WW1 Army meaning of letters

[maryj171]

Does anyone know what the following means when it appears on my Dads Army card obtained through National Archives
Cause of Discharge
392 ( xvi) looks like K.R.
B.1.A.0.11
10.8.looks like 17 VV
His enlistment date was 2.3.16 and discharge date 28.2.19
Also a stamp states Victory M.G.C./101.81 6392
Pointers to anywhere for more information would be great.


Dad was in Merchant Navy until he had been shipwrecked 3 times by 1916
His Navy record card only states name /birth date/address and date his Mercantile Marine Medal issued. The only reference number is GR52A His actual medal does not state any number on (unlike his Army medal) any ideas where I might find his Merchant Navy number to find out ships he sailed on

[kmart66]

Hi

392 xvi Kings regulations, no longer physically fit for war service

Kevin

[km1971]

If you post his name and regimental number we can then look at the original.

Ken

[maryj171]

.Thanks for that fast response. His name was Andrew Kelly his number was 130533 he never spoke about the War would love to know where he went

[jds1949]

The National Archives has the records of Merchant Navy seamen - see here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/merchant-seamen-medals-ww1.htm

The record should give you enough information to continue your research.

jds1949

[maryj171]

Thanks JDS unfortunately cannot find any trace of Dad under Merchant Seaman but whilst looking discovered  his correct Army number is 30533 ( not130533). Can anyone explain what the rest of the letters mean on his record card. Have read replies to other people and have checked various sites but cannot find further explanantions of what the rest of the letters mean
Manythanks for assistance

[ainslie]

The letters and numbers inthe lower part of the card refer to the medal roll, a large book kept at the National Archives and not available online.  There may be more details showing Pte Kelly's battalion but not much else, I am afraid.  You would have to visit Kew or persuade someone to look it up for you.
The writing after the KRegs. bit is connected with the reason for discharge.  AO means Army Order...
If you look for a website under The Long Long Trail and hunt around you will something about the MGC and much else.

[Andy D]

Andrew Kelly and the information provided, M.G.C relates to Machine Gun Corps

[km1971]

392 ( xvi) looks like K.R.
B.1.A.0.11
10.8.looks like 17 VV

Hi Mary

There are actually two regulations quoted here. You have to remember that these cards were not designed to be published, and being for internal use many shortcuts were taken. The first line (already explained) is the cause of discharge.

The rest is why he was allowed the Silver War Badge. It actually reads Bi AO II 10.8.17 W

The ‘II’ are roman numerals and not the number eleven. It is an amendment to the original Army Order 265.

‘Bi’ is actually 2.B.i – “(i) After service overseas in the armed Forces of the Crown, on account of disablement or ill-health caused otherwise than by misconduct”,

W is for wounds, so he must have been wounded before 11 November 1919 and discharged three months later. You could look for his name in a local newspaper for a list of wounded, starting a few months before the armistice.

‘List’ on his medal card is also a clue to the fact he was awarded a SWB. Ancestry have it here - http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec?htx=View&r=5538&dbid=2456&iid=wo329_3181-00056&fn=Andrew&ln=Kelly&st=r&ssrc=&pid=681151

If you look at his medal card again you will see that he was also awarded the British War Medal.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp

Ken