Author Topic: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118  (Read 1871 times)

Offline teach3r

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Hello and thank you for any help that can be given.

Francis Thomas Croxford was the brother of my great grandmother and seems to have served during WW1 in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as a Sergeant (26628) before being transferred to the 175th Labour Corps (93118).  Before both of these his service record shows that he served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment (20320), although this isn't shown on the medal rolls (Meritous service, British and victory medals).

After previous help from MaxD and Jim1 concerning my great grandfather, Henry Eustace, I am keen to read the War Diaries covering Francis's service.  I would be grateful if someone could tell me how to work out the which battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry he would have served in.  Also, how to find the diary for the 175th.  Then finally the Royal Berks diary to look for.

Thanks to the support of rootschat members, especially MaxD and Jim1 I am on an interesting and steep learning curve and appreciate the time others are taking to advise me and point me in the right direction.  I am assuming that as Francis was transferred there may be an entry showing how he was possibly injured.

Thank you,

Kind regards,

Nic
Berkshire: Clarke, Croxford, Eustace
Bilston, Staffordshire: Dean
Devon: Blackmore, Matthews
Gwyddelwern, Betws GG, Denbighshire: Davies, Evans
Glamorgan: Dean, Matthews
Hull: Grant, Nicholson, Patterson, White
Newcastle: Patterson
Shafton, Yorkshire: Miles, Moulson,
Wiltshire: Emery

Offline jds1949

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 06 August 17 09:20 BST (UK) »
Hi,

If I am reading his service record correctly your man was attached to the 3rd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry from 27-3-16 until he was transferred to the Labour Corps 156 Company on 9th May 1917. He was appointed unpaid L/Cpl on 28-4-16; appointed paid L/Cpl on 7-5-16; appointed paid acting Cpl on 8-8-16 and promoted Cpl on 14-8-16.
He was promoted to Sergeant in the Labour Corps on 14-5-17.

jds1949
Swarbrick - all and any - specially interested in all who served in WW1

Offline teach3r

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 06 August 17 09:39 BST (UK) »
Thank you jds1949 for your detailed response.

For some reason I hadn't seen the final pages of the service record with all the information that you mentioned, although I am still confused as to the labour corps company as some sections state 175 and others 156 Company.

Any additional help is greatly appreciated.

Nic
Berkshire: Clarke, Croxford, Eustace
Bilston, Staffordshire: Dean
Devon: Blackmore, Matthews
Gwyddelwern, Betws GG, Denbighshire: Davies, Evans
Glamorgan: Dean, Matthews
Hull: Grant, Nicholson, Patterson, White
Newcastle: Patterson
Shafton, Yorkshire: Miles, Moulson,
Wiltshire: Emery

Offline MaxD

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 06 August 17 10:29 BST (UK) »
Nic

Most of the story is on the Statement of Services sheet, read it in conjunction with the dates of service which were Home (UK) 2 3 16 to 6 5 16 then BEF (France) 7 5 16 t0 7 9 19 (discharge paper).
He attests locally in the Berkshire Regiment in Dec 1915 but is not mobilized until Mar 1916 when he is allocated to the 12th DCLI but is attached (which is not the same as posted) to the 3rd Somerset LI, a training unit in Taunton.   Not very well recorded is that he then went to France on 7 May 1916 with 12th DCLI (not 3rd SLI in France as they didn't leave UK).
He is  compulsorily (it looks like) transferred to the Labour Corps in May 1917, first to 156 Company and later  Mar 1919 to 175 Company with whom he finishes his service.  He has been a sergeant since May 1917.  He is awarded a Meritorious Service Medal 28 Dec 1918 for "valuable services".

His Berkshire number doesn't appear on the medal record because he didn't serve with them overseas.

More later.

maxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia


Offline teach3r

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 06 August 17 10:43 BST (UK) »
THANK YOU MaxD and jds 1949,

Maybe with a bit more practice I will get better!  I have just ordered the 12th DCLI diaries to see if anything turns up there.  Will keep you posted!

Maybe it will show why he was transferred out of DCLI?

Regards,

Nic
Berkshire: Clarke, Croxford, Eustace
Bilston, Staffordshire: Dean
Devon: Blackmore, Matthews
Gwyddelwern, Betws GG, Denbighshire: Davies, Evans
Glamorgan: Dean, Matthews
Hull: Grant, Nicholson, Patterson, White
Newcastle: Patterson
Shafton, Yorkshire: Miles, Moulson,
Wiltshire: Emery

Offline MaxD

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 06 August 17 11:31 BST (UK) »
Easy answer.  12 Battalion DCLI was a labour battalion.  In May 1917 it morphed wholesale into 156 and 157 Companies Labour Corps which itself had been formed in Jan that year.  The Army Council Instruction (ACI) mentioned in his docs was the authority for that to happen, he had no choice.

maxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline teach3r

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 06 August 17 11:37 BST (UK) »
Thanks MaxD; again, I am in awe of your knowledge.

I am about a 5th of the way through the 12th DCLI diary which on the whole is very dry describing building and repairing roads every day.  Interesting to note that they were at the Somme and the diaries mention continued bombardments up to July 1st and then on July 1st that lorries were needed for the wounded.  Other than that, the battle isn't mentioned!

Nic
Berkshire: Clarke, Croxford, Eustace
Bilston, Staffordshire: Dean
Devon: Blackmore, Matthews
Gwyddelwern, Betws GG, Denbighshire: Davies, Evans
Glamorgan: Dean, Matthews
Hull: Grant, Nicholson, Patterson, White
Newcastle: Patterson
Shafton, Yorkshire: Miles, Moulson,
Wiltshire: Emery

Offline MaxD

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 06 August 17 11:49 BST (UK) »
It's more a question of knowing where to look for the answer!  I'd recommend to you http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ as a start point for all questions WW1.  Have a look at the DCLI and then the Labour Corps.

The battles tend not to be mentioned much because their tasks were not fighting in the front line (although they were given a modicum of training for that and when need were pressed into service in the line).

maxD
I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



Double  Essex/Suffolk
Randle/Millington Warwicks
Sokser/Klingler Austria/Croatia

Offline teach3r

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Re: WW1 Sjt Francis T Croxford Duke of Cornwall's LI 26628 / Labour Corp 93118
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 06 August 17 16:50 BST (UK) »
Thanks MaxD,

I have finished reading the 12th DCLI war diary which as suggested on the LLT website finished at the end of March 1917.  In the end it was very interesting showing how close to the front line they were and how important they were to keeping things moving.

I am now keen to read what happened next with my great grandmother's brother, however, I have not been able to find a war diary when searching the national archives.  Does this mean that there wasn't one?

Regards,

Nic
Berkshire: Clarke, Croxford, Eustace
Bilston, Staffordshire: Dean
Devon: Blackmore, Matthews
Gwyddelwern, Betws GG, Denbighshire: Davies, Evans
Glamorgan: Dean, Matthews
Hull: Grant, Nicholson, Patterson, White
Newcastle: Patterson
Shafton, Yorkshire: Miles, Moulson,
Wiltshire: Emery