7.7.1916

[Jane MB]

Sydney Manley b Aug 1879 in Hemyock Devon. Was a miner in the Rhonnda a widower with 2 small boys. joined the RE as a sapper.
Enlisted 19.2.1916
Home 23.5 to 8.6 1916
BEF 9.6 to 12.7.1916
Home 13.7.16 to 27.11.1916
BEF 28.11 to 10.1.1917
Home 11.1. to 20.9.1917
no longer fit for duty discharged 20.9.1917
He was mine gassed on 7.7.1916

I have his red service book serial no 542 and character certificate no 158206.
I also have 2 of his medals (not his silver war badge), some spare unused ribbons, his original medal letter and box and the 1914 Christmas tin. Wonderful!

 I really want to know which company he belonged to and to find out where he served and what happened on 7.7.16
(I got his medal card downloaded from the national archives but it gave no useful info)
Also he met my nan in Rainham Kent and took her back to Wales in 1920 (she was still in Rainham in June 1919 as her daughter was buried then) Why was he in Kent. What is the hospital route from the front?

Do you think he was gassed twice? ( family rumour thinks this is so)
Any help would be appreciated.
thanks Jane

[liverpool annie]

Hi Jane !

This is from the Museum and may give you something to peruse while you're waiting for a definitive answer about your Sidney

http://www.remuseum.org.uk/corpshistory/rem_corps_part14.htm

Annie 

Can you post his medal card Jane ?? ... somebody here maybe able to read something on there we may have missed !!

[mmm45]

Hi
Its possible he was in one of the Tunnelling Companies.Can you look on the rims of the medal there should be his name and number if you can post them we can find his Medal Index card and maybe find his unit...They should be on the Medal Rolls at Kew but you need his MIC for the reference.

** The MIC you have its the numbers next to his Medals listings that you need you will then have to visit or pay a researcher at the NA to look up the Rolls and this will give his unit.

Ady

[mmm45]

Already got it!!!!
158206 
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4096558&queryType=1&resultcount=69

At a glance on SDGW the lads with similar numbers are all Tunnellers with 175 TC or 257 TC
Theres a few Welsh Miners amongst them.
The Medal Index card will give you the references for his "Pair " British War and Victory Medal plus the SWB List which can be checked to give reason for discharge(Which you already know)

http://www.1914-1918.net/tunnelcoyre.htm

This will give you an insight to Tunnellers

Ady

[forester]

Hello Jane,

Following on from Ady, the war diaries for the two Tunnelling Companies are at the NA.
175 TC; April 1915 to August 1917; WO 95/404
257 TC; June 1916 to March 1919; WO 95/552

The embarkation date for Sydney's first stint ties in quite well with 257 TC.

Phil

[Jane MB]

hello
Thank you all for the help.

I have this copy of his medal index card. Using the numbers on the side of his medals 158206.  I hav ethe box which contained letter of riband for Victory medal with same number on it.
I don't know if the index card gives more info that would be helpful. I'm not sure how to read it all.


I will try to copy his service record book too, as this may tell you more than me!!

from Jane

[Jane MB]

hello
What is the SDWG
These are the pages of his service book, red folder.
Perhaps I have missed something.

Jane

I can't seem to do this. I tried both pages but it rejected. Then only one and it still rejected. They are jpeg. Do I need to save them as something else?

I will try a photo of him.  This worked. I will have to investigate more.

[mmm45]

Hi Jane
He was entitled to British War and Victory medals plus SWB
The numbers next to these on the card refer to the original rolls at the NA which will give you his unit and dates served abroad which you pretty much have.
Theres about a 30% chance his service papers survived but at present "M" surnames not online so its a visit or pay researcher to check em for you.
The War diaries can be ordered from the NA  its rare an" other rank" is named but it may confirm your gassing theory if you get the date he was gassed it may have mention of casualties...id go with 257 TC.

Ady

[mmm45]

SDGW is a contemporary document (Soldiers Died in Great War) not as comprehensive as CWGC by any means but relatives provided info and it was produced in the 20s
It has place of birth enlistment and residence plus date of death how died and sometimes other remarks but not family stuff.

Great photo.

Ady