Bertie James Parnell - Labour Corps/West Surreys 45570/73351

[lukerwhite]

I know Bert (as he was known) enlisted in faversham, kent. he came frome ospringe in Kent. I have managed to pick out the following details from his service record -(reg no. 455740) - [8^th] Labour Corps - [Private in Queens R.W.S. 15th Labour Company???]

Home - 11.12.1915 - 13.3.1917

B.E. - 14.3.1917

France - 14.3.1917 - 13.3.1920

2 Dec 1919 - 73351 Lance Corporal - 51 Mobile Veterinary Section - Unit 755 - Shoeing Smith 737^th Area Employment Company c/o D.A.G G.H.Q Labour Corps Section 3^rd Echelon, B.E.F France

Medals - British War Medal, Victory War Medal

Can anyone tell me anymore with access to war diaries etc?

[lukerwhite]

I have gone through his record and have found out the following:

Bert James Parnell -

Queens Royal Regiment West Surrey 45740

8^th Labour Corps - Employment Company 73551

Birth Place: Ospringe, Kent

Occupation: Farrier

Next of Kin: William Parnell & Charlotte Jane Collingwood

63 Rye Lane, Peckham & Ospringe Street

Attestation Location: Canterbury, Kent

Attestation date: 21 Jan 1917 (27 years 231 days)

Address on Attestation: Ospringe Street

Height: 5 foot 6

Chest: 36 inches (Range of expansion 2 & 1/2 inches)

Weight: 134 Ibs

Rank: Private

(Acting Farrier)

Lance Corporal

73551 Labour Corps UK

73551 Labour Corps FRANCE

Timeline:

29 Jan 1916 Attestation

11 Dec 1915 Home to 13 Mar 1917

21 Feb 1917 Posted to Queens Royal West Surrey (5^th Labour Coy)

14 Mar 1917 BEF (France)

1 Jan 1918 Leave from H.Q. 18^th Corps

20 Feb 1918 Posted to 839 Area Employment Coy

31 Jul 1918 Attatched to 8 Corps H.Q.

23 Aug 1918 Posted to 737 AE Company

27 Nov 1918 Marriage to Charlotte Jane Collingwood at Parish Church, Ospringe, Kent

2 Dec 1919 Volounteered to stay on (73551 - 51 Veterinary Section) Present unit 755 Area ? ? As a Shoeing Smith by this ?

31 May 1919 Leave to the UK

12 Feb 1919 Posted to 276 AE Coy

29 Feb 1919 Posted to 755 AE Coy

7 Feb 1920 Tested and Appointed Lance Corporal

12 Apr 1920 Discharged

Medals:

Victory Medal (Supp) Roll: LC/102 B4 Page; 302

British War Medal Roll: LC/102 B4 Page; 302

Discharged: ?

Can anyone tell me anything else about him. Does anyone have access to war diaries. Can u tell me his movements why he went from QRWS to Labour Corps. Anything to do with Farriers during WW1 (shoeing up cavalry i presume?). Anything would be great - thanks

[Ivor Lee]

Luke

From his Labour Corps number I think it should be 15th Infantry Labour Company, Queen's which became 123 Company Labour Corps rather than the 5th Company.

Although of course I may be wrong and he was originally in the 5th ILC and transferred to the 15th.

There are no specific War Diaries of either the Queen's Labour Companies nor 123 or any of the other Labour Corps Companies he served in.

As to the Farrier role - in addition to the cavalry horses were extensively used by the army - riden by officers and to pull wagons.

Ivor

[lukerwhite]

Thanks Ivor, he was defiantely in the Queens Royal Regiment West Surrey 45740

8^th Labour Corps - 73551 and these are defiantely his regimental numbers for both. The rest of the info on his timeline in reference to his battalion / unit is from his service record but the writing is unclear i must admit. I think i have it right though - according to what his record says! Here is a link to his service records (2 of them) if you have ancestry :

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.d...36066380_g32768

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.d...36066380_g32768

Hope this helps you to help me!

