finding my gt grandfathers dispatch rider service number/ records

[50sqnwopag]

no middle name unfortunately, I agree on the rank issue which was another reason I'm doubtful its him.....
     I've tried both the RE museum and RS lot to try and see if attestation forms are still about but no joy so far......
Max I've got the sigs diary but alas him being a lowly ranker he isn't deemed worthy a mention......

there was a paper clipping from his local (ish) rag about him but his rank is sapper....

[MaxD]

Is the newspaper date 9 February or 2 September 1918?

MaxD

[50sqnwopag]

evening,
    I've just had a look through old emails and its the Halifax courier 2nd feb 1918, going on the time line of being out of action, he would have been gassed at ypres/passchendaele.?

[MaxD]

It is highly likely that he was gassed in the early part of October 1917 when 66 Division (with the Australian Corps on their right) were badly mauled in the Battle of Poelkapelle in what were the latter stages of 3rd Ypres/Passchendaele.  The Sigs Coy war diary from about 7 October illustrates the difficulties the company had in maintaining communications so whatever his role at the time, the likelihood of being caught in an enemy bombardment (they were usually shells and gas together) was pretty high. 

MaxD

[50sqnwopag]

Do you know if there is a way of finding the cas evac records for the div?

thanks  M

[MaxD]

There is no way.  Only a small proportion of medical records were retained see:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10949
The remainder are on FindMyPast but I have already looked there without result.

MaxD

[50sqnwopag]

ah, tis a shame....thanks for looking mind.....

[50sqnwopag]

Thought I'd give a bit of an update,
    I found a copy of my gt gt grandfathers war pension record, his service number 'is' 281981, it gives the address I know he lived in, and his marital status,age and number of children match aswell and the cause of his disablity matches being gassed..... 
   would it be worth trying to see if the records still extist or would it be possible to find out if they survived ww2?

m

[MaxD]

Had a look for you - his medal card exists as does his Silver War Badge card** but no record apparent.  The only unit record is the RE Training Reserve battalion  to which no doubt he was posted before discharge.  He joined up on 29 Jan 1917.

MaxD

** Youi have these