Queens (RWS) Service Number S/15

[ROD WEALE]

The soldier to which this was allocated was in theatre by November 1914 with the 1st Queens and yet I am unsure as to how was given this service number. Any ideas? Thanks

Lance Corporal J D Botting was awarded the MM and died of his wounds in April 1918 whilst with the 2/8th Queens.

[Phil Evans]

Rod,

There is no mention of the S/ series on Paul Nixon's website, so pure guess would be that it is Special Reserve.

Phil

[Jim Strawbridge]

Williamson has the S prefix as 6th battalion enlistments (The Queen's Regiment).

edit - sorry, should read "believed to be 3rd battalion enlistments (the Queen's Regiment).

[Phil Evans]

Jim,

Thank you for correcting me.

Is there any significance in why the S prefix was used by them?

Phil

[Jim Strawbridge]

Jim,

Thank you for correcting me.

Is there any significance in why the S prefix was used by them?

Phil

Phil, sorry, I made a mistake (should be 3rd battalion) but have corrected as an edit above. No idea why "S" but possibly "short term enlistment" as the original term may have been for a maximum of three years. The prefix would easily enable the records office to distinguish between long term soldiers and those that signed up.

[ROD WEALE]

^{Hi both. Can of worms?}

^{I could understand the S being "special" but if that is the case where are S/1, 2 3 etc. ?}

^Cheers

^Rod

[Jim Strawbridge]

Well S/3 was Private Edward Andrews, 2nd Queen's Regiment.

[ROD WEALE]

Something of a mystery as it seems there were but a few of these S/

Do you have a joining date for Pte Andrews E.?

Regards

Rod

[Phil Evans]

Rod,

I just tried the NA medal index card search and it is throwing up over 1000 hits for S/

Obviously there are going to be a few men who also served in the ASC etc.

In the 12 pages, before I got bored, they were predominantly under S/1000 (including S/4) and S/9***, but that may just be the way that NA orders them out.

Phil

[ROD WEALE]

Thanks, best rgds

[neiluwins]

S prefix men with the Queen's where for the most part time expired men most have previous service with the Queens (Royal West Surrey) in India and or South Africa and rejoined at the outbreak of WW1 most being immediately sent to re-enforce the 1st & 2nd Battalions which suffered huge numbers of casualties during 1914

The majority of the below are entitled to 1914 Star and landed in France during November 1914 (Many are entitled to IGS 95, QSA, KSA)

