Help with deciphering where served

[jim1]

A name would be good.

[maisie76]

Thank you so much for the help 

His name was Bernard McDonald

Maisie

[maisie76]

He seems to have started off with Royal Scots then he is with North Staffordshire Reg. Is the common?

[jim1]

There may have been health issues. This should be on his medical history page. I can see he was wounded but these images are too blurred to read the date, however he was posted to the 3rd. Training Batt. prior to this & eventually posted to the 1st. Batt. after having gone awol. It looks like he was with the 1st. Batt. when he received his wound. He then goes back to the 3rd. before being posted to the 1st. Garrison Batt. N. Staffs. Regt. & sent back to France with them. Garrison Batts. were usually manned by men considered too old or infirm for front line service.

[maisie76]

Thanks again, I’m new to the army records side of it so appreciate all the help 

Have attached the rest of the records I have for him.

[MaxD]

He seems to have started off with Royal Scots then he is with North Staffordshire Reg. Is the common?

Just to ensure you don't get into trouble with your Scottish relatives who may at this moment be gathering outside your front door with claymores and skean dhu at the ready, it is worth reiterating what Jim said earlier, your man didn't serve with the Royal Scots but with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and yes, in the context of his health issues, being transferred to another regiment was entirely normal.

His medical record shows a number of health issues including a spur on a bone with which he was sent back to England in 1914 the first time, a gunshot wound to the neck with which he was treated and went back to his unit, a diagnosis of debility (weakness/exhaustion) for which he was again sent back to UK in 1915 and finally a diagnosis of jaundice for which he was sent home for the third time in 1918.  They certainly got their moneys worth from your man!

The medal card you posted shows his entitlement to the 1914 Star, the British War and Victory Medals for his service.  They would have been sent to him in the early 1920s.

There are war diaries which will show where his units were when he was with them in France.  These almost never mention individual soldiers.  Let us know if that additional info will be of use.

MaxD

[MaxD]

Some snippets to add to Jim's post.. 

His first period in France, with 1st 2nd RSF, ended in mid November when he was admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station diagnosed with a "tubercle" later in the medical report changed to suffering the effects of cold wet feet (there were a lot of men with the same problem).  Rather ironic in that in 1912 he had attended a course of instruction in Chiropody where he would have been taught about the care of the feet.  He was sent back to England to recover.
Back in France again with 2nd 1st Bn RSF in April 1915 he is there for 2 months before being admitted to hospital with an abrasion to his back and just two days later to another hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck, he is away from his unit for about a month.  In October 1915 he is admitted to hospital with debility and sent back to UK.  In May 1916, as Jim has said now with 1st Garrison Battalion North Staffs, he returns to France where he remains until August 1918.  He remains at the depot until March 1919 when he is released to the reserve with his discharge coming in June 1919.

You will note that when he joined the army in 1907, he stated he had previous militia (part time) service.  He joined the militia in Jan 1906, attended annual training that year and then joined the regulars in Jun 1907.


MaxD

[maisie76]

Thank you so much for the in depth reply, it’s fantastic that you got so much info. 

[MaxD]

And I managed to get his battalions the wrong way round  .  Thanks to jim1 whose eagle eyes  have absolutely no need of a visit to a well known optician unlike mine!  I've amended my post.

MaxD