Military Record

[jim1]

As he was a Sapper in the R.E. Signals Section he could have worked for a telegraph co.
"D" Corps could have involved installation of phone lines.
Just a guess.
If you give us his name & no. we can see if there's anything else to glean from his record.

[ele002]

Thanks. That's the sort of thing I would imagine he did, which surprised me considering his occupation.

He was Alfred Howarth, born 3 Feb 1883, no. 341750.

He enlisted 28 Jan 1918 at Manchester.

I found his record on A***y, which is where I got the extract from.

Any suggestions welcome.

Regards Eric

[jim1]

The entry above:
adm. to 3 C.C.S. 8/7/18
dis. ex. 3 C.C.S. 12/7/18
Refers to  admission to no. 3 Casualty Clearing station.
He joined "D" Coy. 15/6/18 from the Signals Dept. which means he must have had training over & above normal military training which wouldn't have been long for a non-combatant.
So as an accountant they might have thought he was clever enough to cope with the complicated procedures involved in telephone technology.
Edit:
I see he was called up in 1916 & posted to the Lancs. Fusiliers & then posted to the Signals Jan. 1918.
I also see a Trade Proficiency Certificate for the R.E. so he did get trained.

[ele002]

That's very interesting. You seem to have a better understanding of it than I do. Things don't seem to follow a proper order.

I thought he enlisted Jan 18, joined the Lancs Fusiliers, Pioneers and trained to April. Then with their signal depot until June when he transferred to the D CHQ Sig Coy at Bedford in June. Retained  in December and discharged Feb 19. Would that be a fair summary?

I saw the bit about 1916 and assumed he was a reservist.

Is there anything to suggest he served abroad?

[jim1]

He didn't go overseas with the Lancs. but did with the R.E.
C.C.S's were all overseas also he received the BWM & VM.
As he didn't go overseas with the Lancs. he could have been in a Reserve Batt.
I notice his Record of service states it's for men already serving or in the Reserves as opposed to an Attestation which is for men joining up but when asked the question whether he had served in any branch of the forces before he says no.
Went overseas 15/4/18.
This is what it says about the 3rd. Pioneers:
19th (Service) Battalion (3rd Salford) (Pioneers)
Formed in Salford, 15 January 1915, by Mr Montague Barlow MP and the Salford Brigade Committee. Moved in March 1915 to Conway and on 21 June 1915 to Catterick.
21 June 1915 : came under orders of 96th Brigade, 32nd Division.
Landed at Le Havre 22 November 1915.
5 January 1916 : transferred to 14th Brigade in same Division.
29 July 1916 : transferred to GHQ and converted to Pioneer Battalion.
7 August 1916 : transferred to 49th (West Riding) Division.

[ele002]

Many thanks Jim. Seems a bit clearer now.

It was all mumbo jumbo to me!

Are there any clues as to whether or not he went to Russia?  This is the bit that intrigues me.

[jim1]

do you mean in 1919 ?

[ele002]

Correct. Or did he stay in the UK because he was discharged Feb 19.

[jim1]

from what I'm reading he went on the Z list 13/7/1919.
It also looks like he was remustered 25/7/18.