WW1 Regiments - Royal Irish Regiment

[stevielad]

Can anyone answer a query, please?

My great grandfather, James Bate, and 4 of his brothers, enlisted in the South Staffs Regiment at the start of WW1. Unfortunately, his son died in the flu epidemic of 1918, but he's listed on the death certificate as a Private in the Royal Irish Regiment!! Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks,

Steve Bate

[Leofric]

Stevie

Not sure what you're asking for. Do you mean shed light on the Royal Irish Regiment? Or the fact that the son was in a regiment you did not expect to see him in?

If the latter, men did not always get into the regiment of their choice in WW1 or indeed WW2 - being steered into whichever regiment or corps was depleted enough to need numbers making up.

I looked up one of my own relations, expecting to find him in the Royal Warwickshires (because he lived in that county) but he was drafted into the Welsh Fusiliers!
And another Warks man was put into the Black Watch...

Leofric

[Flipster]

Had the same with my granddad.  Started in the Warwicks and ended up in the Gloucesters.  Due to the large numbers of men lost during the Great War, many battalions were 'cobbled' together.  Men whose battalion had been descimated were transferred into the nearest one to them.  You can check on the National Archives and download his Medal Index Card.  This should tell you which regiments he was in, his regiment number and medals.  Also, go to 1914-1918 website and join their forum.  Ive put the links below.
http://www.1914-1918.net/
http://www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1

Hope this helps.  Good Luck

Flipster

[stevielad]

Thanks for your help.

Steve

[bridewell native]

Would like to know if anyone out there has a photograph of 26005 Corporal Timothy Singleton, 7 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who was KIA during the battle for Courtrai on 14 October 1918.  I would be most grateful.  I have arranged to visit his grave in the near future and a photo of him would be of great satisfaction to my family who lived across the road from his late widow for many years.

CD

[mmm45]

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/book-records-sacrifice-of-those-who-died-in-war-121327.html

Wonder if this book will tell you if a photo is available in local papers?

Ady

[bridewell native]

Thank you Ady for that advice.  I will check out the Examiner and the book listed.