1918-1920, labour corps, Cologne, Germany

[zak]

Thanks Yorkshirelass. I've been in touch with Wakefield archives and they have sent me copies of my grandfather's medical records. They have been brilliant. Thanks for looking on ancestry for me - much appreciated even if the records aren't there, at least it rules that avenue of search out.
Zak
by the way, where abouts in Yorkshire are you from?

[zak]

what area of Halifax was he living in 1914-18? Its a post 1917 Service number for the West Ridings .
Ady

Thanks again Ady. Please could you let me know how you found this information! He was born in Sowerby and was living at Salterhebble, Halifax.

[scrimnet]

The book you need toread is "Forgotten Lunatics of The Great War" It explains all about "Service Patients"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Lunatics-Great-Peter-Barham/dp/0300103794

A rather excellent book...

"Shell Shock" "Neurasthenia" or more commonly these days PTSD has many causes and many presentations, not all psychotic.

It can be an accumulation of things and the last thing, perhaps something minor would be "the straw that broke the camels back" type of scenario.

Here is a picture of the British Army in Cologne

No it isn't...I'll put it up later...

[mmm45]

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

This should explain renumbering in 1917 when TF lads got 6 digit instead of 4 digit numbers.
He may have enlisted before this but didnt go overseas.

Ive just been researching a soldier from Sowerby that was a POW captured at Mons 1914.I was lucky his record survived.

It is luck of the draw with records as only 30% survived the 1940 bombing.

Theres a possibility that he went overseas to an Infantry Base Depot as a West Riding Reg soldier but was immediately drafted to the Labour Corps .Do you have any photos

Ady

[zak]

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

Do you have any photos

Ady

This is a postcard that he sent home to his wife saying 'This is a good view of the camp.' And I've just noticed it is dated 1916. He was born in 1884 which makes him quite old to have joined up.

Thanks again for all your help. Who are you researching from Sowerby? I have a lot of relatives that were born there!
Zak

[zak]

Many thanks Scrimnet - I'll look out for the book you suggest. I'd also love to see the photo...

[pete edwards]

Hi Zak

Scrimnet is right about the awful things these poor chaps went through,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRv56gsqkzs -

Pete

[mmm45]

Hi Zak
Lad im researching was Ernest Brayshaw lived Washer? Lane Sowerby Bridge he was a 1901 enlistee left 1913 and rejoined for Great War and spent 4 yrs POW picked up his Victory Medal in Hebden Bridge couple of weeks ago.

The phot looks like a basic training camp in UK.

Do you have his medals? If so have a look on the Rims and see what is impressed into them.

Ady

[scrimnet]

Here we go....