :) Where were your relatives from?

[Proctor]

Jefferson/Jennings County area. Southeast corner of the state if I remember correctly, near the Ohio River. The naming conventions of the times don't help any with genealogy, huh? :) Where were your relatives from?

Oh wow, other side of the state haha! Did yours fight in the Iron brigade? I know troops from Indiana had the toughest reputation for troops in the Union during the Civil war. Mine were from Vigo County, I'll paste his biography here:


George Washington Harris, the third child of Lavina Bennett and Richard John Harris, was born in 1844 in Sugar Creek Township, Vigo County. During the Civil War, George Harris served under three regiments. On November 1, 1861, he enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Cavalry (41st) Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Company H, and was discharged on January 29, 1863. On May 17, 1864, he enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class in the 133rd Regiment Indiana Infantry, Company H, and was mustered out on September 5, 1864. And finally, on February 17, 1865, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the 149th Regiment Indiana Infantry, Company F, and was mustered out on September 27, 1865.

Following the war, George W. Harris attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. After several years as a teacher, Harris turned to farming the land his father had owned in Sugar Creek Township. In 1883 he was elected Vigo County Surveyor. He was also the commander of Jacob Hoops Post No. 163, Grand Army of the Republic.

George Harris married Cindora McClain in 1867 and had six children: William H., Eva and Iva (twins), Ethalinda, George Jr., and James. He was killed at a railroad crossing in Sugar Creek township on October 21, 1903.

He's on the far left in this family picture, his father is in the middle and his brother (who also fought in the civil war and became a prisoner of the confederates for a short amount of time) is on the far right:

https://www.anony.ws/i/2015/07/03/8658456848.jpg

A few of his letters are archived as well if you want me to post them here. Genealogy is fascinating!

[Smitty]

Oh wow, other side of the state haha! Did yours fight in the Iron brigade? I know troops from Indiana had the toughest reputation for troops in the Union during the Civil war. Mine were from Vigo County, I'll paste his biography here:


George Washington Harris, the third child of Lavina Bennett and Richard John Harris, was born in 1844 in Sugar Creek Township, Vigo County. During the Civil War, George Harris served under three regiments. On November 1, 1861, he enlisted as a Private in the 2nd Cavalry (41st) Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Company H, and was discharged on January 29, 1863. On May 17, 1864, he enlisted as a Sergeant 1st Class in the 133rd Regiment Indiana Infantry, Company H, and was mustered out on September 5, 1864. And finally, on February 17, 1865, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the 149th Regiment Indiana Infantry, Company F, and was mustered out on September 27, 1865.

Following the war, George W. Harris attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. After several years as a teacher, Harris turned to farming the land his father had owned in Sugar Creek Township. In 1883 he was elected Vigo County Surveyor. He was also the commander of Jacob Hoops Post No. 163, Grand Army of the Republic.

George Harris married Cindora McClain in 1867 and had six children: William H., Eva and Iva (twins), Ethalinda, George Jr., and James. He was killed at a railroad crossing in Sugar Creek township on October 21, 1903.

He's on the far left in this family picture, his father is in the middle and his brother (who also fought in the civil war and became a prisoner of the confederates for a short amount of time) is on the far right:

https://www.anony.ws/i/2015/07/03/8658456848.jpg

A few of his letters are archived as well if you want me to post them here. Genealogy is fascinating!

No, mine weren't in the Iron Brigade so far as I know, though that would have been really cool. G.W. Smith was in the 6th Indiana Infantry. According to Wikipedia, they "fought in the Battle of Shiloh, the Battle of Stones River, the Battle of Chickamauga, and the Battle of Resaca." If I can afford it one day, I'd like to get his service files from the government, and see what info is there.

Your ancestor is a true patriot. Three enlistment periods...that's awesome! Genealogy is fascinating. Too bad it's such a niche interest. It's hard to find people to talk to about it. Incidentally, my dad's side of the family has deep roots in Vermilion County, IL, and Vermillion County, IN. So that's pretty close to Vigo County actually.

[Proctor]

No, mine weren't in the Iron Brigade so far as I know, though that would have been really cool. G.W. Smith was in the 6th Indiana Infantry. According to Wikipedia, they "fought in the Battle of Shiloh, the Battle of Stones River, the Battle of Chickamauga, and the Battle of Resaca." If I can afford it one day, I'd like to get his service files from the government, and see what info is there.

Well shit, both our ancestors fought at the battle of Stones River, imagine if they encountered each other? They certainly would have been within the vicinity of each other considering they were both from Indiana and they would split up companies by state. So trippy to think about. And yeah, go for it man, it shouldn't be too difficult to obtain service files, the fees can become a real hindrance sometimes though.


