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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Geoff Swinfield on Thursday 05 April 18 10:45 BST (UK)
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I am trying to identify when my grandfather (Arthur Swinfield) may have transferred from the Leicestershire Regiment (Private No. 6178) to the Lincolnshire Regiment during WWI. It has been suggested that this may be possible through his new service number. In the Lincolnshire Regiment he was a Lance Corporal No. 19917. I only have his WWI medal card and that he was wounded whilst in the Leicestershire Regiment in March 1915. Any suggestions?
Geoff Swinfield
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Only his pre war number will give a likely attestation date which in your man's case was 1901.
You need a service record but unfortunately it was one of those destroyed during the Blitz.
Apologies if you already know this but he was first in 2nd. Batt. Leics. then 1st. Batt. Lincs.
Correction to the above his 2nd. Batt was the 1st. Garrison Batt. Lincs. Regt.
According to the LLT this Batt. was formed in Sept. 1915 so that's the earliest date he could have transferred.
Possibly after his recuperation he was posted to them.
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Jim 1, Many thanks for your very quick and informative reply. Was it his service number or attestation date in the Leicestershire Regiment which was 1901? What is the source of that and how do you know that he was in the two battalions that you have quoted? What is the source of that information as it is not on his medal card. Excuse my ignorance! That is why I am asking.
Geoff
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His Battalion info came from the Medal Roll which often includes the Battalion.
Here if you have an Ancestry sub:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01lv2/
If not see photo.
His attestation date came from the Long,Long,Trail which is the first place to look for any Regimental WW1 history;
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/leicestershire-regiment-1st-2nd.html
You'll notice his Lincs. Batt. is 1-G, didn't equate at first but indicates Garrison Batt.
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While you're digesting that this what the LLT says about the 2 Batts.
2nd Battalion Leics.
August 1914 : in Ranikhet. Part of Gharwal Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army.
12 October 1914 : Division landed at Marseilles for service in France.
Moved to 28th Indian Brigade in Egypt, 7 November 1915.
Early December 1915 moved to Basra in Mesopotamia, rejoining 7th (Meerut) Division.
Landed at Suez on 22 January 1918 and took part in Palestine campaign.
1st Garrison Battalion Lincs.
Formed in September 1915. Moved next month to India and then remained there, under command of the Presidency Brigade in 8th (Indian) Division.
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Many many thanks. All the extra information provided is very informative and gives me other sources to pursue. I now have all the copies that you have referred me to, including the two medal rolls on Ancestry. Your help is greatly appreciated. I will try any war diary that exists for the 1st Garrison Battalion (8th (Indian) Division) for the Lincolnshire Regiment for 1915-1918 to see if it records having men transferred from the Leicestershires.
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Haven't found the 8/Div. yet but the 2/Leics. is on Ancestry up to their embarkation to India.
Where did the info come from about his wound?
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It was on Forces War Records which lead me to The Leicester Chronicle for 10th April 1915. See attached
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So the action around Festubert/Aubers Ridge.
I have a few maps which are quite scarce for 1915.
I'll be back later.
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This is probably the best map to show their location. It's marked in red & is along the Estaires - La Bassee Rd. & part of the front line trench (Roomes trench) & into the breastworks running parallel to the road.
They were in support of the main assault which was southward the German trenches being on the other side of the Rue du Bois which the 1/Leics. took on the 10th. but suffered a German counter-attack. They were relieved on the 12th. which is the day he was wounded.
This was their position on the 9th/10th. March.
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Many thanks for sending me the map showing the geography of the action undertaken by the Leicestershire Regiment from 10th to 12th March 1915. In conjunction with the war diary for the period for the 2nd Battalion (WO95/3945/2), which I already had, I am now aware of what Arthur Swinfield, my grandfather, was involved in and where he was wounded. Just one more question, what leads you to the conclusion that he was actually wounded on the 12th March?
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Oops. I misread the info you put up. I thought his wound stripe was eligible from the 12th. I see now it was the 21st.
However as you know the Batt. was relieved on the 12th. & went into reserve so no action from the 12th.-21st. when he appears on the list.