Labour Corps in the First World War

[Old Bristolian]

Jim, ( or anyone else)

I wonder if you can help with the following:

Neil Dougal, born Motherwell, Lanarkshire 2nd December 1890.
Enlisted in Argyll & Sutherlands 1st October 1914 (reg. no. 3091)Served in BEF 11.11.1914 -11.12.1914
Discharged as physically unfit 31st July 1915
Private in the Highland Light Infantry (April 1916)
Medal cards (he has two) also state in Labour Corps (no. 567276) and Seaforth Highlanders (15863, discharged)
After the war he enlisted in the 2nd.Lowland Division RE.

I would be very interested to find out exactly where he might have served in the Labour Corps,

Steve

[jim1]

He's got quite a complicated history.
What I've seen so far is that he attested in the 2/A & SH Sept. 1914 & went overseas with them 11/11/14 & was discharged as no longer fit to serve on 31/7/15. By May 1916 he's in the Highland Light Infantry.
At some point he's gone into the 7/Seaforths (where he states he was discharged) & then the LC.
Post war RFA TF & then a stint in the Defence Force.
He doesn't mention 2/A & SH, the HLI or the LC on his list of previous service.
Which is the same as you have.
Impossible to say without his WW1 record which Coy. he went into. His number is quite high & probably early 1918.

[Old Bristolian]

Thanks Jim,

You mention his high number in the LC, and the chance of his entry in early 1918. Would the number rule out his joining the LC as early as September 1917?

Steve

[jim1]

To get within a couple of months you would need to consult "No Labour No Battle" by John Starling & Ivor Lee who would have that information.
Other than that it's a case of looking at LC service records for any around his number.
Edit:
Not a particularly scientific approach but 3 men 1 with no. 566??? posted to the LC 7/18, 2nd. with no. 568??? posted to the LC 8/18 & 3rd. 567656 posted to the LC 7/18.
Edit again:
Found:
567934 posted to the LC 8/18
567044 posted to the LC 8/18
567223 posted to the LC 8/18
567079 posted to the LC 8/18
567505 posted to the LC 4/18
567650 posted to the LC Sept. 1917.
Make of it what you will but it does show this series of numbers was being used in Sept. 1917.

[Old Bristolian]

Thanks Jim

[pinot]

Jim1's recommendation of "No Labour No Battle" is to be heartily endorsed; it is a hefty book and unbelievably well-researched, priced at £19.99 (I probably got mine a little cheaper). It gave me a wholly new perspective on the experience of men who served in the LC and i would urge anyone interested to get a second-hand copy or to find one in your public library.