James Wills - Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

[shirley11]

Could someone help in pointing me in the right direction in finding out some more about James Wills born 28.9.1896 in Maybole, Scotland. He served in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders & I have found his mic with his service number s.16549 & it doesn't say what theatre of war he was in. He is my husband's grandfather & he did hear a story about him having trenchfoot after he had been in France during the war, but this is all we know. He also played for Queens Park FC & I haven't got anywhere with that either.
Any help with any of this would be gratefully received.
Thanks,
Shirley

[km1971]

Hi Shirley

Here is a list of A&SH battalions - http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/princess-louises-argyll-sutherland-highlanders/

All battalions who went overseas, served only in France; apart from the 1st and 12th Battalions who were moved from France to the Salonika front. You can ignore the Territorial battalions as their men had 6-digit number from 1917.

I have just noticed the S prefix. So his first battalion will be one of the service battalions. Also worth checking the actual medal roll on Ancestry, as his battalion may be given.

An A&SH numbering expert on the Great War Forum may know if the non-TF numbers were issued in blocks, and can help find the battalion. Or you may be able to find records of men with nearby numbers to serve if the numbers were issued in blocks.

One strange thing is that the medal card gives 2/29 (February 1929) for when the batch was ordered. So it is a re-print.

Ken

[jim1]

The Rolls say he in the 14th. Batt.
The war diaries are on Ancestry.
The Batt. embarked for Le Havre 6/6/16 on the paddle steamer Marguirite.
They were attached to the 46th. Bde. 15th. Div. at this time.
Transferred back to the 120th. Bde. 40th. Div.
They were sent directly to the Loos salient where they took casualties almost immediately.
The closest no. I can find was S/16509 who attested June 1916.

Extract from diary just after arriving & trench map.
Blue trenches = British
Red trenches = German

[jim1]

Is this now completed?

[shirley11]

Thank you so very much for all the information & pointing me in the right direction. It's absolutely fascinating stuff & I've been reading the 14th battalion war diary ever since your reply. It would seem that James Wills was pretty lucky to come home with just trench foot. So, yes thank you I think it is completed.

Regards,
Shirley