Mines rescue ?

[homeguard]

On the service record of my Gt uncle it gives as a specialist military qualification, `mines rescue` or `mines rescuer`, not clear which, but could someone say if this was a specialist postion in a tunnelling company or if this description would be applied to most of the men involved in tunnelling during the war, many thanks.

[Simon Jones]

This was indeed a specialism in a Tunnelling Company. Selected personnel would be trained at one of the Army Mine Rescue Schools and would become part of the company mine rescue squad.

S

[homeguard]

Thank you for clearing that up for me, would you know if there are any records that survive for these rescue schools or is that too much to hope for, by the way he was in the 184th tunnelling company, do you think any body would have copy of war diaries for this company accept at national archives ? He seemed to have a poor descipline record is that the type of info you would find in the company war diaries ? sorry if there are too many questions in this post, many thanks.

[Simon Jones]

What was his name & number?

[homeguard]

William Gregory no.132517

[Simon Jones]

I have had a look at his service record and can see the mention of his qualification on his Protection Certificate.

Only the 1st Army Mine School (there were five altogether) has a War Diary which begins October 1916 (WO 95/243). There will be a copy of the 184 Company War Diary at the Royal Engineers Library at Chatham but it may well be incomplete.

[homeguard]

Once again many thanks for your help.

[Anthony Bagshaw]

The mines rescue companies are very interesting indeed. A book which you may want to read is Military Mining which has been published (i believe) by the Naval and Military Press.

[homeguard]

Thanks I will try and find the book.

[gazfromnuneaton]

I quote from the 177 Tunnelling Company War Diary:

" The Mine Rescue School was moved from 171 to this Coy in July and started courses again on 24/7/1916."

Cheers,

Garry