Frederick Pyne - b 1894 North Staffs Regiment

[Jeremy Pyne]

Dear all
Recently I followed up an enquiry about my grandfather Fred Pyne (b 1894 Lambeth, London) based on a photo we have of him in the uniform of the Corps of Commissionaires. It turns out that he joined that organisation in 1918 till 1920. Before that though a reference to him suggests he was in the North Staffs regiment of the army during WW1 and from other replies I had to an earlier query  his regimental number was I think 9786 and he was discharged in 1917 - we know within the family he had a bullet wound injury and seems to have been invalided out.
Previously I'd ruled out the Staffs connection as my grandad was born and his family was in South London , but maybe enlistment to regiments was more random than I thought? I've not got current subscriptions to Ancestry or Find My Past. Can anyone tell me more given the above - again from an earlier reply this Fred may have joined the regular army ahead of the War from as early as 1912 when he would have been c 18. Many thanks

[philipsearching]

Previously I'd ruled out the Staffs connection as my grandad was born and his family was in South London , but maybe enlistment to regiments was more random than I thought?

With exceptions, such as the "pals battalions", a recruit to the army in the Great War could be assigned to any regiment which happened to be raising a new battalion at the time or to an existing battalion which needed strengthening.  For example I have ancestors from London/Surrey/Middlesex who were in five different regiments with no local connection.

Philip

[Jeremy Pyne]

Thanks Philip - Have to see now what has survived by way of his service records,
Cheers
Anything available without subscription sites I wonder ?
Jeremy

[MaxD]

No service record survives but medal record to be found at the National Archives.  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4751581
You can read the preview image easily without buying the record.  That shows his Silver War Badge but that is on FindMyPast or Ancestry(served 1912 to invalided out wounded 7 Jul 17)
Max

[jim1]

To add a snippet or two, he was in the 1st. Battalion N.Staffs. & went overseas with them on 10/9/14.
His medal Roll is at odds with his SWB as it gives a discharge date of 4/4/17.

[alan o]

In that case he was a prewar Regular soldier.

[MaxD]

Keeping the ball rolling.  There are two war diaries covering the period he served each of which can be downloaded for £3.50 from the National Archives.  He is unlikely to be mentioned by name and, as he was invalided out and that would have been some time after he was wounded, it is unlikely that you would be able to determine when he was actually wounded.  Nonetheless, the diaries would give you a flavour of his war, where and when the battalion was in action etc.  Diaries here:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_aq=north%20staffordshire&_ep=1%20Battalion&_nq1=gurkha&_cr=WO%2095&_dss=range&_ro=any&_p=1900&_st=adv

His enlistment date was 4 Sep 1912.

MaxD

[jim1]

The diary states they were at the Somme & first engaged the enemy in Aug.-Sept. 1916 at Guillemont & nearby Delville Wood which was about as bad as it could get.
Possibly wounded at this time but we'll never know for sure.

[Jeremy Pyne]

Really appreciate these replies many thanks - it really opens some new windows into his life. I never knew him as unfortunately my dad fell out with him after marrying a second time and theye have very little contact in latter years - from the sound of it - he must have seen some of the worst of the War - fascinated too by the fact that he joined up in 1912 as a teenager and interested what he did in those two years before WW1.

Thanks again