Wool Textile Pioneers

[BumbleB]

jim1 - where did you see that he was on the Roll of the 21st?  I'd love to be to add that to my grandfather's file.  I did know that he was at Le Sars on 7 October 1916 - he is one of the 217 ORs killed.  I've already got the War Diary entries for the 11th, plus the relevant pages from The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War (280-285) and a copy of his Will made at Brocton Camp (not very far from where I now live).  Anything else is a bonus 

[jim1]

It's on ancestry
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=5119&enc=1

[BumbleB]

Thanks for that Jim.  I had in fact downloaded that image previously, but obviously hadn't looked at it too closely, or made the connection    Well, I am a female    Again, many thanks.

[BumbleB]

Apologies for yet another stupid question 

My grandfather's number was 26995 and his service record (well, what is left of it) states that he attested on 18 November 1915. 

jim1 kindly found the Medal Rolls entry for him, confirming the date and number, but Wilfred was in the 11th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, whereas all other associated numbers relate to the 21st Battalion - Wool Textile Pioneers.

Were these numbers allocated per area of enlistment, rather than date order?

Reason:  the only other near number - 26966 - Charles Edward Sheldon - whose records have survived, show that he enlisted 2 March 1916 - some 3 months after my grandfather.

Question:  why might Charles have been issued with an earlier number - 26966 in 1916 against Wilfred Appleyard being issued 26995 in 1915?

[jim1]

It's a minefield.
There must have been a batch of numbers allocated to the 21st. & for whatever reason 26995 wasn't originally taken up & re-issued at a later date.

[BumbleB]

Thanks Jim - I did say it was a stupid question, and one we will never really know the answer to 

[Gwil]

It's a minefield.
There must have been a batch of numbers allocated to the 21st. & for whatever reason 26995 wasn't originally taken up & re-issued at a later date.

I disagree. Wilfred attested in November but the number wasn't allocated then as he was placed in Reserves. His number  was allocated when he was mobilised which was in March 1916.

[BumbleB]

Thanks for that Gwil - it now makes more sense.  Charles Sheldon joined 2 March 1916 and was immediately allocated a service number and served with the 21st Battalion, and Wilfred who signed up on 18 November 1915, didn't actually receive his service number until 22 March 1916.

Charles Sheldon's record shows that he attested 2 March 1916 and was immediately allocated to the 21st, where he stayed until 26 July 1917, then 16 August 1917 he was posted to 11th, and posted back to 21st 19 May 1918.

Wilfred's record is as my initial post, which I assume means that he never actually had a number issued until March 1916 as a member of the 11th.



Thanks