Photo's of Northamptonshire Men/Women Both Wars Wanted Please

[Stebie9173]

I don't think anyone has pointed it out yet but the Northampton Roll of Honour of men from the town serving in 1916 shows Frank Jones with the 2nd Battalion. It wasn't unusual for a man to return to the Front with a different battalion after recovering from wounds. Hopefully his service records will lay out his movements, but if not then a switch of battalions in 1915/16 has to be considered.

Frank JONES 82 SHELLEY STREET 2ND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SERGEANT
Henry JONES 82 SHELLEY STREET ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY SERGEANT

http://www.northants-familytree.net/soldier%20index%20roll%20of%20honour.htm


...and then the 1918 Absent Voters List shows him as a Sergeant with the 1st Battalion...


Steve.

[Penholder]

Hi Steve

The printer is working again and now I just need to order a death certificate and get permission from my uncle, who is the next of kin.

Thank you for the link to the 1916 Northampton Roll of Honour.   I knew about the northants-familytree site, but hadn't come across the Roll of Honour on it before.   I can see some of my grandfather's HAKES cousins, so will have to study it some more.

My grandfather didn't return to the fighting after he came home to Northampton to recover from his second wound in the leg.   Maybe he changed Battalions after he trained to be an Army Gym Instructor.

Many thanks for all your hard work on my behalf.   

Best wishes,

Diana

[seahall]

I thanked you on your Scrimmers Living History Thread Son,
so I should also thank you here.   

THANK YOU.  [/color][/size]

Mum

[Stebie9173]

Just an additional thought...


During the pre-war period, the 1st and 2nd Battalion of most Regiments followed a policy of one battalion being based in the UK (and Ireland) and one out in the Empire. Up to January 1911 the 1st Battalion was serving out in India, whilst the 2nd Battalion was based in England.

Bearing in mind that Frank Jones returned to the UK in August 1914 (and we know he was fit and healthy at that point - i.e. not being evacuated sick - because he went straight to France), he is very likely to have been completing his overseas stint with the Regiment which in most cases was 5 years+.

Hence, he almost certainly saw overseas service with both the 1st Battalion (in India and Aden) and the 2nd Battalion (at Malta and Egypt).

The "switch" was performed by H.T. "Dongola" which left the UK with the men of 2nd Battalion on board on the 18th January 1911. On 25th January 1911 it reached Malta and dropped off its 2nd Battalion passengers. It then steamed on through the Suez Canal to Aden in the Yemen to pick up the 1st Battalion. The Dongola left Aden with 1st Battalion aboard on 21st February 1911 and headed back through the Suez Canal back to Malta arriving on 7th March 1911 where it dropped off a number of 1st Battalion men who had still got overseas time left to serve before heading back to the UK with the remainder of 1st Battalion arriving at Devonport on 15th March 1911.


I strongly suspect that Frank Jones was part of the group of men dropped off at Malta on 7th March 1911 when the 1st Battalion returned from India.


Steve.

[Penholder]

Hi Steve

Once again a big thank you for your amazing knowledge.   

Looking at my grandfather's Certificate of Service Booklet his time in Malta started on 7th March 1911 and before that he was in India from 6th November 1907 to 6th March 1911.   I didn't know that Aden was included in India, but he was definitely in Aden, so that fits with your information.
 
It seems as if any time spent in transit counts as part of the previous posting.   I suppose it has to be accounted for somehow.

Diana

[Stebie9173]

Phew! Guessed correctly.... 


The 1st Battalion were based at Jullundur (and had been since 1903) with various detachments in other places in northern India when Frank Jones arrived with them. Thereafter they moved to Poona (arrived 3rd March 1908). For a short while from July 1908 to August 1908 they moved to Colaba on the Bombay Peninsula to assist in policing the possible unrest that was expected at the trial of Bal Gangadhar Tilak (a "forerunner" of Gandhi).

The battlion moved on to Aden (Yemen) in late January 1910 arriving at Aden on 2nd February 1901. Of the 8 Companies (the structure changed to 4 companies in 1914), 3 Companies were stationed at "The Crater",  with 2 Companies at Steamer Point, and the remaining remaining three Companies (A, B & D Companies) back on mainland India at Ahmednagar.

Incidentally, those men who were awake got a good view of Halley's Comet passing overhead at Aden during April 1910....


Steve.

[Penholder]

Hi Steve

You're an absolute mine of information!   I soon won't need to get my Grandad's military records after all.

I'm going to ring my uncle later to fill him in on everything I've discovered and I think he'll be over the moon to learn so much.

Many, many thanks.

Diana

[seahall]

Okay all just so we do not get too much off the original topic
I am going to link to the Armed Forces in case Diana may
get other help there also.

I have let Diana know, and I hope that more info may come
to light.

Sandy

[Stebie9173]

Good idea, Sandy.


Apologies for the detour...


Steve.