Hunting for a relative

[stormswift]

During my ancestral search I have come across the WW1 service record for my mothers grandfather. This is of particular interest to me as no one in the family before nor I have managed to get any further back than him on that line. His marriage certificate points to a birth in 1881, Birmingham. His father is noted on the certificate as deceased, name William. There is no index I have found for in 1881 for a birth.
The service records I thought would give me something with which to go further, even though they are quite damaged. Alas there is nothing new in there to point me in any particular direction. His birth is still possibly 1881, his wife named as next of kin so no info on parents either. So I am once again at a pretty high wall
There is, however, another possible document I am searching for. Although I don't know it it may even exist. The questionnaire in the service record asks if the recruit has ever served before. His answer to this yes quoting his rank as private and the no.7314 as can be seen on the cropped image. The number 6 could be the start of the regiment perhaps? but the rest is burnt, there is also a note saying I "time served or perhaps expired". He was 33 when he signed up in WW1, so the time served may be a 12 year service perhaps?
My question after all this is, would anyone know if there may be a document or record somewhere concerning his previous service? There was nothing within the WW1 service records, I have 14 pages one of which is a death certificate for his 3 year old son but no reference to previous service apart from the questionnaire.

regards

Steve

[Tab]

For research into all of this I would suggest Ancestry.Com this will give you a full run of all their records. Now it will cost around £10,00 for a months subscriptions but you must make them understand you only want it for a month or they will keep on charging you for it each month. Now you will get a full run of all the census records, and military records and medal cards, also they have an excellent search engine which will throw up any one with those details, now if you already to know a bit about him and where he was born then it becomes a lot easier. Also as you build your family tree you can ask it for people who have got the same people in their family tree and it may come as a surprise just what can turn up.

[stormswift]

Thanks for the thoughts.

The service record this clip is from was sourced at Ancesty, I also acquired his medal index card there. As I cannot find anything further I must look at other routes, hence this post.
The service record contains nothing more than I already have to locate him apart from a reference to a previous term in the forces. As I have stated he appears to have done a full service prior to WW1, it is record/s for this I am trying to locate if indeed any exist. I would think there must be at least some kind of paperwork associated with him signing up for a full term in the forces. I am hoping that someone here on a military forum may have an idea of what I could look for. Or possibly where to start a search in trying to locate pre WW1 service records or similar.

[timex]

One of the big problems with early Military records is that a vast amount were destroyed during the London blitz during WW2.

[Tab]

Have you gone back through the Census Records, then there are Birth, Marriage, and death records