Northumberland Fusiliers, Northumberland Yeomanry

[Finnock]

Were the Yeomanry purely volunteers? Are there other differences regarding which one you joined? Also, under what circumstances would one serve in both Northumberland Fusiliers and Durham Light Infantry durind WW1.

Thanks

[steve fuller]

Hi Sio

Yeomanry were cavalry (basically) & Fusiliers were Infantry.

Transferring between regmnts wasnt rare, and often due to the soldier recovering from a wound and being posted back into the 'most convenient' unit available. Many other reasons could apply; a battalion being that badly mauled in a battle that it couldnt keep its strength up easily; there was a reorganisation of the British Army (1917 / early 1918 I think) that resulted in some units being disbanded, hence their survivors would be posted into other units. Etc!!

Cheers

Steve

[steve fuller]

Just seen your first post Sio; welcome to the forum BTW!! . Can you either attach the MIC here or type out the info on it, and someone should be able to help out in some way ...

[Finnock]

A quick response! Very helpful. This is great, didn't know what an MIC was until today!

Hoping it is that of Matthew Robson Ryle.

MIC:

Catalogue Ref: WO 372/17

Image Ref:142354 / 33723

RYLE, MATTHEW R.

Northumberland Yeomanry, Private, 1290

Labour Corps, 570513

MEDALS

Victory L.C./101 B213 Page 21696

British do. do.

15 Star

15 x L.C. Misc. C2.238

Theatre of war (1) France

Date of entry therein 24-1-15

Under 'Remarks section', several entries, some difficulty reading them -

Opposite Victory and British: IVRI 76 ? 6.10.25 NW/3/16067

1st Entry for Star crossed out and remark looks like 'Deleted min. 3. 6397/adv '

' S????? Dup Sub? CR 6392 28/? /22 6397Adt '

'Cancelled N.W.Y. 3/16067'

a line through something else..

'6397/Adt'

Why were there quite a few changes ? Could the awarding of a star medal be cancelled?If so, for what reasons?

Also, can you tell me if a change to the Labour Corps indicates having received an injury in France/another reason to change to Labour Corps? This man would have been in his 40s, so I am wondering if there was an upper age limit for certain types of service.

Looking foward to learning more!

Thanks.

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

The Yeomanry were the Territorial Branch Of The Cavalry,& @ the Outbreak of War its members would have been "Volunteers"

Certain Yeomanry Regiments Became Infantry Battalions or Dismounted Battalions as the Usefulness of Horses in the type of Fighting WW1 generated became apparent

The numbers etc are the codes for the actual Medal Issue Rolls,that the Card was used to refer to by the Issuing Authority,It is possible that a Medal 's issue could be cancelled for a variety of Reasons,it may have been authorised in error,issued from another Roll,{for service in another unit}etc,"Dup" looks like a duplicate was issued for some reason,perhaps wrongly named in the 1st instance & returned,or lost/stolen.

Him being transferred to the Labour Corps would suggest he no longer met the Required Standards of Physical Fitness & or Health to Serve in a Front line Capacity,this May have been as a result of Wounding,Sickness or indeed his age if his Health had deteriorated

[Finnock]

That's great. Thanks.