WWI records and regiments

[zannette]

Can someone answer this please; I know that many service records for WWI were lost, and those remaining can be searched at ancestry. Were medal cards and service records kept together? So if one doesn't exist, then neither can the other?

The reason I ask is that a search on ancestry produced 0. Nationel archives have a medal card for Joshua Underwood, but I haven't purchased it as these cards don't have anything to identify an individual such as d.o.b./residence.

Secondly, when a man was called up/enlisted in WWI, would he have been assigned to a local regiment, or to one short of recruits? What would have been the most likely regiment for Warrington, Cheshire?

Joshua Underwood was born 1889 in Warrington, married there, lived and died there, and did serve in the army.

Any info much appreciated thanks.

[Colin D Gronow]

Hi Zannette

Joshua Underwood Pension records exist on Ancestry.

Private Royal Army Service Corps.
T/391084

Address:
168 Winnick Road, Warrington.

[Colin D Gronow]

Served in the Infantry at some point.
Served in France for 7 Months & England for 3 years 2 months.
Wounded in the right shoulder 10th August 1916 by German shrapnel shell.

[ainslie]

Replying to the first point - medal index cards and service records were not kept together.  There is a high proportion of MICs which survive.

Second point - there is no certain link between residence and regiment.  Large numbers served in artillery, engineers, and other arms of the army which would not recruit 'locals', apart from the Territorial Force.  In the infantry, Warrington's local regiment was the South Lancs, but the King's Liverpool had a depot there for many years.  Even so, men often went elsewhere to sign on perhaps in hope of seeing another part of the country or to escape local knowledge.  When consctiption arrived, it was even more of a lottery where a recruit might end up.

A

[zannette]

Thank you so much for all that detail, it's wonderful.

Gwerninion, can I assume that he had to take a desk job after being wounded, and that is why he was in England for over 3 years instead of fighting abroad?

My query as to which regiment is also answered. Thank you all.

[Colin D Gronow]

Possibly

His wound caused a 42day spell in hospital & then he was transfered.

He joined the 4th T.E. South Lancs Regiment on Enlistment but was then transfered to the 300th Labour COY. Park Hall Camp Oswestry.

His Medal Card index gives also (TF)3902, 5th London Regiment. Not sure why, its the right card as it also gives his Army Service Corps No. T/391084.

[zannette]

Gwerninion, thanks for that reply. I have got the medal card now, but of course, it doesn't give much. I went to ancestry and did a search in the WW1 pensions, quoting that service no. too, but still came up 0. I'm sure the other details were correct. Very puzzled.

best wishes

[Colin D Gronow]

Just search under the surname only and make sure your looking at Pension records

[manmack]

Possibly

His wound caused a 42day spell in hospital & then he was transfered.

He joined the 4th T.E. South Lancs Regiment on Enlistment but was then transfered to the 300th Labour COY. Park Hall Camp Oswestry.

His Medal Card index gives also (TF)3902, 5th London Regiment. Not sure why, its the right card as it also gives his Army Service Corps No. T/391084.

the 5th london regt is a mistake by the person filling in the MIC,you have his correct regt 3902 4th south lancs regt

mack