Machine Gun Corps: record query

[zempavlob2]

hi

Found this medal record on Ancestry for Private Reginald Bert Colston GIBBS (45457) aka RCBC GIBBS, of Bristol, who was in the Machine Gun Corps. His service record was probably destroyed and I'm unable to identify any other information online using his service number. 

Just wondering if there's anything I can infer from the record shown that would assist me?

- e.g. are the pencil marks under the columns "Theatres of war in which served" abbreviations for locations
- is 2842.B. in the top right hand corner of any significance
- is there any significance that the remarks column is empty for his record

A few members have posted about the Absent Voters List - is one available for Bristol?

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Mod comment. Image removed as per Rootschat copyright policy

[ShaunJ]

45457 Driver B. Gibbs, MGC,  appears on a list of wounded and sick men in hospital in Colaba, India in August 1918. Link to document on FindMyPast: http://tinyurl.com/ml32n4f

[km1971]

A few members have posted about the Absent Voters List - is one available for Bristol?

It is not on the list - http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/avl.html - but you should always check with the Record Office and also check the general list.

Ken

[zempavlob2]

45457 Driver B. Gibbs, MGC,  appears on a list of wounded and sick men in hospital in Colaba, India in August 1918. Link to document on FindMyPast: http://tinyurl.com/ml32n4f

thank you so much! I've searched endlessly on and off for the past year or so, on Ancestry and FindMyPast, and found nothing other than his medal record. I didn't realise it was possible to search for a service number on either site - your help is much appreciated. It's been a brick wall for a couple of years!

The link to India is both intriguing and pertinent: some time ago I posted a photo on here for a sister of his http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=551774.msg4049969#msg4049969 and wondered why she might have been in India; the photograph was stamped:

FB or J.B. STEWART & Son

and someone kindly linked me to this site http://www.victorian-cinema.net/stewart which explained Stewart was based in the garrison town of Poona, India.

Looking at the link on FindMyPast you kindly provided raises more questions! Have spent the afternoon searching for further information,  any advice about how to research/answer the following will be appreciated:
-  Bert was a member of the Persian Gulf Expeditionary Force? Google doesn't seem to have any info for the PGEF
- what did a DVR (driver?) do in the Machine Gun Corps
- M.G.Cps.Dtls: is this an abbreviation for Machine Gun Corps Details?
- NYD: presume this is a reference to why he was hospitalised? Other patients have 'NYD. Mental' against their names
- when/where was the MGC stationed in India?

thanks again
 

[youngtug]

Have a read of this, it may help to explain somewhat.
  http://www.1914-1918.net/mmg.htm

[zempavlob2]

Have a read of this, it may help to explain somewhat.
  http://www.1914-1918.net/mmg.htm

hi

thanks for the link which is helpful in that it contains references to the MGC in India and adds more detail to the little I know about Bert.

 Any ideas about the other questions raised are also welcome, thank you. 

[youngtug]

As for when and where, if you could find out which MGC company he was in then you may be able track them. My grandfathers was in the 261st which was raised at Poona race course, they then left India.

  http://www.1914-1918.net/mg_units.htm

[zempavlob2]

Ahhhh that's the big question!

Have tried and sadly failed to find his regiment despite extensive searching for variants of his name and initials (RCBC GIBBS) ......  also unsuccessful with finding his service record and assume it's been destroyed.

Will check with Bristol Record Office to see if there is an Absent Voters List in the hope it will contain details.

thanks for your help

[ShaunJ]

Persian Gulf Expeditionary Force?

Not necessarily - the list also covers Invalids in India reported by Hospitals in India.

I would hazard a guess that NYD is "Not Yet Diagnosed".

Of the other 3 MGC men reported by Colaba, one is in motor transport and the other two are with 260 Company.