Border Regiment medal rolls WW1 and service number question

[Mojo47]

Hi all,

Does anyone out there know if the WW1 medal rolls are complete or are there missing records the same as other British Army records?
The next question is can you tell from service numbers which Border battalion a soldier served in?
I am trying to see if there is any way to linking the medal rolls to my grandfather. All I know is he was a private in the 1st Border Regiment in WW1. And that it is believed he was probably in France.
On Ancestry I found the medal rolls for a Border Regiment Private, service number 203373.This particular soldier was also in the Army Ordinance Corps, service number 039392. Is there a way to link either of these numbers to the 1st Border Regiment? This would then hopefully make it more likely to be my grandfather.
Any other suggestions as to what to try would be most appreciated.

[jim1]

First off I can tell you that the Border Regt. no. 203373 was in a
batch allocated to the 4th. Btn. which was part of the Territorial Force
who were re-numbered with 6 digit numbers in 1917.
They spent the entire war in India.
Assuming we're talking about John Hastings the other one was in the
8th. Btn. no.15053 & transferred to the RFC no. 40106.

All I know is he was a private in the 1st Border Regiment in WW1

Where has this come from?
Neither his Medal Roll or MIC state which Btn. he was in.

[Mojo47]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I know my grandfather was in the 1st Border regiment because it states so on his son’s birth certificate (ex private 1st Border Regiment).
The only records I can find are the two in the medal rolls mentioned and was hoping to find a possible link to my grandfather.
Next. Where can I find the info on service numbers and battalions?
The thing I’m confused about is the number 203373. I’m sure your information must be correct but this number John Hastings was in France. He wrote a letter to the Workington Star newspaper which clearly states being sent from somewhere in France.Any thoughts on this?
I’ve searched the medal rolls but can only find two John Hastings who served in the Border Regiment.

Thanks

[spendlove]

If you have not already found this may be useful

https://thelonsdalebattalion.co.uk/wiki/2/4th_Battalion_(Territorial_Force)_Border_Regiment_(Cumberland_%26_Westmorland)

[Mojo47]

See attached excerpt.

Thanks

[ShaunJ]

203371 (James Chamley) served with the BEF  https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007287476%2F00303&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7287476%2F19%2F303

So did 203372 (John Rownson Ewart) https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F007292744%2F00699&parentid=GBM%2FWO363-4%2F7292744%2F40%2F699

[Mojo47]

Hi Shaun,

Thanks for that. It’s great. Not only did 203371 & 203372 serve in France but they both served in the 1st Border Regiment!!
That is a big step in the right direction. Thank you!!
If the medal rolls are indeed complete , it would mean it is highly that 203373 is my grandfather.
I appreciate everyone’s help and hope there may be some more incoming comments or suggestions.

[jim1]

Looking at ShaunJ's man 203371 he attested in late 1915 in the 4/Border Regt.
& went straight into the Reserve & wasn't mobilised until May 1917
after the new issue of numbers hence his 6 digit number.
He was posted to the 1st. Btn. Sept. 1917 so unlikely to have gone to
India.
Joined the 1st. Btn. in France.
203372 did likewise.
Your man must have done the same.
The 1st. Btn. war diary states they received a draft of 64 men from base (IBD). 9/9/17.
The IBD was where the 2 other men were sent after disembarking in France.
All makes sense now if the letter & birth cert. are after this date.

[Mojo47]

Hi,
The birth certificate was from May 1920. The Workington Star article was from 18th March 1918(published 24th May 1918.
With all the information that you all have contributed, it looks likely 203373 would have been in the same group of 64 and highly probable he was indeed my grandfather.
Thank you for all your help everyone. I can now move forward with a rough idea of his wartime life. He later ended up in the AOC, but a chance of finding more on this would be difficult I suppose?