Your ancestor is a true patriot. Three enlistment periods...that's awesome! Genealogy is fascinating. Too bad it's such a niche interest. It's hard to find people to talk to about it. Incidentally, my dad's side of the family has deep roots in Vermilion County, IL, and Vermillion County, IN. So that's pretty close to Vigo County actually

So true. It's really disappointing when I ask someone about their ancestry and they think I have racist intentions (this happens around 40% of the time when I ask people about it) when in reality I'm just really fascinated by genealogy and I like learning more about the other person and their roots, my intentions are far from racist.

[Smitty]

Well shit, both our ancestors fought at the battle of Stones River, imagine if they encountered each other? They certainly would have been within the vicinity of each other considering they were both from Indiana and they would split up companies by state. So trippy to think about.

Yep, crazy stuff. :) But very real at the same time.


So true. It's really disappointing when I ask someone about their ancestry and they think I have racist intentions (this happens around 40% of the time when I ask people about it) when in reality I'm just really fascinated by genealogy and I like learning more about the other person and their roots, my intentions are far from racist.

That sucks, but I'm not surprised, considering how politically correct everyone is these days. Most of my family just humors me when I bring up genealogy. I don't know how they can't be interested in the very people that brought them into being (not to mention history), but to each his own, I guess.

[MustafaTekin]

My paternal ancestors fought in world war 1 during the battle of gallipoli (3 brothers). the only surviror was my great-grandfather. Although we won the battle, we were among the losers because the germans resigned.

Also my maternal great-grandfather fought in turkish war of independence, he survived.

[Batavia]

My great-great-great father maternal was a captain and counter damiral in Pula (Austrian-Hungary). He was in China with his ship and he served in World War One. Nobody really knows for sure but he probably killed himself after the defeat.

[Kaspias]

Paternal:

My great-great-grandfather escaped from the Russo-Turkish war to the Kardzhali from the "North" while he was in the army(1878). I don't know the details but he married in Kardzhali. (~1880)

His son fought in 1nd Balkan War in the Ottoman Vardar Army. Survived in Kumanovo, Prilep, and Bitola. While these were happening, Bulgarians conquered Thrace and the atrocity began. He was able to come to the Komotini with his friends(I suspect ITC members), started a guerilla movement here, also took his family(had married in Kardzhali) from Kardzhali to Komotini. They re-organized Turkish people who live here and resisted against Bulgarian occupation by declaring Western Thrace Turkish Republic and continue to serve as military servicer for a short time. After some time, Istanbul(Ottoman) government convinced the Western Thrace government to disband their army and don't resist against Bulgarian occupation. Because the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria already had made an agreement that gives Western Thrace to the Bulgaria and Edirne to the Ottomans, so they basically wanted to secure Edirne. Armies disbanded and military officers expelled to the Ottoman borders. We had never been heard anything about him after he is expelled. (1912-1913)

His son, my grandfather, opened the Komotini Union of Turkish Youth and led the opening of Xanthi Turkish Union. He thought that my children had to educated with Turkish and with proper education so he decided to migrate to Turkey. Sold his animals and his house and take money with him. He went to the town center for the last time to say goodbye to friends. In the returning way, he is stabbed and killed. Police couldn't find any clue but said two Greek had seen in the road where he killed in the same time period.(1955) After that my grandmother couldn't go to Turkey, moreover, she hadn't even have a house now but she had five children. Villagers helped her but she suddenly died two years later. Children given adopted to the different villages. One of the relatives of my maternal side took my father as adopted.

He sent me to Turkey to continue my education by thinking his father would like to do this.

Also, my father served in the Greek Army for 2 years.

https://i.ibb.co/Wt6CN90/Whats-App-Image-2019-11-10-at-06-25-37.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Jy17HrS/Whats-App-Image-2019-11-10-at-06-25-47.jpg


Maternal:

From the Russo-Turkish war to the Greek Civil War, my maternal side resisted against Bulgarian, Macedonian and Communist Greek guerillas in small time periods but many times by forming unregular, small militia armies with nearby Pomak and Turk villages. They were also in the military of Western Thrace Turkish Republic.

[Kayra]

...

I don't know as detailed as you but my great-grandfather was a gendarme in Didymoteicho. After WTTR seized Alexandroupoli, Evros, and Didymoteicho, officers send them to the Northeast of Momchilgrad to the frontline against a sudden Bulgarian attack. After disbanding the republic he stayed and married there. Do you know where was your great grandfather was serving?

