Inland Waterways & Docks, Royal Engineers

[chrisscales]

My great-grandfather is listed on the Absent Voter list for 1919 as Patrick Malone WR/335756 Spr.I.W+D.R.E. which I think indicates that he was a assigned a WR number (after March 1918) as part of Transportation Troops, and he was a Sapper in the Inland Waterways & Docks unit, Royal Engineers. But he presumably could have been in the unit or elsewhere before that new 'WR' number was assigned?

He does not appear on any medal rolls with that regimental number, although there is a listing for the British War Medal and Victory Medal awarded to WR/502358, Sapper Patrick Malone of Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks, previously 151097, Sapper, Royal Engineers.

I don't know if this is the same man, though I assume not as presumably his number WR/335756 would be listed with those medals if that were the case. Should I infer from the Absent Voter list detail that he served on home territory only? Which in this case would probably be in Sandwich, Kent working at Port Richborough....

Many thanks

[jim1]

As there's no medal card he didn't serve overseas.
The absence of a previous number suggests he didn't join until 1917 or later.

[chrisscales]

Do you mean the absence of a previous number on the Absent Voter lists, would they list multiple regimental numbers?

Thanks for your help

[jim1]

The medal roll would have all numbers he served with. As he's not mentioned against his WR number or any other number suggests the above.

[chrisscales]

Ok yes I see that since his number isn't in the medal rolls therefore he didn't serve overseas, but presumably that doesn't mean his 'first' number is that given on the Absent Voters list in 1919, he may have been allocated 335756 in 1917, then WR/335756 in 1918, but still had a different number before 1917. He just didn't get any medals because he didn't serve overseas...

Unless I am getting it wrong which is very possible! :-)

thanks again

[TrevorHH]

There are two documents dealing with the history of this unit at the National Archives Kew.. They are WO95/56 Director Inland Water Transport Sep 1916-Mar 1917. This is a series of letters and reports, and WO158/85 which is entitled History of Inland Water Transport. The latter is approx. 157pages and is the history of the RE IWT in WW1.

[chrisscales]

Thanks Trevor thats great, I'll have a look next time I'm there

Best wishes
Chris

[Trevor Nash]

Guys, sorry to jump into your forum but I'm researching my Grandfather 'Sapper Charles Bovill' who served in the RE 'Inland Waterway & Docks' during period 1916 to 1918. He was medically discharged in 1918 and suffered for many years as a result (we believe) of being gassed during his operations overseas. He died 10 years later. What I am after is how I can find out where he served during those 2 years ..... are there not military records for all of our WW1 soldiers. The only thing I can find on Ancestry is his Medal card which only shows his discharge date and category. There is another record (WW1 Service Record) wrongly put against Charles when it should have been against his brother William. Any advise would be appreciated.

[jim1]

Around 70% of WW1 service records were destroyed during the blitz in WW2.
I assume he's Spr. 196783?
The rank of Sapper was given to men who had a skill useful to the R.E.
As you know your man was blacksmith/shipsmith so probably worked in one of the I.W & D repair shops in France as the Western Front was the main concern for the Army, however they also worked in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Salonica etc. so without a service record it's impossible to say where he was.
It's highly unlikely he was gassed as men from the I.W & D wouldn't have been anywhere near the front line where this occurred.
His SWB states he was discharged due to sickness Para. 392 (xvi) (no longer fit for war service). Technically gassing was a wound as it was caused by enemy action.
His name wasn't wrongly put against William as he's listed as brother. He was stated as William's NOK on his service record.