Eustace, Henry Sapper WW1 R.E Railways 174955 Regtl No. 256566

[teach3r]

Hi MaxD,

Not sure if this helps but I have found Henry's entry in the Railways General Register of Members which shows that he retired on 7th July 1944.  In the remarks column it has the following:
Jd. army          ?
Dis. 1.6.19.

There is a space before the question mark which looks like something has been rubbed out.

Thanks,

Nic

[jim1]

It's his joining date (attestation) that's been rubbed out.
As he doesn't have the 14/15 Star you know he didn't go overseas until at least 1916.
It's his Coy. or Div. you need to find if possible.

[teach3r]

Thanks Jim,

I have also just noticed that his membership of the amalgamated society of railway servants started 30th January 1919; however, he wasn't discharged from the army until 1st June 1919.  Would it be possible that upon returning to England he fairly quickly went back to his old job and the official discharge was later or would he have been able to have been a member of the society even though he was still in the army?

The more I dig, the more questions I have!

Thanks for the continued help,

Nic

[MaxD]

Nic

I have, with significant help from an acknowledged expert on another forum, established that his first number indicates he joined the army in May/Jun 1916 (as jim1 says).  His WR number was allocated in a reorganisation of the RE railway folk starting in Mar 1918.  I am currently engaged in some further digging which may at least tell us what unit he was in when the numbers changed.  That will be better than nothing!

maxD

[jim1]

Well done Max.
Your man would have gone onto the Z list meaning he went back to civvy st. but in reserve in case the Germans kicked off again.

[MaxD]

I believe I have a possible/probable (?) unit for Henry.  Jim1 will be familiar with the black art of checking records for numbers near to the subject's for similarities.  This is made easier in his case because of the earlier information that told us that about a re-org of numbers within the railways element of the RE.

Firstly, RE numbers around the 1749** area are as far as I can tell, almost all railwaymen of one sort or another and the RE railways medal roll in which 174955 appears has a whole slew of men, in alphabetical order whose numbers are neatly in numerical order below and above that number.  That accords with the information that each unit provided its list of men who were to receive new WR numbers.

Secondly, and perhaps more persuasive, I find:
174945 2/Cpl Acton becoming WR 256557 unit 275 Railway Company
174960 Spr Lay becoming WR 256571 unit 275 Railway Company

Two others 174946 and 174970 who did not get a WR numbers were also in 275 Railway Company.

While the evidence is circumstantial, in the absence of anything else, and with Acton and Lay neatly bracketing (artillery term!) Henry in what is clearly the nominal roll of a unit, I would invest £3.50 in the war diary which will at least show what such a company got up to and, if you are persuaded, could be seen as describing some or part of Henry's war experiences.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/762f221ccaf146e5ae36c30366ed31a2

maxD

[jim1]

Secondly, and perhaps more persuasive, I find:
174945 2/Cpl Acton becoming WR 256557 unit 275 Railway Company
174955 Spr. Eustace         WR 256566
174960 Spr Lay becoming WR 256571 unit 275 Railway Company

Good bit of sleuthing MaxD.
Difficult to see he could have been anything other than 275 R.Coy.

[teach3r]

Thank you MaxD for your hard work and time that you have kindly given (please also pass on my thanks to your "expert on another forum").  I have learnt a lot from both yours and Jim1's guidance and advice.

Your logical and thorough approach makes for a very strong argument as to Henry's company.

I have just finished downloading the war diary as suggested and will have a good read now.

Thank you both again!

Regards,

Nic

[teach3r]

MaxD & Jim1,

For interest, 174945 2/Cpl Acton J is mentioned in the diaries as follows:
22/9/17 .... to No 5 Stationary Hospital Dieppe
Sapper E Lay is also mentioned:
30/12/18 .... admitted to hospital

Frustrating that sometimes men are mentioned by name whilst at other times it just says "other rank".

WR numbers seem to be in the diary from June 1918 coinciding with an influx of additional men into the company.  Numbers all around Henry are mentioned but alas, he isn't (e.g. WR/256564 Sapper W Cross, WR/ 256565 Sapper WW Dew).

In February 1919 it seems that many men were beginning to be dispersed by being moved to concentration camps.

Letter received 14/6/19 authorising break up of company.  Final entry is 31st July 1919.

Thank you both again for your help, wisdom and patience!

Nic