[Kaspias]

I don't know as detailed as you but my great-grandfather was a gendarme in Didymoteicho. After WTTR seized Alexandroupoli, Evros, and Didymoteicho, officers send them to the Northeast of Momchilgrad to the frontline against a sudden Bulgarian attack. After disbanding the republic he stayed and married there. Do you know where was your great grandfather was serving?

I think he was not a regular military servicer but something like an officer. As i stated they were the ones who organized the community. The only thing i know he was part of Turkish Guerillas on the Rhodope area and often stayed in the capital, Komotini.

[Kayra]

I think he was not a regular military servicer but something like an officer. As i stated they were the ones who organized the community. The only thing i know he was part of Turkish Guerillas on the Rhodope area and often stayed in the capital, Komotini.

Döndüğünde yaz bana toplanalım, bir şeyler daha soracağım :D

[Kaspias]

Döndüğünde yaz bana toplanalım, bir şeyler daha soracağım :D

Tamamdır aga. Ocak sonu gibi geleceğim

[Moje ime]

Do you have any ancestors or relatives who have served in any armed conflict?

Yes for sure. In every war on Balkan.

[Pansarkamrat]

From my mothers side they fought in Finnish Winter war and Finnish civil war also in the Continuation War. I have Heard that my Swedish grandfather fought in the Winter war i and on his side alot of my ancestors had tought in several wars when Sweden was a greate Power.

[itilvolga]

Paternal great grandfather from my paternal grandmother side: Caucasus front of WW1 and Turkish Independence War
Paternal great grandfather from my paternal grandfather side: Caucasus front of WW1

Maternal great grandfather from my maternal grandmother side: was a Zeibek on Bozdag and Aydin Mouintains. He was a kizan and helper of Gokcen Efe.

[CordedWhelp]

Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII. Earlier this decade I was going through an old family chest at my childhood home and uncovered a box with my paternal grandfather's medals: addressed to me! That was an interesting moment...lol...

In addition, although I derive mainly from immigrants from later 19th century/early 20'th century, I do have a sliver of colonial German ancestry. One ancestor was a Major during the American Revolutionary War.

Scroll down and check out the blurb about him and the Tories who stole from him...lol...

https://www.geni.com/people/Major-George-Wilfong/6000000020242149614

[Ülev]

:whistle:

[Vrazijadivizija]

Great great grandfather: served/fought in Austria Hungary during ww1 on the battlefield of Galicia,sadly he never returned from the war,there is not even a grave.
Used to think he died on Italian front but my father told me recently that it was after all Eastern front.

Great grandfathers:One in Handžar Divsion
One in Anti partisan division
Rest were Ustaše
Grandfather:Ustaša division.
Father: Croatian independance war.

[Mikula]

WWI - All of my 4 greatgrandparents fought in the uniform of Austro-Hungarian Empire.
One of them (father of my paternal grandma) died at milirary hospital at Osijek (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osijek)in 1918/1919.

Napoleonic Wars - My paternal 4xgreat-grandfather (b. 1789, d. 1840) served in 1806-1818 as a soldier of the Austrian Empire

[gixajo]

I have had family military History and some (temporary) personal military History. (I will not speak here about what I have done,but it´s nothing epic or extraordinary).

-My father was during his university studies in what were called "milicias universitarias" (university militias), basically universitary students were trained in the summers as subofficers/officers to have a reserve of them in case there was a war. He ended his brief military life as an ensign (second lieutnant). He has never participated in any fight, war etc...

-My father's brother was deployed just after the first fightings of the Ifni war in that inclave during 60´s. saw some action but few.

-My maternal grandfather in northern Morocco during the Riff war, shortly after the Alhucemas landing. Same, hard life but few action.

In the Spanish civil war he was not called up because he was too old, married and already had 3 children. Since he was a Carlist and Álava was on the Francoist side, he would have fought on that side.

-My paternal grandfather began as a militiaman in a "cultural regiment" (I am not sure but probably anarchist) at the beginning of the Spanish civil war, but they were a group that dedicated itself to making itinerant theater through towns, making versions of popular plays for Republican propaganda purposes.

When the Popular Army of the Republic was created, he was appointed sergeant in a signals unit and he was basically joining command posts with telephone lines etc... all the action he had was escorting prisoners. I finished the war as a lieutenant.

I know several ancestors of my mother participated in Carlist wars, but I have just documents of one brother of my great great-grandfather , second in command of a unit of volunteers, and strangely Liberal volunteers (opposite to the Carlists), but it is very common that in the same family there are brothers on different sides.

