Machine Gun Corps

[Malcolm Coeshaw]

Hi

I am researching the family/military history of my wife's grandfather Herbert Curtis.

Herbert was born in Sheffield in 1889 and seems to have been a regular soldier with the 2nd Bedfordshire regiment before 1914. His WW1 service records do not exist, presume one of the 'burnt' records, but his medal card shows, Private 3/6561 in the 2nd Bedfordshire regiment and later, Private 22845 in the Machine Gun Corps. The qualifying date on the medal card is 6th October 1914.

I cannot find any record of Herbert on the 1911 Census. If he was with the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment in 1911 does any records exist?

I am trying to discover when Herbert was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, would his number give a clue, if he would have returned to England to do his training for Machine Gun Corps, and if so the dates/time he spent training in England before returning to France.

Any help/advice appreciated.

Regards

Malcolm

[stanmapstone]

The 1911 Census was the first one to have a full enumeration carried out of the British Army serving overseas, including details of wives and families. If he was serving at home he should also be in the census.

Stan

[Plummiegirl]

IF you Google  Machine Gun Corps  there is an excellent site up and running.

The records for this branch of the Army, which was set up late in WW1, are extremely sketchy.

But the people on the site are trying to get as much information together on one site as possible.

[jess5athome]

Hi, they also have a Facebook group, which is a great site (possibly ran by the same people as plummiegirl mentions).

Machine Gun Corps Old Comrade's Association (MGC/OCA)

Frank.

[ainslie]

It is likely that those forming the new Machine Gun Corps will have been machine gunners in their previous battalion, so your man may not have been sent back to UK  for specialist training.
2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt were in South Africa when war broke out but were quickly back and in Zeebrugge on 7.10.14 in 21st Brigade, 7th Division.  They later moved into other brigades and divisions.
Try Googling 'the Long, Long Trail' which will give you much information and background.
A

[weste]

One of granddads nephews was transferred to machine gun corp from the south staffs. It does n't look as if much from machine gun corp soldiers records have survived according to that association mentioned although they have a research service. This soldier was missing presumed killed. There's loads on a site 1914-1918 which was previously the long long trail ans is excellent for telling you about these corps.

[jess5athome]

It does n't look as if much from machine gun corp soldiers records have survived according to that association mentioned although they have a research service.

I think one of the biggest problems is that it does seem that they didn't seem to get much recognition and taht they were disbanded within a few years of the end of the war, As you say the MGC/OCA have a very good research side and are well worth contacting.

I know when researching my wife's Grandfather who was in the MGC I received some invaluable help from them.

Frank.

[weste]

These corps had a particularly poor survival rate. I did think about asking them to research that relative of ours. I managed to get 2 photos out of local newspapers in the archives and have his death cert. I should imagine like they say taking the best of units shooters would n't go down well would it? I think it could have been near mametz wood.  I suppose it could be any time that month. If he lasted the month. The cert said some time had elapsed since he last been seen alive! I think his grammar school education helped get him his second lieutenant.

[birtleylad]

Hi First post on here and I thank the Moderators for accepting my request to join.
My Grandad was in MGC WW1, [No. 8855, James Charles]. I am trying to find details of his service, I know he was wounded and moved to the Labour Corps, [No. 615883,] I have his medal card, which shows Victory and British Medals yet no stars, and I know he was in from 1914 and Discharged 1919. My query is where can I go to find details on his wounds, and service in MGC I have tried but unfortunately the contact I had, Jim, became ill and we've lost touch. I am hesitant about ancestry.com, and basically would struggle to pay for information that may lead nowhere. I live in the US now, so calling at National Archives or IWM, is impossible and the RLC does not accept email enquiries ...I am hoping someone on here may be able to point me in the right direction,
Thank You
Jim.