Desk job military in WWI

[Vimeira]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[GrahamSimons]

Try looking in the Army List. There are some editions online and copies on the shelves in some big libraries, notably at the National Archives in Kew and the Society of Genealogists. The Army List only deals with officers, not Other Ranks. The Gazette can be really helpful but its search engine seems to be a bit hit and miss.

Where in Africa? At the outbreak of war, many settlers in British East Africa (which became Kenya) joined together to form ad hoc regiments which were later regularised. The campaign is not well known, being a bit of a side show to the Western Front, and has its own fascination. Try Tip and Run by Edward Paice.

[Vimeira]

Thanks, I'll try that too. He was in Southern Nigeria which had hitherto been a bit turbulent. (Benin Affair, 1906)

[Andy J2022]

there's a note against each member of the forces that showed their parents paid for the "officer" rank

The purchase of commissions was discontinued in 1871.

[ShaunJ]

May we know his name?

[Vimeira]

His name was C. W. Todd (Charles William). Not the very active Gloucestershire Captain with the same name. There is also a man of the same name from the West Yorkshire TFR, 2nd Lieut, temp. Capt., August 1916 (Gazette).

But I apologise - he didn’t stay in Nigeria. Searching the British Newspaper Archive, I’ve found him farming in Staffordshire from Sept. 1914 to June 1915, called “Mr.” He was a wealthy man - I’ve no idea about the West Yorks TFR and whether he might have joined that. He was born in Lancashire! He was back in Staffordshire by 1918.

Does anyone know about TFRs? Were they very locally based?

[Vimeira]

Territorial Force Reserve, I think.

[ShaunJ]

I think he married Harriet Stacey nee Kadwill in Pancras in 1915. Confusingly she is recorded as Violet on the 1921 census and the 1939 Register (with "Harriet" added later).

[Vimeira]

Oh yes, well spotted. I assumed Violet had died. There was a stillbirth in 1918. Now, I have to find out about Harriet and if she's the reason for the Yorkshire regiment!