3 S Pte Andrews Edward 6 S Pte Chapman Albert 7 S Pte Bateman Harry 7 S Pte Martin John 8 S Pte Boyle Timothy 9 S Pte Johnson Edward 14 S Pte Berry Charles 15 S L. Cpl / Cpl / L. Sjt Botting John David 16 S 4501 rws Pte Primmer Charles 17 S Cpl Marks Walter 21 S Pte / L. Cpl Loughlin Frederick M 24 S Pte Regan Cornelius 26 S Sjt Hill Henry 28 S Pte Carter Charles 29 S 4642 Pte Mansfield Henry 31 S 6690 Sjt Gilbank / Gillbank George 33 S L. Cpl Woodsford Charles 34 S Pte Blaber Alfred Arthur 35 S Pte Holyhead Arthur William 37 S Pte Collins Walter Thomas John 39 S Pte Meldrum Simpson 40 S Cpl Parker Jesse Henry 41 S 6694 rws Pte Whittle William 42 S Pte Crawley George 44 S Pte Stanton William Albert 45 S Pte Pentland Frederick 48 S 4044 rws Pte Collins Henry 54 S 5457 rws Pte Shea John 55 S Pte Seymour Rueben Abel 57 S 5647 rws Pte Shipton William 61 S 5016 rws Sjt Briggs Henry 62 S W O 1 Watkins William E 64 S 5008 rws Pte Gilham Benjamin 65 S 6556 rws L. Cpl Carter James 68 S Pte Ellis John Frederick 70 S 5676 RWS L. Cpl Fairbrass Austin James 71 S Pte Smith James 72 S Pte Fox Peter 73 S Pte Leigh Clarence Edward 74 S 4988 rws Pte Sewell James 75 S Pte Page Wilfred George 76 S Pte Bennett Edward 78 S Pte May Lewis James 79 S 8311 Pte Denyer Charles Alfred 83 S Pte Stanley Bert 84 S 3351 Pte McCallan / McCallam John 85 S L. Cpl Tinworth John Charles 87 S Pte Collins Wilfred George 92 S 3590 rws Pte Jolly Arthur William 93 S Pte Chilman Arthur Livingstone 94 S 4029 rws Pte McClean John 98 S Pte Taylor George Henry 99 S 4994 Pte Brennan John W 104 S Cpl Wise Alfred 105 S Pte Cole Joseph John 109 S Pte Marskell Arthur Percy 111 S Pte Sporle William Richard Arthur 113 S Pte Baker Henry 114 S 5423 (rws) Dmr Preston John George 115 S Pte Turner Arthur Charles 118 S 5790 RWS 5118 on NA Pte Ellison Thomas 120 S Pte Foot Alfred 123 S Sjt / W O 1 Smith John R 126 S Pte Mason Edwin John 129 S Pte Waite William Henry 134 S 5131 on NA Pte Howell George Valentine 137 S Sjt Robertson John 140 S Pte Brown George 141 S Sjt Lane Thomas Henry 143 S Pte Foot Tom Fox 143 S Sjt Randall George Harold 145 S Sjt Simpson Ernest James 146 S Pte West David 149 S L. Cpl Stotter John James 152 S Pte Hammond Alfred 155 S Pte Collyer Thomas Richard 159 S 3943 rws Pte Winton Joseph Frederick 163 S Pte Bowman James 165 S Pte Smith Henry Charles 166 S Pte Grace G 167 S 5599 rws Pte Rowling Frederick 170 S Sjt Dobson Charles John 171 S Pte Adams Frederick James 172 S Pte / A. Cpl Fuller William Thomas 175 S 3819 rws Pte Peacock George 176 S Pte Bridger George 177 S Pte Ide Alfred George 178 S 6054 Pte Farrington Samuel B 182 S Pte Rix Samuel John 184 S Pte Day Herbert Thomas 186 S Pte Gunner John 189 S Not Found NA Pte Anderson Frederick 191 S Sjt Wheeler John Henry 193 S Pte Flippance James 194 S 4670 rws Pte Parton Albert 196 S 3242 rws Pte Burgess John 198 S Pte Durham Frank Francis 201 S Sjt Tyler Albert Charles 202 S Pte Harris John 203 S Pte Brown William Richard 204 S Pte Humphries George 205 S Pte Nash Joseph 207 S Pte Treganowan Arthur 211 S Pte Christopher Robert 213 S Pte Taylor George 220 S Pte Atkins William 224 S Pte Powell Frederick 225 S Pte Durrant Frederick Anthony 228 S 6376 Pte Dartnell Frederick 230 S Pte Tagg William 232 S Pte Greeves