23rd Machine gun Corps, WW1

[ALAMO2008]

Albert presumably Enliisted and was in the Army pre  1914 and in India until October 1915
Went to France 17 October 1915
Didn't see his Family not for 5 weeks nor 5 months
But 5 Years till he was Demobbed 15 December 1919

He did not get the Standed Two War Medals
But was entitled to the 1914/15 Star with the 15th Hussars before being Transferred to the Machine Gun Corp
He Received the Three Medals which was pretty special and Survived

[tejjy]

Cool detective work...

In fact, Albert more-or-less had no family. His father vanished when he was about 5. His mother died when he was 9. He was in a boarding house with his sister in 1911, but they were not close. His mother's brother was his guardian - the father's family seems to have faded out.

His oldest cousin had been in the 15th Hussars in the early 1890's (died 1892), so I guess that's why he chose that regiment.

WW1 looks/reads pretty grim, although maybe India wasn't quite as bad. But the early days in France can't have been much chop.  He was certainly lucky - as were my father & I :-)

[ALAMO2008]

What evidence do you have that he was ever in India?

Who told you the Machine Gun Corps Records were Destroyed/ Lost ?

Where was from the story came from that he was on Leave when Drafted ?
From where to where ?

Every little of information helps.

[ShaunJ]

The reverse of his 1914-15 Star index card suggests that his unit was in Meerut (India) in 1919

[ALAMO2008]

https://www.researchingww1.co.uk/15th-the-kings-hussars

Thanks ShaunJ

I suggest Albert born March 1895 enlisted Sep 1914 trained and sent to France 17 December 1915 and not from India where some 15th Hussars had already in India pre War

My Granddad's Brother George was in France in the Machine Gun Corp from 1917 to 1919 when they were all Transferred to India before Demob 1920/21

[ALAMO2008]

His Father also Albert Edward had an elder Brother Frederick William Webb
His Two Sons were Trooper 899 Claude George Webb of the Household Cavalry Btn
And Pte 98247 Ralph Edward Webb of 240 Machine Gun Corps Died of Wounds in Flanders 23 September 1917
That's more likely why he Enlisted with them.

[ALAMO2008]

In December 1918 the Army Started to Demob Soldiers to get them off the Payroll
But as World War One hadn't ended yet
And there was a possibility the Germans may break the Ceasefire agreement until a Peace Treaty was Signed
The Army introduced "Class Z" Demob to put Soldiers on Army Reserve Class Z
Which meant they could be Ordered to Recalled to the Colours to fight without re Enlistment
Although the War finally ended 30 June 1919
Class Z Demob continued till 1920
Parliament didn't officially declare WW1 ended till 1921
Albert appears to have been in India from November 1918 to Autumn 1919 sent Home
 and Demobbed Class Z 15 December 1919 per his Medal Card for His British War Medal and Victory Medal Card

[tejjy]

Him being in India - there was/is a family story about him refusing to eat bananas because he accidentally bought a case of them in Bombay when he didn't realise what his money was worth. Plus, I thought the 23rd M/G were only in India - not sure that I can backtrace to the web page that gave me that idea.

He may have switched from the Hussars to the MG because of his father's family; I hadn't thought of that. Would it have been possible for him to do that? I have always assumed that once you were in a regiment, only the army could transfer you.

[tejjy]

following a link you posted, I tracked down a book on the 15th Hussars 1914-1922 & a free copy @ http://www.lightdragoons.org.uk/downloads.html

I've only had time to skim it, but seems like after Ypres in 1915 the 15th was in a holding pattern & in 1916 the MG detachment was allocated to the 9th Division.

The book has a list of all the wounded from the 15th during the war & Albert's name isn't on it - which puts to rest the family story (my aunt) about him being wounded falling off a horse.

As the books makes clear, the cavalry weren't so relevant once there were no advances/retreats to support, so it makes sense that the MGs would have been moved somewhere useful.