Where to write to to obtain copies of the KRRC war diaries?

[ianandtracey]

Friends,

It's been a while since we were last on this forum! Hope you are all well.

From copies of our Great Uncle's "New Soldier's record" we obtained from Kew, we see that shortly before his death on 17/08/16 he has the following entry in the page "Statement of the Services"

attached to 2nd Bn K.R.R.C 25/07/16

We would like to know does this refer to the 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corp? and if so, where (or who) do we write to request the war diaries for around this period?

Thanks in advance.

Ian and Tracey

[Hambo]

Ian and Tracey

2nd KRRC is indeed the King's Royal Rifle Corps and while I don't have the war diaries for the period I do have the KRRC chronical for 1916 which is the next best thing

25th of July 1916

We remained at Albert for the day and recieved a draft of 95 other ranks

26th of July

On the 26th we marched to Franvillers, arriving at about 4pm, Here we rested for 48 hours and welcomed another large draft, which made up for our losses on the 23rd.

29th of July

the Brgade marched to Henencourt Wood and went into bivouac and the last days of the month were occupied with Company training.

We remianed here for a fortnight in camp, resting after our tour in the trenches. The camp was a pleasant place surrounded by woods. W very fine chateau of the Louis XIV period lay a few hundred yards away. This was the headquarters of the Third Corps under General Sir W.B. Pultney KCB DSO who inspected us shortly after our arrival. The day was exceedingly hot, which made this inspection no more agreeable than such ceremonies usually are.

We were kept busy with Company and Battalion training until the evening of the 13th of August when we marched to Becourt Wood and went into bivouac.

14th of August

In the evening we marched up to Mametz Wood and became Divisional Reserve

We remained in Mametz Wood until the 18th, furnishing working parties. This was not the simple bloodless work that it sounds as the Germans heavily shelled the wood daily and we lost 2nd Lieutenant H.E. Cockerell, a most keen and promising young officer killed and 2 officer wounded and many NCOs and Riflemen

The war diary would pin down the action on the day itself but this at least mentions his arrival at Albert and the battalions movments during the short time he was with them.

Hope it's of interest

Regards John

[ianandtracey]

Hi John,

Many thanks for the very useful information. Our Great Uncle is buried at Daours and the chronical has helped shed some light on how he arrived there.

Do you know where or whom we can contact to obtain copies of the War diaries for the King's Royal Rifle Corp?

Thanks again.

Kind regards

Ian and Tracey

[John_Hartley]

They'll be available from the National Archives. Possibly available for download from their website or you may have to ask them to photocopy them if you cannot visit Kew.

John

[IanA]

You can order a copy on-line for a cost of £3.50. Other months may be ordered too.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=140

Cheers,

Ian

[ianandtracey]

John Hartley: Thanks the information John

IanA

You can order a copy on-line for a cost of £3.50. Other months may be ordered too.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=140

Cheers,

Ian

Thanks for the link Ian, we have just bought and downloaded the one mentioned in the link, which is for July 1916. As we also need the one for August 1916 we found the following link which gives details but we have been so far unable to find a way to buy a copy.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalog...EF=WO+95%2F1272

Any further help in getting the August 1916 war diaries would be very gratefully received.

Regards

Ian and Tracey

[IanA]

August should be here -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=140

[ianandtracey]

August should be here -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...resultcount=140

Brilliant! Just bought and downloaded it thanks a lot Ian

Thanks again to everyone else who took the trouble to reply.

Regards

Ian and Tracey