Private Arthur Stevens, Devons and Labour Corps.

[jim1]

A bit more
The 9th. were in France up until the end of 1917
their last engagement being the 2nd. Battle of Passchendaele.
They were then shipped to Italy Jan. 1918.

[Colchester]

SO..with mind buzzing!!! Thanks to all you folks. Can we say that he was 'in theatre' from about March 1917? Obviously the same person but now we have the 9th Devons coming into the picture!

[jim1]

Looking at service records of men with numbers pretty much from the same
batch as your man they all attested from late 1915 - early 1916 which marries
with the info that he had 21 months in the field up to his death which puts his
attestation at around March 1916.
This is what they were up to from that time:
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/7th-division/

[cath151]

Under "Unit from which transferred "also on the record
Cathy

[Colchester]

Thanks for so much support. So... we can say that he served from, at least, early 1916, when he would have been 34 ish. The 9th involvement is new to me, thank you. I'll do my best but hope you don't mind me coming back to you for your expertise!

[jim1]

I've revisited his attestation date & looked at his War Gratuity payment.
A bit of background, War Gratuity was paid to NOK in 1919.
The amount was based on service & ended at time of death.
His widow received £26. 10s.
The payment was made up as follows: £5 for the first year & 10s. for
every month thereafter meaning he had 2 years 7 months service.
Calculating back from time of death gives an attestation date of around May 1916.
Adding his period of training of 3 months he would have been in the field by
Aug./Sept. 1916 assuming he was posted to the 9th. at that time.
Looking at the 9th's. war diary there was a draft of 93 OR's from the 3rd. (training) Btn.
8/9/16.
They were at Buire-Courcelles at the time.
Cathy's snippet looks like 1/1 South Midlands Field Ambulance.
This FA was part of 48/Div. who were in Italy.

[Colchester]

I'm putting together all that has been discovered for the family and just want to check that I'm right! Register of soldiers effects indicates a War gratuity of £14 - 10s so that would indicate a total of 31 months service to his death Dec 1918. So it looks like he attested around May 1916 and was with 3rd Devons, home service, until March 1917. Transferred to 9th Devons (retaining service number  and service on the Western Front, etc. Attached to 1034 co. Labour Corps then official transfer to 1034 co. before Sep. 18 (21 months field service to death 12/18). Cathy, can you explain where 1/1 South Midlands Field ambulance fits in the timeline (and any chance of hard copy of the record)? Thanks all, Colin 

[jim1]

His widow received £26. 10s.
The payment was made up as follows: £5 for the first year & 10s. for
every month thereafter meaning he had 2 years 7 months service.
Calculating back from time of death gives an attestation date of around May 1916.
Adding his period of training of 3 months he would have been in the field by
Aug./Sept. 1916 assuming he was posted to the 9th. at that time.

3/Devons was their training establishment. All men went there for their 3 months training.
At the end of that it appears he was posted to the 9th. arriving at his Btn. on the 8th. Sept. 1916.
The FA was the start of the medical chain for injured/sick men, from there he would have been transferred to a Hospital.

[Colchester]

Thanks Jim1. I'll amend accordingly...I'm afraid I'm learning as I go and appreciate the education! Bearing in mind she had nothing more than his burial place (recently visited) so much has been achieved, so many of her questions answered. Thanks again all.