Tracing a name from Regimental number

[alanmack]

In preparing the details of two of my relatives for the RootsChat WW1 In Memoriam Board, I've discovered that the two cousins enlisted together into the Army Service Corps as drivers T4/109330 and T4/109332 respectively. I would be very interested to find out who was the recruit between them, either a fellow miner 'pal' or another relative even. How would I go about it please (if possible on-line)?

[Ayashi]

Does this mean that you have been able to find their service records? If so, there's at least a very good chance the record in between survived! Ancestry has WW1 records where you can input the service number in "keywords" when searching for WW1 records.

Edit- I've just had a look and oddly been able to find T4/109329 (John WIDLAKE) but so far not -331
(Also, I just laughed because the aforesaid John got written up for having a dirty harness at harness inspection  )

[alanmack]

The problem is that while 109332 Thomas Watkins remained with the ASC and retained the number, his cousin 109330 George Bevan didn't, moving on to an infantry regiment and a different number. I suspect that may also be the case with 109331

Tommy, (my great uncle) has a very unremarkable Service record  - er, well apart from two infractions: drunk in charge of a wagon and fined 10 shillings; then "trotting his horses against King's Regulation blah-blah" - 7 days confined to barracks. George's is fragmentary. Both are somewhat charred and water damaged. But there is at least something. I don't presently have an a*****y sub to check further.

Can you remember if Mr Widlake came from Mountain Ash and district also or at least enlisted there?

[Rudolf H B]

Phillips, Thomas
Army Service Corps
WT4/109331
Driver

Regards
Rudolf

[Ayashi]

Wonder why that guy has a W in front of his T4 though 

John WIDLAKE was living 46 Brecon St, Cardiff (born 1878) and enlisted at Denbigh. Wife was Jessie Ida (can't read maiden name) and children Sydney William Arthur and Marjorie Lottie.

[alanmack]

Many thanks Rudolf and Ayashi for your respective contributions. Maybe I'm wrong then and it was just coincidence that the two have almost consecutive Army numbers. The name Tom Phillips means nothing to me and if John Widlake from Cardiff enlisted in Denbigh maybe I'm misunderstanding the whole process. More headscratching I think.

Wonder why that guy has a W in front of his T4 though 

I may be able to answer that one. The W stands for Welsh I suspect. Tommy's Attestation form is  endorsed with the phrases "Welsh Army Corps" and "Welsh A.S.C." and George's something similar.

Thanks again both of you.

Alan

[Rudolf H B]

WT =?? Water Transport

Rudolf

[alanmack]

Water Transport was a R.E. function during WW1. Elsewhere their Army numbers are written as T4/10933x, the 'T' signifying horse transport personnel I believe. I've attached a scrap of the Attestation front page.

[Ayashi]

It's always possible that the signing up place was packed enough that someone just nipped in between them while they were shuffling up to the desk lol I don't suppose it would have mattered very much to your relatives at the time.