Help with war service records

[Gortinanima]

Dear List, I need help interpreting my Grandfather's war service records
but I have one source stating that he was in the 1st Battalion of
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and another in the 7/8th Battalion of Royal Innis
Fusiliers:
Would appreciate some help in working this out [are we able
to work out which division and brigade he would have been in,
and which battles etc??]. I believe if he was in the 7/8 Batt of R Innis Fus
he would have been in the 49th Brigade and 16th irish Division:
I am a novice with regard to war records!!

My Grandad Robert Forrest [1899-1979], served from 1916-1919:
From Limavady, County Derry, Ireland

Medal Index gives the following:
R Innis Fus 28965
R Irish Fus 3459 or 31459
R Mun Fus 18483

Medal Roll of individuals for Royal Munster Fusiliers
Robert Forrest Pte 18483
[typed exactly as below]
1/Inniskillin Fus, Pte 28965
1/R Ir Fus 31459
2/R Mun Fus 18483
Remarks - Class 'Z' A R 28.2.19

ABSENT VOTERS LIST NORTH L'DERRY, IRELAND, 1918
Forrest, Robert: 4 Protestant Street, Limavady: 18483: 7/8 R. Innis Fus:
[Pencilled in remarks column: Labour Corps]

Any help greatfully recieved.

[harribobs]

by the look of his records, he was in them all, he went over to France/Flanders after the end of 1915

so for some reason he had to leave his original regiment,  usually wounds and on recovery he was transferred to a different regiment .  he would have had no choice in this matter

if he was in the 7/8th Skins, that would have been after August 1917 when the 7th and 8th were amalgamated   (edit of course it was after then, the info was from the AVL )

[Gortinanima]

His war medals indicate that he only served after 1916,
so that is why I am wondering was the typed 1/Inniskillen Fus
a typo for 7/Inniskillin Fus??

[LJReb123]

Hello

I know I've posted on the other thread re Robert.

Early 1916 was a very demanding time for the First Battalion having returned from Gallipoli to regroup in England and  France. Robert may have been part of a draft of replacements. But then again it may be a typo as the 7th and 8th were there also.

Another possibility may be that he was transferred from RMF back to the skins 7/8 whilst in hospital in UK and then to the Labour Corps (common enough).

The best way to find out for sure is from the medal roll itself (at Kew ).

Do you know three 'Forresters - John,William and James are commemorated at Largy Presn Church - one having served with the RIF's.?

David

[Gortinanima]

Thanks David for the help,

I had someone look up the medal details at Kew and I have
a photocopy as follows:

Medal Roll of individuals for Royal Munster Fusiliers
Robert Forrest Pte 18483
[typed exactly as below]
1/Inniskillin Fus, Pte 28965
1/R Ir Fus 31459
2/R Mun Fus 18483
Remarks - Class 'Z' A R 28.2.19


So the medal roll say 1st Battalion but the absent voters register for
1918 says 7/8 batallion [and also pencilled in is the Labour Corps].

The three Forrests on Largy Presbyterian roll were all brothers;
James Forrest was in 9th Battalion of R. Innis Fus [Tyrones] and
he died in 1917.

These 3 brothers were 2nd cousins of my grandfather.

[km1971]

Here is a link to the infantry during WW1 - http://www.1914-1918.net/regiments.htm. If his papers have not survived thenly way ofknowing when he was transferred  between units will be to discover when the various numbers would have been allocated.

Men discharged to the Z Class Reserve were discharged but liable to being recalled should fighting start up again after 11.11.1918. Remember this was only an armistice. WW1 actually ended with the signing of the peace treaty,

Regarding the AVL, it looks as if he was in the 7/8 RIF when the list was compiled, but was in the Labour Corps when he came to exercise his vote. It was probably after 11.11.18 as the Labour Corps does not feature on the MIC.

Ken