Francis Henry 233 S Pte Day Arthur Percival 236 S 948 Pte Hefferman Edward 237 S Pte Boorman Harry Francis 238 S Sjt Woodward George Alfred 239 S Pte Kingdom Phillip William 240 S Pte Buttling Alfred 245 S Pte Crane John 245 S Pte Oakley Sylvester 246 S 4737 rws Pte Williams Leonard Russell 247 S Pte Beazleigh Edward 249 S Sjt Parfitt George Charles 252 S Pte Wyber Henry John 253 S Sjt / WO 2 King Harry 255 S 5896 rws L. Cpl Puplett John 256 S 4823 rws Pte Strudwick Arthur 265 S poss IGS 95 Pte Marshall Herbert 266 S C Q M Sjt / Temp RSM Guy Albert Hamilton 270 S Pte Tinsley George Hollman 272 S Pte Cawson George 275 S Pte Rolfe Henry John 277 S Pte Brown Edward 280 S C S M Treble William 282 S Pte Punter Harry Henry 283 S Pte Tarran Leonard 286 S Pte Tiley William 287 S Pte Tomsett Reginald 288 S Cpl Orchard Ernest 289 S Pte Curtis Herbert Leslie Champion 291 S Pte French William Henry 292 S Pte Lee Joseph Daniel 294 S Pte Lawes Herbert William John 297 S 1027 RWS Pte Argent William Alfred 300 S L Cpl Hopkins James Henry David 302 S Pte Quinlan William Charles 304 S Pte West John George 305 S Pte Woodage George Richard 306 S Pte Redburn Stanley 307 S RSM Curel George 308 S Pte Fegan Patrick 310 S 4542 rws Pte Cooper Edward George 316 S Pte Jackson Alfred 317 S L. Cpl Allington William 320 S L. Cpl / 2nd Lieut McDougall Arthur 321 S Pte Barlow Frederick Joseph 322 S 2237 rws 37102 Pte Stevenson Frederick 323 S Pte / Sjt Honey James 325 S Pte Brown Gilbert 327 S Pte / Sjt Batchelor Stephen 330 S Pte Budd Charles 332 S Pte Whitmore Charles 341 S Pte Anderson John William George 342 S Pte Keene Thomas 342 S Sjt Watson Athur Russom 343 S Pte Blackman Thomas Joseph 344 S Pte Mabey Charles 344 S Cpl Musk Phillip Francis I 348 S Pte Matthews Henry 349 S Pte Bailey James George 353 S Pte Martin Charles 355 S Pte Hussey Daniel 357 S 5890 (RWS) Sjt Stracey E 358 S Pte Webb Richard Frederick 359 S Pte Peach William Henry 360 S Pte Hussey John 362 S Pte Peake Aston Alfred 364 S Pte Hathaway George Herbert 369 S Pte / Sjt Best James 370 S 4450 (rws Pte) Pte Andrews Arthur 371 S Pte Polley George Frederick 372 S Pte Wakfield Alfred George 373 S Pte Taylor Albert Percy 376 S 6185 rws Pte Lomas Arthur 377 S Pte Fisher William 381 S Pte Weaver Samuel Henry 382 S L. Cpl Fearfield Henry 383 S Pte Warren Alfred Norman 387 S Pte Green George Frederick 389 S Pte Goldthorpe James 390 S 2490 rws Pte Lear James 392 S Cpl Turner Thomas Edward 395 S Pte Dukelow John 396 S Pte Chaff Ernest 402 S Pte Manton George Alfred 404 S Pte White James 405 S Pte / Cpl Crowdy John W 406 S Pte Prickett Henry 407 S 5187 (rws Rank Boy) Pte Allen Daniel 408 S L Cpl Came Frederick 409 S 5781 Pte Cowlan William 411 S Pte Hodgson William John 412 S Pte Dutch Michael 416 S 3825 rws Pte Mason John O'Niel 419 S Pte Manning Edward William 420 S Pte Curtis Alfred 422 S Sjt / WO 2 Wait Frederick John Chance 423 S Pte Smithers Thomas Charles 428 S Pte Dunn Frederick George 430 S Pte Holland James 433 S L Cpl Weller Sampson Wanstal 434 S Sjt Skipper Alfred 438 S Pte Pearman Albert Edward 440 S Pte Harber Stephen Charles 441 S Pte Fowkes Francis Samuel 444 S Pte Evans Thomas 447 S Pte Hyatt Edward George 449 S Pte Benton Charles Benjamin 451 S Pte Board William Henry 453 S