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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Mugwumps on Thursday 05 March 26 04:42 GMT (UK)
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Edward Cecil Thomas (1890 - 1955) is recorded in family records as having served in this regiment. On 14 Dec 1914 they sailed for India and remained there for the full period of the war.
However he married Millicent Rogers in 1916 in Redruth.
I doubt that in the middle of WW1 soldiers from India would be shipped home on leave. The implication is that he might have been in that regiment but remained in Cornwall as a remnant of the regiment at their HQ? There is no family record of him being shipped home due to injuries. I am sure if that had been the case comments would have been made about this.
I am interested in hearing the views of those who have more information about this regiment or whether soldiers were shipped home for leave.
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Welcome to RootsChat. You are in luck!
Part of his service record has survived. He enlisted in the 4th DCLI on 5 Sept 1914, and was discharged on 28 August 1917 suffering from debility and defective vision. There are several pages of medical reports which are extremely difficult to read, but apparently his eyesight was damaged in an accident in 1912. Another part of the report seems to mention that he went to India but returned on leave in 1916 - hence he would have been able to marry in Redruth - but I can't make out the remainder of the narrative.
He was an accountant in civilian life and he was promoted to Sergeant on 11 September 1914, then further promoted to the acting rank of Colour Sergeant and employed as a company quartermaster sergeant (CQMS) on 9 December 1914, 3 days before going to India. He returned from India on 11 October 1916.
His record is on FindMyPast. His first regimental number was 2154, and in early 1917 this was changed to 200431 in line with the policy of renumbering Territorial Force soldiers. He appears to have only been awarded the British War Medal. He received a pension pay out but his wife did not qualify for extra support as they married after he had been removed from duty. 1 shilling and sixpence was allowed for his child.
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His Military History Sheet states ----
Home – from 7.9.1914 to 11.12.1914 (96 days)
India – 12.12.1914 to 10.10.1916 (303 days)
Home – 11. 10.1916 to 29.8.1917 (323 days)
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Andy and Neale.
Thank you very much for this information. Enables me to give a more complete history of my wife's grandfather. I will try to get more info on the units Indian movements.
Interesting to see he got a payment for his daughter (my wife's mother) as once he had deserted them there was no financial assistance.
Again, I appreciate your help.
Best wishes
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Here's what the Long, Long Trail (https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/duke-of-cornwalls-light-infantry/)website has to say about their deployment to India:
"4th Battalion
Formed at Truro in September 1914 as a home service (“second line”) unit. Became part of 2nd Devon and Cornwall Brigade, 2nd (Wessex) Division.
12 December 1914 : sailed for India and remained there throughout the war. Arrived at Karachi on 9 January 1915. Came under orders of 1st Quetta Brigade in 4th (Quetta) Division. Moved in October 1915 to Multan Brigade in 3rd (Lahore) Divisional Area. In March 1916, transferred to Ferozepore Brigade in same Area. Moved with brigade (now renamed 44th Brigade) to 16th (Indian) Division in February 1917. Moved in March 1917 to Dehra Dun Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Divisional Area and transferred to Delhi Brigade in same Area in March 1918."
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I'm not sure it is of any relevance to Cecil Thomas's service as he won't have joined up pre-war, but the 4th Battalion was based in the following locations in Cornwall, prior to the start of the war:
A Company at Penzance
B Company at Camborne
C Company at Falmouth
D Company at Helston
E Company at Truro
F Company at Hayle
G Company at Redruth
H Company at St. Just (detachment at Pendeen)
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His Military History Sheet states ----
Home – from 7.9.1914 to 11.12.1914 (96 days)
India – 12.12.1914 to 10.10.1916 (303 days)
Home – 11. 10.1916 to 29.8.1917 (323 days)
Number of days in India is wrong. Should be much greater than 303 if the dates are right.
Martin
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Martin you are right. However Neale1961 misquoted the service record. What it actually said was 1 yr and 303 days, which is correct.
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What it actually said was 1 yr and 303 days, which is correct.
Oops - I missed the 1
I note that the marriage date was 28 Nov 1916. So Edward wasn't home long before he married.
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Thank you for these additions. For some reason I have not been able to access this site until today when i received all this info from the Rootschat.com Team.
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For some reason I have not been able to access this site until today when i received all this info from the Rootschat.com Team.
The site has been down for about 9 days due to 'Database errors', but thankfully it's running again.