I don´t know more about all this, but without a doubt that in practically all the generations of my ancestors (like almost everyone here )there have been military men who participated in important wars for our country or for the world.

[Blondie]

My dad side:
WW1, in german army, i have no idea what front
WW2, in german army (Heeresgruppe Süd), eastern front, one has died in Stalingrad or Harkov i dont know, other were defenders of Budapest in 1944-1945

My mother side:
WW1, austro-hungarian army, eastern front, my great great grandfather was prisoner of war in Leningrad, he met with Lenin too
WW2, german army, eastern front but i dont know exactly where

My dad and grandmother said these things long time ago. So they were mostly in the german army.

[Victor]

My maternal grandfather comes from dynasty of imperial officers with Cossack roots from modern central Ukraine (Poltava region) who served Russian Empire since 1700s. My grandfather (born 1911, we have a huge age gap with my parents-grandparents) served as a commander of artillery in WWII, his father was an artillery officer and commander of fortress artillery during Russian-Japanese war, he was a pensioner during revolution so he stayed in USSR, lots of his relatives finished up abroad in Belgrade, Paris, London, Rio. Great grandfather served as a volunteer artillery advisor in 1875 helping the Herzegovina Serbian insurgents against Ottomans, that's the most recent examples.

[Victor]

My dad side:
WW1, in german army, i have no idea what front
WW2, in german army (Heeresgruppe Süd), eastern front, one has died in Stalingrad or Harkov i dont know, other were defenders of Budapest in 1944-1945

My mother side:
WW1, austro-hungarian army, eastern front, my great great grandfather was prisoner of war in Leningrad, he met with Lenin too
WW2, german army, eastern front but i dont know exactly where

My dad and grandmother said these things long time ago. So they were mostly in the german army.

My grandfather parciticpated in Budapest siege 1944-45 as artillery commander, it was hell.

[Jana]

In WW1 all of my ancestors fought in Austro-Hungarian Army. Father grandpa who was muslim was an officer who fought on the Russian front (Galicia) for whole war. Mother grandpa fought on Italian Front (Isonzo River) as common soldier, lost an eye there. I don't know for others.

WW2 - maternal grandpa joined Yugoslav Partisans as underage boy, fought in major battles like Sutjeska. Wounded and decorated.
Paternal grandpa was first exempt from military service as lone family feeder. Than he was imprisoned in Jasenovac concentration camp for 3 months, because he brought flowers to his than fiance who was hanged in town square because her family aided partisans. After release he was drafted into Croatian Home Guard anti aircraft unit and did not see much action until war end. Later political prisoner in Yugoslavia.

Homeland War in 1990s- my father was in Croatian Police for very short time until he got work obligation and left to take out Croatian oil rigs out of Adriatic sea before Yugo navy sank them.

Interestingly had my papa stayed in Police for day longer, he would have died before I was born.
After he was called back for work obligation, his Police unit was ambushed by Serb rebels during patrol in one Serb village. All were killed.

They were among first Croatian victims of war in his city in central Croatia.

Mother brother and his later wife served as medical personel during this last was (as doctor and nurse), and escaped death very closely on one occasion (house they were in was hit by tank missile minutes after they left it)

[rothaer]

The performance of my ancestors in the last two world wars was actually poor.

WWII:
Pat. grandfather: German army (Wehrmacht, Spionage-Abwehr), in Norway 1940-1945
Mat. grandfather: German army (Wehrmacht, Pionier), in Germany 1944-1945. He had a pretty bad leg after an accident, so he was drafted very late and did just guard some military high command archives in Berlin and did then escort them when they were evecuated to the west.

WWI:
Pat. grandfathers: German army, don’t know where and nothing particular was told within the family, so I guess there was nothing worth telling.
Mat grandfathers: They were ethnic Germans in Central Poland and Russian citizens. None of them was drafted, likely because where they lived was quickly occupied by the German Empire, so the Russian authorities had no access to them anymore.

The military part of WWI was kind of non-existent in my family history.

Franco-German War 1870/71:
A 2 x great-grandfather was Sergeant in the Prussian army „Infanterie-Regiment Graf Kirchbach Nr. 46“ and took part in the whole war including the conquest of Paris.

Napoleonic Wars 1792-1815:
Four paternal ancestors will have taken part, all in the Prussian army:
- one was musketeer in infantery regiment (IR) 30
- one was drum roll in IR 4 in Elbing
- one was musketeer in IR 21 in Thorn
- one was lieutenant in IR 51 in Danzig. He was killed in action near Halle/Saale in 1806.

