Author Topic: Royal Engineers  (Read 1176 times)

Offline Privatesmith

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Royal Engineers
« on: Tuesday 01 October 19 16:41 BST (UK) »
Hi all, my great uncle Horace Arthur Smith 489879 died of malaria in 1918 I believe. This is all I know. Any pointers as to where I can find out more ? Thank you

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 16:55 BST (UK) »
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Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:05 BST (UK) »
Per medal records he was a driver and had previously served with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry (2903 and 56088)
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Offline ainslie

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:05 BST (UK) »
Before his RE service he had been a Private in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry, numbered 2913, then 56088, so possibly a pre war Territorial.  Ancestry has this on a medal roll for his Victory and British War Medals.  Perhaps more there, but no time to look.
A


Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:10 BST (UK) »
There's a report in the Grantham Journal of 9 November 1918:
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Offline MaxD

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:10 BST (UK) »
Welcome to the forum!

Some covered already.

A starter here, his Commonwealth War Graves entry:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/896589/smith,-horace-arthur/ which says he was in 5 Field Troop although the registration sheet below says 5 Field Squadron which is what the Register of Soldiers Effects says.

His medal card is at the National Archives, you can see a preview image for free at:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5232886.  This shows he served first overseas in the Lincolnshire Yeomanry, some info here (1/1st is relevant):https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-yeomanry-regiments-of-1914-1918/lincolnshire-yeomanry/.

His war gratuity of £17 shows he joined up  in March 1915 (source Craig's calculator).  His service record appears to have been among the 60% or so that were lost in the Great War so when he moved from the Yeomanry to the Royal Engineers is not clear.  However, the former went to France from the middle east in May 1918 and 5 Fd Sqn RE joined 5th Cavalry Division in July 1918.  More work needed there. 

MaxD


I am Zoe Northeast, granddaughter of Maximilian Double.
 
It is with great difficulty I share with you that in the early hours of 07 August 2021, Maximilian passed away unexpectedly but peacefully.

With deep sadness,
Zoe



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Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:26 BST (UK) »
Per the newspaper report it appears he transferred to the RE shortly after Christmas 1917
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Offline Privatesmith

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 01 October 19 17:29 BST (UK) »
Many thanks all ! 👍

Offline AlasdairGTW

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Re: Royal Engineers
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 02 October 19 07:50 BST (UK) »
From "Uk Soldiers Died in Great war 1914-1918"
Name:Horace Arthur Smith
Birth Place:Edenham, Lincs
Death Date:28 Oct 1918
Death Place:Egypt
Enlistment Place:Bourne, LincsRank:DVR.
Regiment:Royal Engineers
Regimental Number:489879
Type of Casualty:Died
Theatre of War:Egyptian Theatre Comments:Formerly 2903, 3/1St Lincs Yco. (7Th Field Coy., R.E.)