1918-1920, labour corps, Cologne, Germany

[scrimnet]

If you look closely, the signs are in English, and there are British Soldiers everywhere...

[zak]

Thanks Scrimnet, an interesting photo. Do you know the year it was taken?

[zak]

Thanks pete for the link to Utube. I find video clips like this very distressing, but it is reality and should be shown.
I have all the medical records on my grandfather that I got from Wakefield archives and I'm relieved that none of these symptoms are recorded in his notes.

[zak]

Hi Ady
I have both my grandfather's medals and they recod his name, number and regiment on the rim.

I know Washer Lane in Halifax, so if you are querying the spelling you have got it correct.

Now that you have said it's a basic training camp in England it seems obvious. But I always thought it was somewhere in France as he was in the army during the war. Sometimes the obvious staring us in the face just passes us by, so many thanks for that.
Zak

[Yorkslass]

Hello again Zak,

The book Scrimnet mentioned is previewed on Google Books -  http://www.rootschat.com/links/05w8/   

It is a "preview", but there are a lot of pages still to read.  I just searched it for Storthes Hall, of which there are quite a few mentions, but I found myself reading a lot of it.  It makes very sad reading.

I know it doesn't really help you with your search, but it gives a good background as to why so many soldiers suffered in the way your grandfather did.

(I'm originally from Hull, by the way, but the last twenty years, I've lived "down South"!)

Yorkslass

[zak]

I also was amazed at how much of this book was up on the web - and it is searchable. And I agree, it is depressing reading. What I'm trying to find out is exactly what his role was in the war that had this effect on him. I'd really like to know what he was doing in Germany - so I need to know which part of the labour corps he was in and then perhaps I could visit the National Archives to find out more. It all takes time, and is so difficult to find information.
Zak
Born in halifax, and also am now a southerner - have been for the last 9 years.

[mmm45]

Zak
The Medal Roll at Kew may give you which unit he was in in the Labour Corps.Do his medals say West Riding Regiment on?
There is an expert on the Great War Forum called Ivor whos specialises in Labour Corps.He may be able to help.
http://www.geocities.com/labour_corps/

Heres his site
Ady

[zak]

Yes, his medals say West Riding Regiment. Thanks for the link - I have emailed Ivor. I'll let you know if I hear anything more. Thanks once again Ady for your time and help.

[scrimnet]

He was part of the British Army of Occupation which crossed the Rhine after the war and occupied parts of Germany.

This might be useful...

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/war-diaries.asp

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0CE2DE1338EE32A25751C1A9639C946896D6CF

And this is where we had a look at this previously...

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,304986.0.html