I am trying to find out some more information about my great, great uncle who I have recently found on the cwgc website. His name was George Horgan, although he served as George Bell. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why or how we might find out why he didn't serve under his real name? He was a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 116th Siege bty, although I am struggling to find any evidence that this particular bty existed. He died on 02/05/18, aged 20, although this may also be wrong, as the details I can find for a George Horgan born around this time is during the December 1896 quarter which would make him 21. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have seen other men's records where an alias was used. The only thing I can think of is the fact that he may have been under-age when he enlisted and used someone else's name. Do you have a date when he enlisted? With regard to ages shown on the CWGC site: many ages listed are incorrect, for whatever reason. I was researching the 6 crewmen of a WWII bomber crash in Fance and only one of the six ages on the CWGC site was correct - three were out by two years and two were out by one year.
I cannot help you with your question as to why your GG Uncle served under an alias, but it wasn't that uncommon and men had many diiferent reasons why.
But the 116th Seige Battery of the RGA certainly existed and was part of the RGA's 77th Brigade. Serving in France as part of the Second Army. There is a book of the history of the 77th Brigade and you might be able to track done a library copy.
It may not be the age that is incorrect on the CWGC, but rather the date of his death that is wrong.
I looked up your realtive on the "Soliders who Died in the Great War" CD-ROM. His date of death is listed as 02/05/1917.
The only way to be sure is to ask the CWGC to check their original papers records as it may just be a transcription error from when they computerised their records.
Additionally you could look for his "overseas death certificate" (try one of the many pay sites for this) to see if this has been a long standing error in the register. If so, it is just possible that the date of death is wrong on his headstone and the CWGC will need adequate proof from a family member to have this corrected.
I have posted a question about the 116th Siege Bty elsewhere and will let you know if there's anymore relevant information.