Pte Lee Richard Moses 460 S 469 on N/A Pte Brown John James 464 S 3464 on N/A Pte Hutchings Charles 465 S 3601 rws Pte Everitt / Everett Joseph 468 S Pte Price Charles James 475 S Pte Lewis Arthur Edward 477 S 2538 rws Pte Mackrell William 484 S Sjt Ludwig Albert Charles 485 S Pte Mitchell Edwin Poole 486 S Pte Birmingham Edward Brice 491 S Pte Pearman Henry Alfred 493 S Pte Jeffery Albert John 494 S Pte Pentland Archibald 495 S Pte Murphy William 496 S 4652 rws Pte Luxton John 497 S Sjt Hartridge Richard George 498 S Cpl Chaproniere William Henry 500 S Pte Chilcott John 503 S Pte Radley George 504 S Pte Crouch Charles William 505 S Sjt Choney Albert 506 S Pte Burton Henry 507 S Sjt Sullivan Frederick 516 S 3245 Pte Wiggins James Thomas 520 S Pte Smith Henry Walter 523 S 3997 Pte Knight William Alfred 524 S L. Cpl / Cpl Kimber William James 526 S L Cpl Whitty Edward Ernest 527 S Pte Smithe John Henry 529 S 3333 rws Sjt Horne William Robert 530 S A Cpl Tickner C 531 S Pte Ellis Arthur 533 S Pte / L. Cpl Attfield Charles A 539 S Pte Giles Arthur 540 S Pte Hughes Stephen R 543 S Pte Holmes Walter 544 S Pte Pound Frederick 545 S Pte Fry Edwin Horace 547 S Pte Tickner Thomas 550 S Pte Kearns James 551 S Cpl Percival Arthur George 558 S Pte Guildford Arthur Edward 561 S Pte Cheese Albert 565 S 3151 RWS Sjt Fullilove Leonard John 570 S Pte Jewell Albert 571 S Pte Hallett Henry William 573 S L. Cpl Trindall Charles 574 S L Cpl Jones Albert Henry Frederick 576 S 4534 rws Pte Dyzart William James 576 S Pte Tripp Alexander Charles 577 S Pte Rivett Alfred 578 S Pte Carter Herbert 580 S 6398 rws Pte Rayner Arthur Samuel 583 S Pte Walter Ernest Ralph 587 S L Cpl Brooker Harry 591 S 5276 rws Pte Rowe William 594 S Pte Brien John 598 S 1477 RWS RSM Smith Charles Edward 600 S Pte Knight James 603 S 5559 Sjt Markey Henry Thomas 605 S 5287 rws Pte Keiger Alfred 606 S Pte Kennedy Denis 607 S 5670 rws Pte Howlett Charles 608 S Pte Scott Edward William 609 S 2680 rws Pte Lovell T 616 S Pte Foster William Lion 617 S L. Cpl Colgate Martin 623 S Cpl Norman John Herbert 624 S 380 Pte Lillywhite Percy John 625 S Sjt Smallbones Charles George 626 S Pte Hills Arthur Jack 628 S Pte Sale Walter John 629 S Pte Hills George H 632 S L Cpl Smith William James 633 S Pte Barnard John 634 S Pte Elsey William 640 S Pte Fletcher Thomas 643 S Pte Beeton Arthur 644 S Pte Price David 645 S 5755 L Cpl Corbett Arthur Henry 650 S Cpl Adams Douglas J 653 S Cpl Anderson C W 656 S Pte Holmes Robert Ramsden 658 S Cpl Cannon Ernest 660 S Pte Williamson John Henry 661 S Pte / A. Sjt / Sjt Cox Benjamin John 663 S Pte Cooper Alfred 666 S Pte Whitmore Alfred 671 S Pte Jenkins William George 673 S L Cpl Baigent John 676 S Sjt Feist John 677 S Pte Penifold Thomas 681 S Pte Rofe John William 682 S Pte Wales Thomas 683 S Pte Pink Henry 686 S Pte Stocks William or C W 688 S Pte Craft William 691 S Pte Fitzpatrick John 692 S L. Cpl Hall Walter John 693 S Pte Beagley Frederick 695 S Pte Green Albert John 696 S Pte Knott George Alfred 697 S Pte Foy Arthur 699 S 3336 rws CSM Sageman Frederick 704 S 4429 rws L. Cpl Oliver Arthur Edward 707 S Pte Holloway John Thomas 709 S 1152 rws Pte Bashford John 710 S 3476 rws Pte Whitmore Martin H 711 S Pte Robertson William 713 S A Sjt Lucey Robert