Inland Waterways & Docks, Royal Engineers

[Trevor Nash]

Thanks Jim1, thats cleared up a lot of uncertainty and given me more detail about his possible service. Do you have any literature on the role of the I.W&D during WW1, it would be very useful to have a read. Thanks again.

[jim1]

There's not much out there about them. It's a case of finding bits & pieces here & there.
This is what the IWM says:
In December 1914, as part of the Railways Directorate, the Inland Water Transport and Docks Section was formed to deal with transportation along the canals and waterways in France and Belgium. It became a separate section in October 1915 and grew rapidly in size with its headquarters in Richborough Kent. Sappers operated in a variety of roles, and worked to maintain communication and transportation of food, supplies, ammunition and the evacuation of wounded. In 1916 its work was extended to Mesopotamia and in 1917 to Egypt and Salonika. This community therefore contains sappers from all those theatres of war, including recruits raised locally.
All I can add is that his WR prefix stands for Waterways & Railways (transport).
There's also these:
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c649/ea928a93accb632335345fe5830b88258b8f.pdf
https://www.reubique.com/IWT.htm
http://www.humberpacketboats.co.uk/iwt.html
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mme/
You might find some of it heavy going.

[Trevor Nash]

Thanks Jim1, some very good info in these references...appreciated.