Artists' Rifles - Alexander Welsh Mitchell

[ChristineM]

Hi,
My grandfather, Alexander Welsh Mitchell b1894 Fifeshire raised Kirriemuir, Angus, apparently served in the Artists' Rifles from c.1915 to 1918.
I've not been able to find any Attestation papers for him; possibly part of the burnt records.  It's only today that I found a newspaper snippet from Kirriemuir, 6 Sep 1918, stating he was with the Artists Rifles, wounded in action, in a hospital in England, a Private and had been with the colours for three years.
Looking into the AR, I see that during WW1 it was split into three battalions - 1/28th, the 2/28th and the 3/28th London Regiment.
So how would I go about trying to locate further information about him or his regiment?
Many thanks,
Christine.

[ShaunJ]

His pension index card transcription reveals that his service numbers were B/201911 (Rifle Brigade) and previously T/2/14499 (Army Service Corps).

His Rifle Brigade medal roll entry is annotated "2/5 Lond R" and "1/28 Lond R"

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/5119/images/41629_612057_10691-00089

His SWB roll entry reveals that he enlisted 28/9/14 and was discharged from 5 Battalion, Rifle Brigade on 1/1/19 https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2456/images/wo329_3130-00194

[ChristineM]

I can't believe it Shaun.  I have to admit I initially thought, no this will be one of the other Alexander Mitchells but then I did a quick Anc search with one of the reg nos from the docs you linked and up he pops.  I've searched for him by name for donkeys years with no luck.
Thank you very much, I am truly grateful that you located him for me and for such a quick response.
Christine.

[jim1]

As a snippet there were a large number of men transferring to the LR.
Some service records have survived & the common thread is that they
all attested pretty much at the outbreak of war as your man did & all
transferred to the LR (2/5 or 2/8 so far) on 23/9/1917.
Draft of 141 OR's joined on the 25th.
Transfer of 450 OR's from the 2/5th. to 1/28th. Artists Rifles on 27/1/1918.
2/5th. disbanded.

[ChristineM]

Thanks Jim.
Now that I have his regimental nos. I've found a couple of more bits of info - just need to try to decipher the military lingo/abbreviations.  Your post will help me following the trail.
Christine.

[jim1]

If you're referring to his medal roll the comment is
that he returned his BWM via (CRV) return voucher then
the voucher number in 1933 followed by the file number.
As another snippet he was wounded at Arras at a place called
railway cuttings N.E. of Arras.

[ChristineM]

Thanks for explanation Jim. What tells you he was wounded in Arras pls?
Christine.

[jim1]

I'm glad you asked that as I revisited the war diary (I've looked at a few over the last few days).
Unfortunately I got your man mixed up with another.
The 1/28th. diary states they were involved in an attack on the 21st. Aug. 1918 South of Arras
at a village called Essarts.
This was a phase of the 2nd. Battle of the Somme.
The objective was to take high ground held by the Germans to the East.
With tank support they were able to move quite quickly before they encountered resistance.
This was on the 22nd. at Logeast Wood.
On the 23rd. the 1/28th. was ordered back to Essarts.
So wounded on the 21st./22nd. Aug.
I know these places are unknown to you but I do have the map.
I can post a link to it if you have an Ancestry sub or I can give you a snap shot.
This one is a smaller version.

[ChristineM]

Thanks Jim - appreciate your expertise as I'm hopeless on military stuff.  The posted map looks good to me.
Strange though I don't seem to be able to find him in the weekly casualty publications but maybe not every single person was reported.  I searched from Sept back to early June but now you've given me more of a timeframe, I may have to go back and look closer.
Christine.