Gray 715 S Pte Carlton William 717 S Sjt Lark Arthur 718 S CSM Percival Benjamin James 721 S Sjt Elston Charles 724 S Pte Ayton W H 725 S Pte Boxall Thomas Richard 726 S 4891 rws Pte Dunn William 728 S Pte Gorringe Albert John 729 S Pte Hebbourn George 730 S Pte Ray Thomas Edmund 731 S Pte Wright John Frederick 732 S Pte Whitmore John 733 S Pte Arnold John William 733 S Pte Guy Ernest Frank 737 S Pte Elliott Arthur Edward 742 S Pte Spreadborough Henry 743 S L Cpl Hawkes Robert James 744 S L. Cpl Williams Herbert 747 S Sjt Puttock David John 748 S Cpl / A. Sjt / Sjt Henderson Graham 750 S Pte Lewington William Eli 751 S Pte Waddington Richard 752 S Pte Bridger George H 753 S Cpl / A Sjt Vincent James Thomas 756 S 3582 rws Sjt Light Frank 760 S Pte Davis George Frederick 769 S Pte Rugman George William 770 S Cpl / Sjt Baker George 772 S Sjt Ford Frederick 773 S Pte Bracken John 774 S Sjt Wright Harry William 775 S Pte St Clair William 775 S L Cpl Warmer Arthur 776 S Pte Alderman Alfred 778 S Pte Brant George Edward 779 S Pte Stevens Henry James 782 S Pte Millar Robert 785 S Pte Denyer George 786 S Pte Harmes George Frederick 792 S Pte Grainger Albert John 794 S Pte Clear George 800 S 3816 rws Pte Leary Albert 802 S Pte Borer Edward Arthur 803 S Pte Collis Arthur Frederick 806 S 4333 rws Pte / Dmr Ogden William Leo 811 S Pte Stillwell John 812 S Sjt Holloway Harold George 813 S 5067 rws Pte Windridge James 820 S Pte Penfold John 821 S Pte Warner Frederick H 827 S Pte Quenby Harry Horace 829 S 4660 rws Pte Bellfield / Burfield William 830 S Pte Bovington John Edward 832 S Pte Harris James 833 S Pte Weedon George Henry 834 S Pte Johnson Sydney Lewis 835 S Pte Armstrong Frank 840 S Pte Davis William 843 S Pte Davis Frederick 844 S Pte Mottridge Frank 844 S Pte Parry William 845 S Pte Wyeth Henry 846 S Pte / Cpl Jones Sidney Albert 847 S Pte Overy Thomas 848 S Pte Atkins Charles Algenon 849 S Pte Whitmore Thomas 851 S 4476 rws Pte Worsley Frederick John 852 S 2475 rws Pte Nash Stephen 853 S Pte French James 855 S Sjt Cranmer William Ernest 856 S Pte Dorgan James 858 S 4883 rws Pte Brocklesby Harry 859 S Pte Whiting Edward Alfred 861 S 3800 rws Sjt Bloomfield Thomas 862 S 5728 Pte Ainge George Alfred 863 S Pte Nash Alfred 865 S Pte Colley William C 866 S 4758 rws Pte Mansfield Henry 867 S 5160 rws Pte Locksmore Richard James 868 S 6262 rws Pte Tomkins Charles William 871 S Pte Lout William Henry 878 S Pte Vinten Edward James 879 S Pte Groves Ernest 880 S Pte Douch Frederick 881 S Pte Palmer Henry 884 S Pte O'Reilly Thomas Francis 885 S 5062 rws Pte Kelly William James 886 S Pte Snoding William John 890 S Pte Gale Joseph Frederick Costa 891 S Pte Oliver William 892 S 5508 Pte O'Connor Charles 893 S Pte Walsh James 894 S 1095 rws Col Sjt Hoare J 895 S Sjt Ellis Charles William 897 S Sjt Burns Arthur Henry 899 S Pte Connor William 900 S Pte Lumsden Thomas Richard 905 S 9177 rws Pte Dewell Richard 906 S Pte Todd Herbert 910 S Pte Cox John 911 S Cpl Williams William A 913 S Pte Cobb Frederick George 916 S Pte Oliver William John 918 S Pte Morlarty Edward 919 S Pte Clark G R 924 S Pte Anderson Thomas Kernahan 927 S Pte Ellis Frederick 929 S Pte Williams John 931 S 1693 rws CSM (A Sjt Maj) Hart Thomas 932 S Pte Coombs H 933 S 3669 