Royal Dublin Fusileers - detailed information

[dillonking]

My great uncle was killed in 1914 in the Great War. I have his medal card, battallion and unit and the place where he enlisted.

What I wanted to know is whether I could access his full record from the day of enlistment. Did they fill in a form giving their height and other personal details?

He enlisted in Dublin but where did the battallion do its training and for how long before being posted overseas?

He served in France & Flanders but I wonder where exactly.

Does anyone know how I can access this information?

Thanking you in advance. I did try a RDF forum but it isn't working properly and I couldn't get it to accept my membership.

[shanew147]

your post might do better on the Armed Forces board here on RootChat - that's where the experts in all matters Military hang out...

will I move your post there ?  Done


Shane

[Pastmagic]

http://www.cwgc.org/

You could try a search, and also post his details here.

PM

[Baird]

If he was in the 2nd Battalion he was in the 10th Infantry Brigade. Other Regiments in it were 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment,1st Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Their Movements during August to November 1914 in France are in a short book called" A Brigade of The Old Army" written by Lieut.-General Sir Aylmer Haldane. It was published by the Naval and Military Press so perhaps if you contact them they will assist.

Baird

[dillonking]

Okay Shane that might help. Thread Moved to Armed Forces

Thank you for your post Past Magic; your link is very good and that is where I found his cemetery but it does not give detailed records.

Thank you for your suggestion Baird. I shall look into it too. He was indeed in the
2nd Battallion so I can add 10th Infantry too.

Thanks to all for your speedy responses. Much appreciated.

[Baird]

If you send me his date of death I can maybe forward some info.

Baird

[dillonking]

I have sent you a PM Baird and many thanks for any help you might be able to give me.

[km1971]

About two thirds of WW1 service records were destroyed by bombing in 1940. Only the 2nd Battalion were in France in 1914 - http://www.1914-1918.net/dubs.htm

If you click on 4th Division (top right) you will get an idea of the battles he took part in. You can then follow each one until his death. The National Archives are digitising the WW1 war diaries - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/british-army-war-diaries-1914-1918.htm - however rank and file are rarely mentioned. But again it will give background such as if they were in the front line. If not he may have been carrying supplies, or was hit by a stray shell behind the lines.

If his record has not survived you should at least be able to discover when his number was issued by asking on the Great War Forum. As he died in1914 he must have had pre war experience.

Ken

[corisande]

Here are my unedited notes on 2nd RDF at retreat at Mons which will show you what was happening to the battalion

Click here

But as others have said, you will get a lot more help if you post the details that you have on his name, etc.