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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: maisie76 on Wednesday 31 October 18 22:03 GMT (UK)
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Hi
Was wondering if anyone can help with deciphering where and when my great uncle served in the Royal Scots.
Thanks
Maisie
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Home 24.6.07-12,1.13
E Africa 13.1.13-14.3.14
Gibraltar 14.3.14-15.9.14
Home 16.9.14-3.10.14
France 4.10.24-15.11.14
Home 16.10,14-26.4.15
France 27.4.15-16.10.15
Home 17.10.15- `0.3.16 19.5.16
France 20.5.16-15.8.86
Home 16.8.18-13.4.19
Some of the dates maybe a bit out as the figures are blurred at max zoom
Gadget
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I think that the WW1 experts might be able to say where in France his regiment would have been at the above dates.
Gadget
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Picking up the ball from Gadget's kick off. We need to know which battalion he served with. This will be on another sheet of his record. If this record is on line, let us know his number and name and we'll see what can be done.
MaxD
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Grabbing Gadget's ball from MaxD he was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers which is a different Regiment from the Royal Scots (Lothian).
The 2nd. Batt. were in Gib & returned home on the dates given.
LLT says this:
August 1914 : in Gibraltar. Returned to England, landing September 1914, and came under orders of 21st Brigade, 7th Division.
Landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October 1914.
19 December 1915 : transferred with Brigade to 30th Division.
19 December 1915 : transferred to 90th Brigade in same Division.
7 April 1918 : transferred to 120th Brigade, 40th Division.
26 April 1918 : transferred to South African Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division.
13 September 1918 : transferred to 28th Brigade in same Division.
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Well, that seems to have sorted it Jim :)
I was going to look for more identification on the image and then chase up but you seem to have discovered it.
Gadget
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Thanks you :)
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Although he did his full 12 years I notice he had service deducted for going awol in 1909. It wasn't as uncommon as you might think.
When did he get wounded I can't quite make out the date.
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Fine team work as usual. However, from the Eeyore corner, it would still be worth seeing the details of his war service. He seems to have spent three separate periods in France which may indicate that he didn't serve throughout with the2nd Battalion or indeed throughout with the RSF. Need to see the statement of service though!
MaxD
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A name would be good.
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Thank you so much for the help :)
His name was Bernard McDonald
Maisie
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He seems to have started off with Royal Scots then he is with North Staffordshire Reg. Is the common?
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There may have been health issues. This should be on his medical history page. I can see he was wounded but these images are too blurred to read the date, however he was posted to the 3rd. Training Batt. prior to this & eventually posted to the 1st. Batt. after having gone awol. It looks like he was with the 1st. Batt. when he received his wound. He then goes back to the 3rd. before being posted to the 1st. Garrison Batt. N. Staffs. Regt. & sent back to France with them. Garrison Batts. were usually manned by men considered too old or infirm for front line service.
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Thanks again, I’m new to the army records side of it so appreciate all the help :)
Have attached the rest of the records I have for him.
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He seems to have started off with Royal Scots then he is with North Staffordshire Reg. Is the common?
Just to ensure you don't get into trouble with your Scottish relatives who may at this moment be gathering outside your front door with claymores and skean dhu at the ready, it is worth reiterating what Jim said earlier, your man didn't serve with the Royal Scots but with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and yes, in the context of his health issues, being transferred to another regiment was entirely normal.
His medical record shows a number of health issues including a spur on a bone with which he was sent back to England in 1914 the first time, a gunshot wound to the neck with which he was treated and went back to his unit, a diagnosis of debility (weakness/exhaustion) for which he was again sent back to UK in 1915 and finally a diagnosis of jaundice for which he was sent home for the third time in 1918. They certainly got their moneys worth from your man!
The medal card you posted shows his entitlement to the 1914 Star, the British War and Victory Medals for his service. They would have been sent to him in the early 1920s.
There are war diaries which will show where his units were when he was with them in France. These almost never mention individual soldiers. Let us know if that additional info will be of use.
MaxD
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Some snippets to add to Jim's post..
His first period in France, with 1st 2nd RSF, ended in mid November when he was admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station diagnosed with a "tubercle" later in the medical report changed to suffering the effects of cold wet feet (there were a lot of men with the same problem). Rather ironic in that in 1912 he had attended a course of instruction in Chiropody where he would have been taught about the care of the feet. He was sent back to England to recover.
Back in France again with 2nd 1st Bn RSF in April 1915 he is there for 2 months before being admitted to hospital with an abrasion to his back and just two days later to another hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck, he is away from his unit for about a month. In October 1915 he is admitted to hospital with debility and sent back to UK. In May 1916, as Jim has said now with 1st Garrison Battalion North Staffs, he returns to France where he remains until August 1918. He remains at the depot until March 1919 when he is released to the reserve with his discharge coming in June 1919.
You will note that when he joined the army in 1907, he stated he had previous militia (part time) service. He joined the militia in Jan 1906, attended annual training that year and then joined the regulars in Jun 1907.
MaxD
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Thank you so much for the in depth reply, it’s fantastic that you got so much info. :)
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And I managed to get his battalions the wrong way round ::) . Thanks to jim1 whose eagle eyes have absolutely no need of a visit to a well known optician unlike mine! I've amended my post.
MaxD
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in 1912 he had attended a course of instruction in Chiropody
He did a runner twice so probably just as well.
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Quite a feat !