Seven Year's War 1756-1763:
Five paternal ancestors took part, all in the Prussian army:
- two (father and son) were cuirassiers in cuirassier regiment (KR) 2
- one was grenadian in Grenadier-Garde-Bataillon No. 6 (actually an elite unit and he was invalid already at an age of 23)
- one was soldier in IR 34
- one was soldier in IR 24

Outside any known to me wars I had three riders in the Saxon army in the time period 1680 - 1740
- two of which were field trumpeters, which was considered a pretty sophisticated and privileged military position and
- one was a dragoon.

Thirty Years' War (1618-1648):
Two ancestors are known to have been into the war:
- one was just described as a soldier, born in Oberpfalz (northernmost part of tribal Bavaria). It’s not known in which army he fought.
- one was a rider in Druckmüllersches Regiment, in the army of the German ceasar in Austria. Though fighting for the catholic side, the commander of this regiment was a protestant. My ancestor was born in Lower Austria and appeared as a protestant and stayed in Southwest Germany after the war.

[oszkar07]

Paternal Grandfather: WW2 Hungarian Army, had been returned from action after
being shot in the leg. He also had injury from grenade.

Paternal Great Grandfather: WW2 Hungarian Army, I heard he had been taken into Russian prisoner of war camp. He was there for 5 years and afterwards returned to Hungary. He was in the small percentage of people that actually survived and returned from there back to Hungary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_prisoner-of-war_camps_in_the_Soviet_Union#Hungarian_POWs

[mitalit]

I only know recent history.
Only two of my great-grandparents fought in the spanish civil war. One was a communist and fought in the Basque army on the republican side.
The other one, I suppose, fought on the national side, although I don't know for sure.

[Victor]

Paternal grandfather was a pilot of heavy bomber during the WWII in the region of Azov sea, grandmother was a medical train nurse during war (They met each other in Taganrog town at Azov sea in the end of the war and lived few years in this city), father of my paternal grandmother died at Mannerheim line at Russian-Finnish war 1939 as a common soldier, father of my paternal grandfather served in Soviet HQ in occupied Romania at economic position.

[Smaug]

All my male ancestors fought in wars up to the 1930’s, after that most of my family had already immigrated from Europe and did not partake in any wars. One of my great-gradfathers served in the British Army and fought in France during the WWI and during the same war another of my great-grandfathers served the Italian Army and fought in the Alps against Austria-Hungary. Another one fought for Lithuania in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence and was a POW, which left scars on his psyche for the rest of his days. I also have a more distant ancestor who was an Irish mercenary in the 1800’s and served in Europe in many conflicts.

[Anglo-Celtic]

All but one of my traced male forebears fought in the Revolutionary War against the British. One English man, who married an Irish woman, onboard the ship that took them to America, fought with his sons. One son was killed, and he was injured. After he was bayoneted, a British soldier asked him why he fought for America, and he answered along the lines of "this is my heart and my home".

[hazmatnik]

First mentions of my ancestors military activity comes from Erdeljanovic and his book Etnografska gradja o Sumadincima, where he says my ancestors left our village and went to Srem during The Austro-Turkish War in 1788–1791. While i never heard such story from my granpa its well known that some families from Sumadija participated in building of Laudanov Sanac and fought on Austrian side.

Balkan wars and WWI

My paternal great great granfather fought in Balkan wars and in WWI, from which he never came back home. We dont know where he died.
His cousin was general, later adjutant of the king, he fought in Balkan wars, WWI. He volunteered on romanian side fighting Bulgarians in Dobrudja. He was wounded five times.

Unfortunatelly i dont have better pic in my phone:

https://i.postimg.cc/dtvWgrrv/Screenshot-20220726-185554-Yahoo-Mail.jpg (https://postimg.cc/HjZ4yJ6P)

Around 10 paternal cousins perished in these wars.
Maternal ancestors fought too, three cousins perished.

WWII

Paternal ancestors didnt fight.
My maternal great granddad fought in Partisans. 14 maternal cousins perished in WWII mostly as civilians.

My maternal grandpa was member of quite obscure anticommunist organisation Beli Orlovi 1950. got captured crossing border with Italy. Being only 16 years old saved him from death sentence (per his words) but he served 6 years jail in Ljubljana. UDBA surveiled him until late 1970s.

[Beowulf]

my great great grandfather was a spanish republican politician from Estepa, seville

his brother was a republican Oficial who was killed by the Franquists

and all my great grandfathers as i know made the military service.