Trenchrat Posted 19 March , 2009 Posted 19 March , 2009 Hi, I have a photo of this sergeant and I'd like more information on him, such as what battalion he was with and possibly his fate if known. His name was George Wellen. George started the war in the Dorset Regiment with serial number 202494. At some point he was assigned to the Somerset Light Infantry with a serial number of 55259. Any help would be appreciated. I'd put his photo up on the forum, however I seem to have trouble doing that. The photo usually ends up being too small to really see the details.
Trenchrat Posted 19 March , 2009 Author Posted 19 March , 2009 Hi Mike, Thanks for the MIC. So he made sergeant while with the Dorset Regiment and earned the British Medal and Victory Medal, but no Star. Very interesting. John
Guest Posted 19 March , 2009 Posted 19 March , 2009 No problem. I think you will have to get someone to check the medal roll to find which Bn. There's a lot more useful information here. Not sure if posting photo will help. If you pm me will give you email and I can try post it for you. Mike http://www.1914-1918.net/regiments.htm
Trenchrat Posted 20 March , 2009 Author Posted 20 March , 2009 Hi Mike, Thanks for putting up George's photo. Are the three chevron's on his right sleeve, service stripes? If so, how long of service do they indicate? John
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 John They are blue overseas stripes for each complete year of service which indicates that the photo was taken in 1919. Mel
Trenchrat Posted 20 March , 2009 Author Posted 20 March , 2009 Hi Mel, Thanks for the information. So that would mean that George made it to France sometime in 1916 and was there till 1919, would that be correct? John
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 John William was obviously with the 4th Dorsets TF but the issue is whether it was 1/4ths or 2/4ths. The 1/4ths were sent from India to Mesopotamia in February 1916 so a four figure number on the MIC would be expected alongside the six figure. I think that it is more likely that William was in the 2/4ths (based on the absence of the four figure number on the MIC). The 2/4ths were sent to India in 1914 before ending up in Egypt in 1917 so the overseas stripes would be for 1915, 1916 and 1917. regards Mel
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 John How do you know that he served in France? He is only likely to have done so if he transferred from the Dorsets to the 2/4ths SLI before June 1918. Mel
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 John I have had a delved into the service numbers. The 552** SLI sequence consists mainly of transferred Dorsets. The only fatality in the number sequence is: Name: KENT Initials: A J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn. Date of Death: 24/10/1918 Service No: 55221 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: B. 190. Cemetery: DEIR EL BELAH WAR CEMETERY previously a Dorsets. My take is that the 2/4ths Dorsets were disbanded in August 1918 and your man transferred with others to the 1/5th SLI which was in the same Brigade - the 233rd of the 75th Division. Mel
Trenchrat Posted 20 March , 2009 Author Posted 20 March , 2009 Hi Mel, The postcard is French, so I assumed the photo was taken in France. So William would have served in India and Egypt, prior to heading to France. Did the 2/4 SLI see action in France during those last three months or so when George served with them? Oh and how did you determine that he served with the 4th Dorsets? Regards, John
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 75th Division British units only. Formed in Egypt in April/May 1917 from first and second line Territorial Force Battalions from India. As British units were disbanded or posted to other units they were replaced with Indian units. Served in Palestine until the Armistice (31 October 1918). Battles and Engagements Palestine Second Battle of Gaza. 17-19 Apr 1917. Third Battle of Gaza. 27 Oct-7 Nov 1917. Capture of Gaza. 1-7 Nov 1917. Capture of Junction Station. 13-14 Nov 1917. Battle of Nabi Samweil. 20-24 Nov 1917. Tell ‘Asure. 8-12 Mar 1918. Berukin. 9-11 Apr 1918. Battle of Sharon. 19-23 Sep 1918. Infantry Units 232nd Brigade. 1/5th Bn Devonshire Regt. 25 Jun 1917 - 26 May 1918. To the 62nd Division. 2/4th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. 25 Sep 1917 - 02 May 1918. To the 34th Division. 1/4th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. 14 Apr 1917 - 04 Jun 1917. To the 233rd Brigade. 2/5th Bn Hampshire Regt. Apr 1917 - Aug 1918. Disbanded. 1/4th Bn Wiltshire Regt. 03 May 1918 - 31 Oct 1918. 233rd Brigade. 1/5th Bn Somerset Light Infantry. 11 May 1917 - 31 Oct 1918. 1/4th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. 04 Jun 1917 - Jun 1917. To the 234th Brigade. 2/4th Bn Hampshire Regt. 15 May 1917 - May 1918. To the 62nd Division. 2/4th Bn Dorsetshire Regt. 02 May 1918 - Aug 1918. Disbanded. 1/4th Bn Wiltshire Regt. 25 Sep 1917 - 03 May 1918. To the 232nd Brigade. http://www.ordersofbattle.darkscape.net/si...divs/75_div.htm Regards Mel
MelPack Posted 20 March , 2009 Posted 20 March , 2009 John The six figure number is for the Dorsets one and only TF Battalion. I am still not convinced that he served in France but I am happy to be proved wrong by the Medal Rolls. If he was transferred to the 2/4th SLI then it would have been in May 1918 because by June they became a Pioneer Battalion attached to the 34th Division. http://www.1914-1918.net/34div.htm The photograph could easily have been taken in Marseilles on the return to the UK. Regards Mel
Trenchrat Posted 20 March , 2009 Author Posted 20 March , 2009 You're probably right Mel. He probably had the photo taken on his way home. Thanks for your research.
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