Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

A lady from our Liverpool Group discovered a medal belonging to one of her ancestors that had been knocking around in a drawer, so not in the best of condition, and she was wondering if anybody could tell us anything about it's owner.

The photographs aren't very clear, partly because I took them with a phone. The front says 1914-15 and a V at the bottom of it. The reverse says gives his number and name, as best I can make out 116522 PNR R OWEN R.E.

He is believed to have lived in Kirkdale, but nothing else is known about his family.

Would be grateful if anybody could help and give us any information about him.

With thanks

Before the real experts get going, here is my version:
Pioneer [a rank in the Royal Engineers during WW1] Richard Owen 116522 later served in the Labour Corps with the number 292234 and rank of Private. Soldiers were often moved into the Labour Corps after wounds or illness, though the work would still be heavy.
I got this from the National Archives, documents online, but to see the image of the Medal Index Card you have to pay £2 to TNA [by card] or look in Ancestry, free.
Ancestry may also have his service records, but 60% were lost in the WW2 blitz. It is worth searching using each of those numbers. That is possibly the only way of finding place of enlistment & birth. There may also be pension records, but I am not sure if they are also on Anc.
I cannot see that he is in the War Graves Commission's Debt of Honour Register, so he probably survived the war.
The medal is the 1914-15 Star, awarded to those who served in any theatre of war between 5 Aug 1914 and 31 Dec 1915. It is likely that the Medal Index Card will show that Owen was also entitled to a British War Medal and Victory Medal. The card may show which theatre of war he first served in.
With the first name known, it should be possible to look for him in the census that we must not mention!
Daggers

GR8 finds D.S

1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

To France 28th August 1915

Discharged to Class "Z" Military Reserve 9th April 1919

His papers have survived and show that he was aged 43 when enlisting in 1915, and that he lived in London. He married Eliza Knight in Lambeth in 1916

Wow I have a sleep and the night shift have it all worked out! Thank you so much since I was very short on detail, the lady in question thought he "might" have been a Robert and I also couldn't find anything under the number on the medal.

She is going to be delighted with this information.

And using the numbers you have found has also produced the Pension and Service Records - thank you everyone for your help, especially since I am an extreme novice at military matters.