Royal Dublin Fusiliers Labour Corps

[pidgeoni38]

Hi all, I am writing my thesis on my own family history and could use some help. My great grandfather was in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Labour Corps from 1915 to 1919. He served at the Somme. I was wondering what type of work would the men of the Labour Corps have done at the Somme? Any feedback would be most welcome. Happy New Year. Keith.

[newburychap]

I suggest you spend some time on the Long Long Trail website http://www.1914-1918.net

This splendid site is packed with information about the army in the Great War - and will tell you that the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Labour Corps were two different elements of the army. Neither are very specific as both were elements of the army that put multiple units into the field in multiple theatres of war. To understand more about your great-grandfather's involvement you will need to find out more details - eg Which battalion of the RDF was he with?  Which Labour Corps company?

The Long Long Trail has a section on researching soldiers - a good starting point.

If when you say 'at the Somme' you are referring to the Battle of the Somme in 1916 then the Labour Corps was not involved at all - because it wasn't formed until January 1917 over a month after the end of the battle. Of course there was plenty more fighting in the Somme area of the front - in which elements of the Labour Corps would have been involved, especially in the chaos of the German Spring Offensive in 1918.

[km1971]

Hi Keith

Can you post his name and his regimental number(s). Also, have you found his medal card on Ancestry?

Ken

[pidgeoni38]

Hi Ken, .  It tells us that James Pidgeon served as a Private 15415 with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and then served as Private 407867 with the Labour Corps. The next section of the card reveals what medals he was entitled; it says he received the Victory Medal, 15-Star Medal and the British Medal. None of these medals survive in our family today. On the 19th of December 1915, James Joseph entered the theatre of war in France. I think I might have found a Battalion to match but any help would be great. Keith

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[km1971]

Hi Keith

It was the date of entering a theatre of war I was after. It is the 1914-15 Star and the 8th and 9th Battalions went to France in December 1915 - http://www.1914-1918.net/dubs.htm

Of course he may have been sent out as reinforcements to another battalion. This link gives some background to the Labour Corps - http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm There are a few experts in the Labour Corps on the Great War Forum, who may be able to tell you when his LC number was issued. This assumes his service record is not on Ancestry.

'Cl Z' means Class Z Reserve. He was discharged on the date given, but on the understanding he could be recalled if fighting started again. Remember that 11.11.1918 was only an armistice.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/medal-index-cards-ww1.htm

Ken