WW1 Private Donald Finlayson

[Paulfinn7979]

I'm trying to find out about the battles my great grandfather's was involved in in the First World War.

His name was Private Donald Finlayson 301035 of the 9th Royal Scots. I know very little about the man and neither did my father. Any information you could find out or point me in the direction of where I could find this information would be greatly appreciated.

[CaroleW]

The Medal Roll Index shows he was awarded the British & Victory medals.  It also shows he served in the Labour Corp under number 293655 as well as the Royal Scots (Lothian) regiment under number 301035

Over 60% of WW1 service records were burnt during the WW2 blitz and his has not survived

[MaxD]

CaroleW is quite right and without his record, the important dates of his enlistment and transfer from the R Scots to the Labour Corps can only be guessed at.

Nonetheless, from the medal information we can say that he didn't enter a theatre of war until after 1915 (no 1914 or 14/15 Star) which suggests he was a 1916 post conscription entrant, first to the 9th R Scots.  In March of that year the battalion, who had been in France since 1915, moved from under command 3rd Army to 51st Highland Division.  We don't know when he transferred to the Labour Corps but 706th Company Labour Corps which features next was not formed until August 1917 so a reading of the history of 51st Div between those two dates would be worth doing. http://51hd.co.uk/history/world_war_one

In more detail, the war diaries will tell the story of the battalion, first two on the list here:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=9+Royal+Scots&_ep=diaries&_dss=range&_ro=any&_st=adv&_p=1900&Refine+dates=Refine

Unfortunately, the Labour Corps companies which were reorganised in mid 1917 didn't keep individual diaries and recent experience researching another Labour Corps company of the time has shown that finding details of their whereabouts and activities necessitates deep research not easily carried out without some expense and a deal of frustration, records are never complete!  These companies were not specifically employed in the front line, they were doing equally useful construction and repair work, mostly in the rear areas and at the ports.  My suggestion would be to concentrate on the 51st Div and the battalion diaries at least to mid 1917.

maxD

[jim1]

This according to the Great War Forum gives an approx. date for his entry.
The first 1-186240 numbers in the Labour Corps were issued in blocks to units of the Labour Corps on it's formation
& this:
170141 to around 357600 = June to Sept 1917
His LC no. was 293655.
Apart from all of the Regimental Labour Batts. that were transferred into the LC on it's formation men who were considered no longer fit for front line service or were wounded at some point were also transferred. He may have fallen into the latter catergory unless he had some pre war skills that the LC found useful.
So I would agree with MaxD that your safe to go as far as mid 1917 assuming he wasn't wounded & back in the UK recuperating prior to this.

[Paulfinn7979]

All I know is that he was in the 9th Royal Scots, 706th Lab Coprs then into the 10th Lab Coprs and I have all 3 medals he was awarded. The Star WW1 medal, the British and victory medals. Not sure if that changes anything?

[jim1]

He's got a very interesting medal card. I'm trying to read into it what's gone on.

[jim1]

Para. 154 I believe is to do with TF. He got his BW & V medals while with the ASC. He then re-enlisted in the 9th. RS.
He was discharged & forfeited his 14 Star & then had it restored.
I'll see if I can dig out the King's Reg's. I've got them somewhere.

[Paulfinn7979]

Sorry for ask a silly question but what does para .154 to do with TF mean?

[jim1]

This is his MIC. As you can see he was discharged under Paragraph 154 6(a) of the King's regulations. Dated 21/12/14. That's been crossed out.
A correction it was his BW & Victory Medals that were forfeited.
He was awarded his 14 Star with an entry date of 10/8/14 while with the ASC. Someone got the date wrong & had that crossed out & 27/8/14 entered as his entry date. This is entry into a theatre of war.
He's then re-enlisted into the Royal Scots.
This looks like he was a pre war Territorial with the Army Service Corps first as A/664 & finally AHT/664 ( AHT=horse transport Special Reserve) .
It's all a bit of a mess & it's a pity his service record doesn't exist.
He's received his BW & V medals again for service with the R.Scots I should imagine.
The relevant information will be on the rim.
So the question is which medals did he get while in the ASC & which in the R. Scot's.
Over to you.