Researching A Soldiers Movements!

[aliecoco]

Hi, I wonder if anyone would help me with a few questions I would like to know about researching my Great Uncles movements during WW1.

(I have a massive interest in WW1 anyway, and have visited the battlefields of France and Belguim for the last few years, but taken from a 'girly' point of view! ie I have read Vera Brittain's books, various Love Letters from the Trenches type books, and probably other easier formats, as well as the poetry!! So the following might seem rather 'green', for the real enthusiasts!! )

According to the MOD he joined the HLI embodied Territorial Force and was posted to the 1/6th City of Glasgow Battalion in the rank of private on the 14/11/1915.

The next listing says: Posted to Depot 26/05/1918.

Then: Posted to 5th Reserve Battalion 29/08/1918.

The Overseas Service dates as follows:

BEF: 08/10/1916 - 25/05/1918.

Having gone upto the PRO I researched his battalion, but they started without him at Gallipoli during 1915.

So, finally, I want to know if there was a continual replacement or adding of soldiers? If so, at what sort of periods? I thought battalions 'regrouped' overseas? Why was it almost a year before he was posted overseas from joining? Was he posted 'on mass', or just with those that returned from any leave? Nothing was mentioned in the war diaries of 'new soldiers', but was that a regular thing?

Thanks in advance for any help, and as I have said I am rather 'green' on these matters, and I have seen the postings for 'Thanks Chris for bringing this Forum Back'!!! Very enjoyable!!!

Alie.

[Chris_Baker]

Did you see any entries in the War Diary that said something like "Draft of 20 ORs received"? That is army jargon for 20 ordinary soldiers joining the battalion.

I am not sure what method exactly was used to determine when and if a battalion received drafts to replace losses. I have seen everything from a draft of 1 man, to a draft of several hundred men joining a battalion on active service. The drafts arrived from transit camps and other stations, in a chain from just behind the front all the way back to the home depot. For example by the middle of the war there were vast ransit camps near the French coast, full of men ready to be posted to a battalion. Same in Egypt, for the Palestine theatre.

Your Great Uncle would have spent most of his first year being trained as a soldier, and possibly with some time waiting in England after training had completed, for a posting to the battalion. This waiting time was often spent with the depot of the battalion, or with a detachment posted to a camp or army facility in the UK.

Hope that helps a little.

[Terry_Reeves]

This does seem an inordinately long time for this man to join a front line unit.

I have been researching a TF unit in the last few days and found documents in which the Commanding Officer bemoans the fact that new drafts were being sent overseas unfit and not properly trained. This was in 1916. I may be wrong, but most recruits were only in system for about 6 months before sent off to join parent units overseas.

How old was your relatve when he enlisted? He might have been too young for overseas service at the time which may explain the delay.

Terry Reeves

[Guest Lawrence Wells]

Alie, ref the apparently sparse content of the report you received from the MoD, there are some "interesting" comments / examples of the ommissions and errors they have made at >

http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch/tomspage30.html

might be worthwhile returning to PRO and searching for the original papers, they "must" exist if MoD were able to report on them.

Laurie

[aliecoco]

Hi, Thank you so much to Chris, Terry and Lawrence for taking the time out to reply to my questions.

I have taken note of everything that has been said, and as I have a week off work coming up, over and during the armistice of course, I will definately be going back to the PRO with the new information you have given me.

Thanks again

Alie.

[Greenwoodman]

The 1st/6th Bn HLI had two reserve battalions, the 2nd/6th, and the 3rd/6th. Your relative may well have been through either or both of these battalions during his training.

2nd/6th were formed Sep 14 at the HQ of 1st/6th. Became part of 196 Bde, 65th Division Jan 1915, at Dunfermline by Aug 1915. Nov 1915 to Jan 1916 was renumbered 22nd Battalion. Posted to Maldon Essex Mar 1916. In the write up for this Division it says:- "Progressive training for war was delayed by the provision of frequent drafts for the first-line units. In addition, training was complicated by the lack of up-to-date arms and equipment and by the necessary re-organisation of the units, ...."

3rd/6th formed March 1916, 08/04/16 at Ripon became 6th Reserve Battalion

[aliecoco]

Greenwoodman:

Thanks so much for your reply. It really is getting complicated!! I can see why there are specialist researchers now!!

I shall take this advice also to the PRO with me.

Thanks again.

Alie.

[PhilH]

Hi Alie

I am also a bit of a greenhorn like you say you are but I have found two books by Norman Holding about researching your ancestors in the great war to be helpful in negotiating my way around the various records and what they mean. Also the PRO's publication about service records is a help.

Phil

[aliecoco]

To Phil (A Greenhorn like me!)

Thanks for the reply and the info. I shall look out for the author Norman Holding and the PRO's publication when I go on Monday.

Thanks for that.

Alie.