anfrage Posted 28 May , 2009 Share Posted 28 May , 2009 I am trying to find out information regarding my Grandads service in the Great War. I know he joined the army the day the way started and he was in the 2nd/5th Norfolk regiment. His name was Arthur William Collins and his army number was 2903 PTE. I believe he fought in the Somme and Ypres where he was injured. He later joined the Somerset Light Infantry regiment number 266371. Does any body have any further information or can point me to where I can get some information. I got the 2903 number from one of his medals and the Somerset Light Infantry number from his medal card on the web. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMoorhouse Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Welcome to the forum! From a quick look at the potted history of the 2/5th Norfolks on this site, it would appear that they did not serve abroad. It follows that Arthur Collins foreign service is likely to have been with the Somersets. There are people on this site who can help decypher medal index cards, and it might help if you attach a copy of his to a posting for people to comment on. From the history that you recount (ie service on the Somme and at Ypres) it is likely that he was in one of the following Somerset battalions - 1st Battalion, 6th, 7th or 8th Battalions. All of these served in these battlefield areas during that time. Where does your information come from as to where he fought? If you have any more details it might be possible to narrow down his service to a particular unit. Regards, Brendon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATNOMIS Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Vittoria Think you got the first numbers wrong. Norfolk Regiment, Somersetshire Light Infantry 2902, 266371 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay dubaya Posted 30 May , 2009 Share Posted 30 May , 2009 Vittoria the number 266371 was allocated to the 11th Bn SLI which was formed at Whitstable from the 85th Provisional Bn on 1st January 1917 and was part of the 277th Bde. This brigade remained in the UK until they landed in France on 6th May 1918 and became part of the reformed 177th (2nd Lincolnshire and Leicestershire) Bde of the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division where they remained until the Armistice. The move from the Norfolks to the Somersets would tie in with him being wounded and sent back to the UK for treatment. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfrage Posted 2 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Vittoria Think you got the first numbers wrong. Norfolk Regiment, Somersetshire Light Infantry 2902, 266371 Yes, sorry typing mistake, should be 2902 not 2903 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob carman Posted 2 June , 2009 Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Vittoria, The 2/5th Norfolks did not serve overseas. Its members were reassigned as replacments to other battalions in the Norfolks and in other regiments. Rob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfrage Posted 2 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 June , 2009 Welcome to the forum! From a quick look at the potted history of the 2/5th Norfolks on this site, it would appear that they did not serve abroad. It follows that Arthur Collins foreign service is likely to have been with the Somersets. There are people on this site who can help decypher medal index cards, and it might help if you attach a copy of his to a posting for people to comment on. From the history that you recount (ie service on the Somme and at Ypres) it is likely that he was in one of the following Somerset battalions - 1st Battalion, 6th, 7th or 8th Battalions. All of these served in these battlefield areas during that time. Where does your information come from as to where he fought? If you have any more details it might be possible to narrow down his service to a particular unit. Regards, Brendon. Thank you, I have tried to upload file but it is 328KB and limit is 100KB. Is this the best place to attach it or should it go in say the battalion forum. The information on the battles was passed to me by my dad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMoorhouse Posted 3 June , 2009 Share Posted 3 June , 2009 Vittoria, Given the Regimental numbering given by Jon (jay dubaya) and Rob Carman below - I would say it was most likely that he served in the Norfolks during the battles of the Somme and Ypres - was injured and then sent out again with the 11th Somersets towards the end of the war. I think that this would be the right place to post his medal index card. As I have said, there are likely to be people who will be able to give you some more information based upon it. Regards, Brendon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfrage Posted 3 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 3 June , 2009 Vittoria, Given the Regimental numbering given by Jon (jay dubaya) and Rob Carman below - I would say it was most likely that he served in the Norfolks during the battles of the Somme and Ypres - was injured and then sent out again with the 11th Somersets towards the end of the war. I think that this would be the right place to post his medal index card. As I have said, there are likely to be people who will be able to give you some more information based upon it. Regards, Brendon. Hi, I am unable to attach card as it is too big so have attached it as three different parts. Part 1 here. Hope this is OK. Unfortuantely I find it hard to read but hopefully as you say people who know what they are looking for will. Hi, I am unable to attach card as it is too big so have attached it as three different parts. Part 1 here. Hope this is OK. Unfortuantely I find it hard to read but hopefully as you say people who know what they are looking for will. Part 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfrage Posted 3 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 3 June , 2009 Hi, I am unable to attach card as it is too big so have attached it as three different parts. Part 1 here. Hope this is OK. Unfortuantely I find it hard to read but hopefully as you say people who know what they are looking for will. Part 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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