[lukerwhite]

His MIC. What does the 'SUPP' next to the Victory medal stand for? Is this supposed to be Surrey?

Can this enable anyone to tell me any more about him?

[lukerwhite]

What does the 'SUPP' next to the Victory medal stand for? Is this supposed to be Surrey?

Trying this question again.

[David_Underdown]

Looks to me likes it's part of the name of the list so SUPP LC etc should be read together, probably a supplementary Labour Corps list.

[lukerwhite]

Looks to me likes it's part of the name of the list so SUPP LC etc should be read together, probably a supplementary Labour Corps list.

OK, yes does look like a supp which could be "supplementary". I suppose the only way to find out for sure is to go to Kew and look at the medal rolls.

Cheers

[lukerwhite]

Bert James Parnell -

Queens Royal Regiment West Surrey 45740

Labour Corps 73551

Birth Place: Ospringe, Kent

Occupation: Farrier

Next of Kin: William Parnell - 63 Rye Lane, Peckham

Charlotte Jane Collingwood - Ospringe Street

Attestation Location: Canterbury, Kent

Attestation date: 21 Jan 1917 (27 years 231 days)

Address on Attestation: Ospringe Street

Height: 5 foot 6

Chest: 36 inches (Range of expansion 2 & 1/2 inches)

Weight: 134 Ibs

Distinctive Marks: Tattooed right arm

Scar on left leg

Medical Info: Slight various veins

Right Leg ? Hernia

Rank: Private - Acting Farrier

Lance Corporal

45750 QRRWS UK 11.2.1915 - 13.3.1917

73551 LC FRANCE 14.3.1917 - 13.3.1920

Timeline:

29 Jan 1916 Attestation

21 Feb 1917 Mobilised - Posted to Queens Royal West Surrey (15 ^{Labour Coy) at Canterbury, Kent}

13 Mar 1917 Transferred to 123 Coy

14 Mar 1917 BEF (France) - Emabarked from Fockenhom?, England - Disembarked at Boulougne, France

1 Jan 1918 Leave from H.Q. 18th Corps

20 Feb 1918 Posted to 839 Area Employment Coy

31 Jul 1918 Attached to 8 Corps H.Q.

23 Aug 1918 Posted to 739 AE Company

27 Nov 1918 Marriage to Charlotte Jane Collingwood at Parish Church, Ospringe, Kent

12 Feb 1919 Posted to 276 Coy

20 Feb 1919 Posted to 755 Coy

2 Dec 1919 Volunteered to stay on (73551 - 51 Veterinary Section) Present unit 755 Area Employment Coy as a Shoeing Smith

31 May 1919 Leave to the UK

12 Feb 1919 Posted to 276 Area Employment Coy

29 Feb 1919 Posted to 755 Area Employment Coy

7 Feb 1920 Tested and Appointed Lance Corporal

20 Mar 1920 Statement of Disability filled out at Duisans, France (near Amaras)

12 Apr 1920 Discharged

Medsals: Victory Medal (Supp) Roll: LC/102 B4 Page; 302

British War Medal Roll: LC/102 B4 Page; 302

Discharged: 12 Apr 1920

This the new updated profile. It looks like he was with the QRRWS and regarded fit for duty overseas despite his hernia and varicous veins. He was used in the Labour Corps. It looks as though his skill as a farrier was recognized and he shoed the horses. He stayed on after the war voluntarily and was made up to lance corporal just before he was discharged.

Can anyone tell me if it was usual for Farriers to be in the Labour Corps? Can anyone map the battles he would have been involved in by his Employment companies? I know he was at Duisan (nr Arras) on the 20 Mar 1920 but obviously this was after the war. He landed at Bolugne on 14 Mar 1917.

Also would he have remained part of the QRRWS although he was in Area Employment Labour Corps? Can you be in both at the same time?