Royal Defence corps

[andrew pugh]

Good Morning All.

I wonder if someone could answer a couple of questions for me concerning the Royal Defence Corps? First question is who were they and what did they do? The reason Im asking is because a family member was in the 164 Coy Royal Defence Corps in 1917 and I would like to know what they were doing and where at that time in the war.The chap that im intrested in was my wifes Grandad he was originaly in the Durham Light Infantry (territorials) and was wounded at some stage and ended up in the R.D.C. We have a copy of his records but its all a bit confusing as to when he was wounded and where he was serving whilst in the D.L.I 6th Bn between the dates of 31/03/1916 until the 10/09/1916 he was then transfered to the R.D.C.

His name was William Hardy D.L.I. (private) service numbers 3537. then 45645. and then 47658, I presume the latter related to the R.D.C. To make matters worse he was also in the following units of the D.L.I. 6th Bn, 3/6th Bn, 1/6th Bn,

and the 15th Bn.He served in these Battalions between 15/03/1915 and 10/09/1916. where were they fighting?

Is there a medal roll for the Silver War Badge? His number for that was 262432. Can someond help

best regards Andy.

[SteveE]

Is there a medal roll for the Silver War Badge? His number for that was 262432.

Andy

According to his MIC the SWB reference is TP/1747 which equates to WO329/3164 at the National Archives, maybe somebody will be able to look it up for you.

Additionally his BWM & Victory Medal entitlement is under reference TP/102 B16 Pg.1980 which equates to WO329/1963. The RDC rolls are generally quite detailed and tend to show units/dates served etc. so it may well be worth putting a request in for that too.

Hope it helps.

Steve

[Jim Strawbridge]

As an additional question why is it that medals actually named to the R.D.C. are so very scarce? I have only ever seen a couple of groups named to the unit.

[Ron Clifton]

Jim

RDC units were employed on Home Defence so the men would not generally qualify for the BWM or VM. The exceptions were probably those engaged in coast defence or AA defence.

Medals were unit-named according to the first unit the man served with in an overseas theatre of operations, so men might have been in, say, the Buffs and transferred home to serve in the RDC, having been wounded. Their medals would show the Buffs even though the roll itself would be prepared by the RDC.

Ron

[Jim Strawbridge]

Jim

RDC units were employed on Home Defence so the men would not generally qualify for the BWM or VM. The exceptions were probably those engaged in coast defence or AA defence.

Medals were unit-named according to the first unit the man served with in an overseas theatre of operations, so men might have been in, say, the Buffs and transferred home to serve in the RDC, having been wounded. Their medals would show the Buffs even though the roll itself would be prepared by the RDC.

Ron

Thank you, Ron. I have a lone BWM to 31533 PTE. H.MARTIN. R.D.C. and I wondered how he could have been awarded it.

[dave ricketts]

Jim

RDC units were employed on Home Defence so the men would not generally qualify for the BWM or VM. The exceptions were probably those engaged in coast defence or AA defence.

Ron

I recollect looking at the officer's rolls for the RDC, where that was their only entitlement. Only a handful of people. It seemed, as I recall, to be that the award was for Prisoner Escort, generally. I assumed that this was to do with Prisoner Exchanges, but that is only a guess.

Dave

[Moonraker]

Useful previous thread

here

Moonraker

[andrew pugh]

Good Evening All.

Thank you all very much for the information given.

Best Regards Andy