rws Pte Lyons Henry 934 S Pte Steemson James 936 S Pte Taylor Robert Charles 940 S Pte Johnson Ernest 942 S Pte Knowles Francis Durose 945 S Pte Addison Lionel 945 S Pte Levell Joseph Sydney 949 S Pte Kilby Archibald 950 S Pte Johnson William 962 S Pte Johnson Henry William 968 S Pte McGill Frank 970 S Pte Jessop Edward 971 S 4968 rws Sjt Light Harry George 974 S CSM Vincent John Herbert 977 S Pte Goggin Pierce 978 S Pte Kenyon Charles 980 S Pte Davis Frank 987 S Pte Bartlett Arthur 987 S Pte Robinson Charles 988 S Pte Corpe George 989 S Pte Elliott Frederick Charles 990 S 159424 Pte / Cpl Pratt Percy Frederick 991 S Pte Taphouse Frank James 991 S Pte / Cpl Turner Harry 994 S Pte Rosam James William 998 S Pte Marsh George 999 S Pte Boone William Thomas 1000 S L Cpl Garrod Frederick Charles 1001 S 6763 rws Pte Pope John 1006 S Pte Batchin George Arthur 1008 S 3883 rws Sjt / W O 2 Connell James 1010 S Sjt Clark Owen 1012 S Pte Smith Albert 1014 S C Q M Sjt Morgan Thomas Edwin 1017 S Pte Pile Sidney 1018 S Pte Inman William 1020 S Pte Hudson Thomas Henry 1021 S Pte Chennell William Jackson 1022 S Pte Cheeseman Henry 1025 S Pte Smith Charles Daniel 1026 S Pte Johnstone A E 1027 S 3549 (RWS) Pte Johnston Walter Henry 1028 S Pte Pilgrim Albert Edward 1029 S 4275 rws Pte Pilgrim Ernest Edward 1030 S 3316 rws Pte Pilgrim Charles Leonard 1034 S Pte Rowland Edward 1035 S Pte Jewell James William 1042 S Pte Brown Benjamin 1044 S 6163 rws Pte Sayce John 1046 S Pte Organ Frederick 1047 S Pte Morris George Arthur 1050 S Pte Hazell Thomas 1052 S CSM Sopp Ernest Frank 1064 S Sjt Owen Henry Francis 1065 S Pte Byrd John 1067 S Pte Hendry Albert Charles 1071 S L Cpl Patrick Edward 1076 S 4693 rws Pte Greenfield William 1080 S 3710 rws Pte Stanley Henry Harry 1081 S Pte Roberts George William 1089 S Pte Brazier Arthur 1096 S Pte Hatch Charles 1100 S Pte Ely James 1100 S Pte Thompson Archie 1101 S Pte Trigg Alfred William 1102 S Cpl Findlay Harry Phillip 1105 S Pte Dale Francis William 1107 S Pte Pobgee William 1115 S Pte Payne John 1118 S Pte Dowsett Benjamin 1120 S Pte / Cpl James Charles William 1123 S Pte Rose George Robert 1123 S Cpl Strickett Philip George 1124 S Pte Wall Thomas 1128 S Pte / L. Cpl Brigden George 1133 S Pte Goldfinch George H 1135 S Pte Pantony Charles William 1147 S Pte Neeson Patrick 1149 S Pte Anderson Robert 1151 S 6298 rws Pte Rush George 1152 S Pte Fairbrother William 1167 S Pte Roberts Albert Edward 1176 S Pte Barrett John Thomas 1176 S L Cpl Herbert Cecil 1177 S 5734 rws Pte Launder Robert 1187 S Pte Smith Arthur John 1188 S Cpl Heaps Aaron

[Ally Sloper]

According to a rough register that is held at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, reference no QRWS/1/3/3, J D Botting enlisted on 17 August 1914 aged 24. His term of service is given as one year [or until the war was over]. According to the medal index volume at the TNA he served with the 2nd and then the 8th Battalion of the regiment.

I find that all the soldiers of the Queen's Regiment in the rough register with the terms of service as one year have the S prefix and those with a G prefix to their number have a term of service of three years, or until the war was over.

I hope this helps.

Ally Sloper

[ROD WEALE]

excellent - thanks to all