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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Pte. Thomas William Stockdale


Tomkinson

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All,

I am currently researching my Great Uncle Thomas William Stockdale originally from Scarborough.

He appears to have served throughout the war in the Royal Army Service Corps (2nd Brigade) having enlisted on 26/09/14 according to his Medal Card. As such he was awared the 1914 Star along with his Victory etc. Not sure what the RASC did?

His number is shown as RTS/2950 - not sure what the RTS means against his number.

His Medal Card does take a little interpretation and there are are some entries I am not sure about but it would appear he was buried in Scholemoor Cemetary in Bradford on 4th Mar 1919.

The question is why would he be buried in Bradford? Did he die from wounds or complications?

The grave in Bradford is a Commonwealth War Grave.

Any information would be gratefully accepted?

Cheers

Mike Tomkinson

Bradford

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Mike

The date of 26/9/14 is the date of entry in the theatre of war and not the enlistment date.

I am not sure about RTS but the T will definitely be for Transport.

It looks as if your man was being treated in the military hospital as per the CWGC description:

Cemetery: BRADFORD (SCHOLEMOOR) CEMETERY

Country: United Kingdom

Locality: unspecified

Historical Information: Military hospitals were opened in Bradford in both wars and many of the 138 First World War burials in Bradford (Scholemoor) Cemetery were from the 1,200 bed Bradford War Hospital. The burials are scattered throughout the cemetery and two screen walls record the names of those casualties whose graves could not be marked individually, and a single Special Memorial stone commemorates 4 of the burials in the cemetery. The cemetery also contains 97 scattered burials of the Second World War. A Cross of Sacrifice faces the main entrance. Bradford Crematorium stands within this cemetery and a screen wall in the garden of rest commemorates two casualties of the First World War and 45 from the Second whose remains were cremated.

Regards

Mel

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I have just had a look at the MIC and your man was awarded a Silver War Badge which means that he was discharged for wounds or sickness before returning to the military hospital for further treatment before his death.

The SWB Roll will provide the date of enlistment and discharge.

Regards

Mel

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RTS prefixes are for Army Service Corps Remounts Service - horse trainers/breakers.

I'm not sure of the reason for the prefix, but I think it is just a contraction of RemounTS.

http://www.1914-1918.net/ASC_Remounts.htm

Steve.

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Thanks - that is of great help.

Couple of questions.

I take it the SWB Roll is not available on line?

Is it ever possible to tell what a soldier died of if in a hospital?

What did the RTS do? I assume something to do with rail transport but why in France?

Cheers

Mike Tomkinson

Bradford

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Mike

The SWB Rolls are only available at the NA so either a visit or hire a researcher.

The Death Certificate is available through the normal channels and because death occurred in the UK it will include details of the causes.

Regards

Mel

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From Free BMD:

Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deaths Mar 1919

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STOCKDALE Thomas W 50 Bradford 9b 500

Edit: I should add that because death appears to have occurred after discharge (SWB) then the cause will definitely be service related because of the CWGC criteria.

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Mike

2 BRD, on top line of Medal Index Card, stands for No.2 Base Remount Depot, but I haven't been able to determine at which port in France it was.

If you have access to Ancestry you will find Thomas William Stockdale's medical history under the British Army Pension Records. It would appear he was in South Africa during the Boar War, then re-enlisted again in 1914.

I was interested in your research as I have Stockdale relatives in WW1 who also came from Scarborough and later Bradford, but I can't connect with Thomas William Stockdale.

Good luck with your research

Colin Jackson

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According to The British Army Handbook, General Base Depot 2 was at Le Havre, along with Nos. 1 and 3.

Gareth

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Thanks All for that.

His Medical History history on the Pension Record certainly makes for interesting reading particuarly the medical reason for discharge upon return from South Africa.

I had seen this record before but discounted it owing to a discrepancy in the dates of birth.

The Thomas William Stockdale I was tracking was 20 years younger having been born in 1888 as I thought. Back to the drawing board and some more research required I think.

My TWS would not have been old enough to serve in the Boer War having only been 13-14 in 1902 whereas the TWS on the Pension Record was born earlier and the eventual reason given for discharge in 1919 was age - at 50 years of age.

Fascinating stuff but I also have the name of the next of kin from the records shown as an Alfred Stockdale so that will be one piece of evidence to track against.

Cheers

Mike Tomkinson

Bradford

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  • 11 months later...

i have been reading your posts with great interest.

i reasearch my ancesters ww1 history.

my g.grandfather was edgar stockdale born 1879 in leeds, his uncle was ernest stockdale.

can you tell me more about edgar please, info i have,

D.L.I 195017

LABOUR CORPS 38341

HE HAS A PENSION RECORD and i think he may have injured at some point.

many thanks .

ian

Thanks All for that.

His Medical History history on the Pension Record certainly makes for interesting reading particuarly the medical reason for discharge upon return from South Africa.

I had seen this record before but discounted it owing to a discrepancy in the dates of birth.

The Thomas William Stockdale I was tracking was 20 years younger having been born in 1888 as I thought. Back to the drawing board and some more research required I think.

My TWS would not have been old enough to serve in the Boer War having only been 13-14 in 1902 whereas the TWS on the Pension Record was born earlier and the eventual reason given for discharge in 1919 was age - at 50 years of age.

Fascinating stuff but I also have the name of the next of kin from the records shown as an Alfred Stockdale so that will be one piece of evidence to track against.

Cheers

Mike Tomkinson

Bradford

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