Neil Clark Posted 14 November , 2008 Share Posted 14 November , 2008 This is case is almost ready for submission - MAY W.J Lance Corporal William James MAY. Army Cyclist Corps (ACC). Formerly Leinster Regiment. Died 21 August 1916 at Folkestone. Discharged from the Army having been severely gassed at the front. Died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone, Kent. Buried 24 August 1916. His baby daughter died a year afterwards aged only 9 months! Buried 24 August 1916 at St James Cemetery, Dover, Kent. His headstone is located vry close to the CWGC Zeebruge Headstones… His DC confirms that he died from the effects of "German Gas Attack (France)" which is probably all I need. The problem I have is confirming his army unit. At the present time all I have to go on is a newspaper article that gives his unit as - "Cyclist Corps formerly Leinster Regiment". This was the death notice in Folkestone newspapers. I'm not sure if I want to rely upon this alone... If I can't confirm his unit by other means I will have to go and search for his service/pension papers at Kew. Obviously I'd like to avoid the cost of doing so if at all possible (bearing in mind his DC confirms attributable death). If his records didn't survive the bombings then I'm really in a mess - I need a regimental number. I can't find his MIC (BUT HE MUST HAVE HAD ONE). Obviously I don't want a wrong unit to be recorded. I also need his regimental number. Was any Leinster Regiment battalion(s) ever reformed into Cyclist Corps? I know that some infantry regiments became Cyclists during the war. Perhaps a Leinster Regiment specialist could confirm either way? Any more ideas guys? Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 14 November , 2008 Share Posted 14 November , 2008 How about just asking me - MIC below - one of my dark arts you know Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Soul Posted 14 November , 2008 Share Posted 14 November , 2008 Neil, My understanding is that the ACC provided divisional troops, so for example you would have 1st Division Cyclists, Army Cyclist Corps. However, it may not be safe to assume that his unit of the ACC was necessarily in the same division as the 2/Leinsters. To be honest I think the CWGC would just record him as Army Cyclist Corps anyway so your efforts have probably struck gold anyway Best wishes and well done. Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 14 November , 2008 Share Posted 14 November , 2008 Dover St James is getting a lot of new war graves you know Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted 17 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Chris, Andy, Thanks for your valued advice. Looks like this chap was in the scrap early (1914 star awarded). Probably a regular soldier on the outbreak of war (2nd Leinster Regiment). He didn't die until 1916 so I presume between 1914-1916, he must have seen some major combat? I will record and submit him as ARMY CYCLIST CORPS formerly Leinster's. I have another 2 potentials both of whom are said to be buried in St James, Dover! We really should keep Maggie informed of any progress - http://www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk/index.htm Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Neil dont forget there is also going to be my 2 from the SS Maloja & another one that I found from the Brookwood Memorial (R E Anchor) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroline@linkagecomputing.co.uk Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Neil Sorry to but in on what appears to be all man talk but....your man has some pension papers on Ancestry....or is it me going mad. William May Leinster Reg number 7840 as shown on MIC posted by Chris Harley Nearest town Folkestone Kent attested 14 November 1905 age given as 18 years 11 months posted army cyclist corps 6th 2/12/14 number 1204 seems to have service from 14/11/05-served in Mauritius for about a year 1906 France 08/09/1914 Listed on Ancestry as 7890 William May-scan image 4015- 5 pages Caroline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted 17 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Caroline, YOU are most welcome to post on ANY of my threads anytime Well I never, I didn't even look because I thought the M's hadn't been done yet! Dave Hughes does all our Ancestry searches so I don't have access to it at home. I pass all my needs to him and 99% of the time he comes up with the goods. I probably have enough with what I've got but I will ask him to let me have copies (its always helps to make a good full case). As I thought, he was a gallant pre-war regular.... I will have to find out more about the 6th Army Cyclist's. Who knows I may even be able to make an educated guess where and when the poor sod was gassed? Thanking you kindly for your very helpful interjection here. Have you a Non-Com interest? Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caroline@linkagecomputing.co.uk Posted 17 November , 2008 Share Posted 17 November , 2008 Glad to help Neil Ancestry claim to have now up loaded up to and including "N" although as usual their A-Z may be somewhat wanting. Just looked at 1901 Census for William if I found him he was living in a boys home and his job given as log cutter. I hope that he had a better time traveling with the army before the gas got him. It says on his papers that he was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1907 but asked to be put back down. Sounds a hard life and death so I hope you can at least get him commemorated. Caroline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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