16th regiment of the east york and Lancashire

[ginny44]

My great grand dad served in the above regiment but was discharged 2 years later (signed up 1916-discharged 1918) due to having epilepsy.  He wrote a letter in 1921 asking for help as he was being bullied by some chaps and he said that his nerves were shattered and this abuse was bringing on more fits.  Do you think it's possible that he gained the epilepsy during the war and suffered with shell shock?  Also where would he have fought during those 2 years.  He was admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital and discharged from there in 1918.

Thank you for your help.

Best wishes.

[Patricia jackson]

Can you find any info at the national archives? I guess he could have suffered a head trauma which gave him epilepsy as I doubt  he would have got through his medical otherwise. Though I could be wrong.  Yes I imagine further stress or aggravation could make the epilepsy worse. I guess the medication wasn't so good in those days. You do not mention his name. Is he on any sites like FindMyPast or ancestry? what you really need are his service records which should tell you where he was. also try a search ebgine like  google - that should give you a bit of info about his regiment and battalion

[ginny44]

Hi

My great grandfathers name was George Francis Grayson.  I have found his Army service records on Ancestry, that is where I got a copy of the letter he wrote and the information regarding Wharncliffe War Hospital. 

The only information on his army medal card is this Action taken 0/4148/2 and I don't know what that means.  Also cause of discharge 392 (xui) KR
a.o.29/19 s

and " " under medals

Thanks

[apwright]

O/4148/2 is the reference no. of the Silver War Badge list on which his name appears. You will find the list on Ancestry in the "UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920".
The "Medal" card is only for his SWB. He didn't qualify for any medals as he never served overseas - so his epilepsy was not due to shell shock!
16th (Transport Workers) Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment remained in the UK. During the time George Grayson actually served with them (31/8/17 to 24/9/18), they were at Durham and then Catterick. (He volunteered on 24/6/16, but was not actually called up to serve until 31/8/17, according to his record.)
392(xvi)KR is Paragraph 392 Subsection xvi of King's Regulations, i.e. discharged "No longer physically fit for service".

Adrian

[ginny44]

Thank you very much Adrian for explaining this to a complete novice regarding war records.  At least I understand he didn't get the epilepsy through war service so perhaps he had it long standing, and withheld it when he joined up.  If he wasn't entitled to medals for not serving overseas, was he still entitled to the silver war badge?

Thanks again for helping.