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Class W Army Reserve was introduced in June 1916 by Army Order 203/16 and was "for all those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment". I assume that it fulfilled the same purpose in WW2.

I cannot help with your other question. I suspect it relates to a specific paragraph in the Reserve Regulations concerning his final discharge having completed his reserve liability. Para 234 does not appear to be a reference to King's Regulations for the Army. In KRs 1940 discharges are covered in paragraph 390.

Thank you.

All I know is that in 1935 he became a cabin boy and was listed as a merchant seamen on the Fresno City which was sunk in Nov 1940. It doesn't look as though he was on board when that happened if the date of 1.1.40 is correct.

The actual ships Official Logbook including the Crew Agreement will have been lost in the sinking. However, in those circumstances the owners of the vessel were required to send a copy of the crew list to the RGSS. Casualties and Deaths Lists (C&D), would be used for the registration of the deaths of the crew.

You need to obtain the last crew agreement for FRESNO CITY official number, 161613 for 1940 held at TNA Kew in piece BT 381/1043 - https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11043533.

Regards
Hugh

Hi

Thank you. There was only one casualty, to my knowledge. I was hoping to determine if the person I was looking for was onboard at that time.

I will check the link, thank you.

Just to be clear, before the start of the First World War the East Lancs had two Regular Battalions, 1st and 2nd, and a 3rd Special Reserve Battalion. The Special Reserve was formed from the old Militia which had effectively been disbanded in 1908 when the Territorial Force was created. The role of the Special Reserve was to act as a pool of individual reservists to replace casualties in the 1st and 2nd Battalions, and also to perform a home guard role. Members of the 3rd Battalion were part-timers until they were mobilised in the Summer of 1914.

Prior to the start of the war the 2nd Battalion was in South Africa, and the 1st Battalion was stationed in Colchester. Neither had been in Ireland for at least 6 years prior to 1914.   

Thank you. So it doesn't look as if Harold was serving with the East Lancs in Ireland. I assumed that given the time period he was there in a military capacity but there is a very slim possibility he was visiting family. His maternal grandparents came from Ireland though I don't know from where.

Great Research Hanes
Had just found Dependents Pension Card for the Mother Maria nee McKay for Sons Harold and Robert they were born of 11 Children
Harold's 1914/15 Star showed he Enlisted into the 2nd Btn and went Overseas with them on 14 April 1915 then Transferred to 3rd Btn and finally back to 2nd Btn with whom he was Killed with on 27 February 1918 as 19748

Thank you. That explains the transfer from one battalion to the other.  Looks like I need to further investigate why he was in Ireland c 1914.

 

Hi

My ancestor, Harold Layfield, was killed while serving in the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment in 1918. I have a document that lists servicemen entitled to the Victory and other service medals which lists his previous regiment as the 3rd East Lancashire Regiment. Prior to him enlisting with the 2nd, at the outbreak of war, Harold was In Ireland.

Would he have been serving in the 3rd East Lancs reg in Ireland in 1913/14 or did he enlist in the 3rd which then transferred to the 2nd?

I am just wondering what he was doing in Ireland and why the 3rd transferred to the 2nd.

Thanks

Amanda