Enlistment WW1 - Manchester England, Advice please

[wattspamela31]

Can anyone tell me anything about WW1 enlistment in 1915 in the North West (Manchester).  My Grandad was enlisted into the Royal Engineers 30th Division.  His war records were lost in WW2 so we are piecing things together as best we can.  Does anyone know how the chaps that enlisted were allocated to the unit they served in.  Was it a random thing or was it well thought out.  My grandfather had been privately educated and was a print process engraver at the time of enlistment.  He had no miner or tunnelling experience so not sure how he ended up in the RE.  I can only think that they thought his printing skills might have been useful for printing trench maps etc bu that could just be me overthinking it.

[wattspamela31]

My grandfather was enlisted into the Royal Engineers 30th Division (William Lord Reg No:  81503). His records were lost in WW2.  He was awarded the Victory medal and the 1915 star medal.  Does this mean he only served until 1915 or would he had served after that but not received a medal for it as it was not active service or some other reason.  He was married before he went to war in 1915 and his first child was not born until  1920 so I assume he must have been there for the duration.  I have the unit records from he WO and the unit changes number several times so it is quite hard to work out what was going on.  Any advice or experience any has would be gratefully received.

[MaxD]

The needs of the army at the time of enlistment , both in terms of numbers needed but also skills required, were major factors. The Royal Engineers were indeed the people who were involved in map making so in his case it is likely that his trade earmarked him for the RE straight away.

There were a number of RE units in the 30th Division :
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/30th-division/ but those listed were not the map makers who were not usually divisional troops.

May be worth trying to tie down his unit.  Would you like to post his name and number and any other detail you do have?

MaxD

[MaxD]

Threads merged is your other thread which gives some of the answers but can also cause duplication of responses.

It may be best to have the one thread only.

MaxD

[wattspamela31]

Hi Max, many thanks, that is already a great help.  He was William Lord - Sapper RE  Field Company 202, 30th division.  His Reg no was 81503.  Someone kindly find me this information from the 1918 absent voters list.  I have his medal card copy which says that he first entered the theatre of war in France on 10 Nov 1915.  I am trying to find out as much as I can for my Dad, he is 89 years old and know nothing about his dad as none of it was ever spoken about.

[MaxD]

The company is most useful .  202 Field Company was indeed one of the field companies of 30th Division and his overseas date does accord with the division going to France.  As it was the same company in 1918 it looks as if he spent the whole war with them.

The war diary can be downloaded free from the National Archives (you  just have to register);

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353618

That should tell you about his war, he is unlikely to be mentioned by name but you never know.

Do come back if the diary needs explanation.

MaxD

PS  He has both the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star.  I suspect what you think are number changes are the numbers by the medal enrtries = these are the award roll (list if you like) on which his medals are listed.)

[MaxD]

This link will give you the background to a field company which you will see included surveyors and draughtsmen, he may well have been one of these.
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/definitions-of-units/composition-royal-engineers-field-company/


MaxD

[wattspamela31]

Hi Max, Many thanks, that is great.  I am hopeless at using this site which is why there is a double thread.  I have no idea how to find the other thread though.  Sorry but a huge thank you for your advice.  It is so helpful.  I think when you dont have information in real time that you can over think it and come up with all sorts of scenarios.  His actual medals were stolen in the 1960's so I have nothing to go on with any of it.  Have a good day.

[MaxD]

This was your other thread:

Threads merged.

MaxD