Thomas FARRELL's service in World War 1

[Johnf04]

Thank you jim1, saw119 and chinapaddy, for your assistance.

Oh, lots, lots more can be done if you want. His service number will be a goldmine. Have you eliminated any of the MIC's yet?

http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/the-royal-scots-fusiliers-in-1914-1918/

Jim1's post at 09.51 has the three MICs which are for the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He picked
"The one who was only in the RSF is no. 8563 1/4 Battn. Later re-numbered 200847.
He received the 15 Star along with the BW & V medals. Disembarkation date 6/6/15 theatre Gallipoli." as the most likely. In the snip I added above, Thomas's wife says she has "had no personal connection with him for over 3 years" - this was in October 1917, suggesting he may have joined up in 1914.

[jim1]

A bit of circumstantial evidence he is the right man:
His 4 digit no. indicates he was possibly pre-war TF. The 4th. as it was in 1914 were mobilized just after war broke out meaning he was embodied & therefore became a full timer.
TF's would have been raised locally & the 4th's. depot was at Kilmarnock just a few miles from Stevenston. Looks promising.
Although there's no service record for him there is one from another man of the 1/4th. with no. 200467 joined 15/8/1914.
His no. 200847 indicates joining after that so possibly attested into the 4th. & embodied at the same time.
The 4/Batt. diary states that after mobilization they moved to Stirling & that only half of the Batt. had elected for foreign service so the 4 & 5/Batt. formed a composite. During this time recruitment took place & the composite Batt. was broken up & the men returned to their original units by the time they embarked for Gallipoli.
It's safe to say that 200847 joined around Aug. 1914 & went into the composite until he got on the boat.

[saw119]

so, there is the word in the remarks column of that MIC. 'Distin.' or 'Destin.'?

As an interesting aside, and something I've noticed on a few other MIC's, someone has written the old Regimental number, 21, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in the top left hand corner.

[jim1]

It was quite often the case that Regt's. were known by their number by the Regulars.

[saw119]

It was quite often the case that Regt's. were known by their number by the Regulars.

It just makes me smile given that the numbering of regiments was replaced as long ago as 1881.

[jim1]

It does save on confusion considering there were the Royal Scots, Royal Scots (Lothian) & Royal Scots Fus. also all of the history was as the 21st. Regt. of Foot.
As another aside he was in Palestine at the time of the birth & probably didn't ask for leave to attend.

[jim1]

so, there is the word in the remarks column of that MIC. 'Distin.' or 'Destin.'?

Disem.=disembodied which is the correct term for a man in the TF.

[saw119]

so, there is the word in the remarks column of that MIC. 'Distin.' or 'Destin.'?

Disem.=disembodied which is the correct term for a man in the TF.

Of course that's what it is