David was you grandfather in this force. Have the undermentioned names including my dad? There was probably another 20 of more men? Just seen this.
http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/regiment.php?pid=17589expeditionary Force "D" mesoptamia
« on: Wednesday 13 February 13 09:39 GMT (UK) »
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This probably overlaps other postings on Mesopotamia, but did not know where to show it? My father was Gerald Alfred Body
The 1/5th Buffs arrived in Mesopotamia on 1st December 1915, disembarking in Basra. However, according to the Medal Rolls, several men from the Battalion entered the theatre somewhat earlier, on 14th August 1915. I've tracked down the service records of a couple of these men, but there is unfortunately no further explanation, other than the fact that they joined "Expeditionary Force D".
591 / 240034 L/Cpl William Brunger
999 / 240067 Pte R J Butcher
1080 / 240098 Pte John Edward Reeves
1117 / 240119 Pte M J Richardson
1128 / 240132 Pte H G Hatcher
1209 / 240179 Pte F S Reed
1344 / 240260 Pte Walter Standing
1350 / 240263 Pte James Wenman
1417 / 240309 Pte Frederick Lancaster
1440 / 240328 Pte Gerald Alfred Body
1447 / 240331 Pte Cecil Wallace Laurie
1483 / 240346 Pte Ernest Moore
1635 / 240405 Pte P A Smith
1666 / 240425 Pte W J Head
1696 / 240446 Pte Charles Samuel Elkins
1754 / 240480 L/Cpl Harry Obbard
1784 / 240499 Pte Philip Christopher Simmons
1787 / 240501 Pte A Ottaway
1817 / 240519 Pte E T Penfold
2342 / 240668 Cpl W J Shelley
2372 / 240690 Pte Arthur B Fearn
A report in the local newspaper in January 1917, says that Simmons was actually among those besieged inside Kut, was taken prisoner by the Turks and died as a result of the hardships. So he was apparently on the inside while his mates were trying to get in. His official date of death was 28th September 1916.
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