Edward Catherall - Royal Engineers

[lukerwhite]

This is what i know:

Edward Catherall -

7^th Field Troop Royal Engineers 29096

Royal Engineers 344705

Birth Place: Burnley, Lancashire (7 Jul 1898)

Occupation: Tram Cleaner

Next of Kin: Sarah Catherall (Mother)

24 Westgate, Burnley

Attestation Location: Nelson, Lancashire (18 years 76 days - actually 16 years) [Enlisted for 2 years Army Service & 10 years Reserve]

Attestation date: 21 Sep 1914

Address on Attestation: 24 Westgate, Burnley, Lancashire

Height: 5 foot 5”

Chest: 33 ½ inches (Expansion 3 ½ inches)

Weight: 113 Ibs

Eyes: Grey / Blue

Hair: Brown

Distinctive Marks: 3 Tattoo’s on left arm and one on right forearm

Physical Development: Fit

Rank: Driver

29096 7^th FIELD TROOP R.E HOME 21 Sep 1914 to 26 May 1915

29096 7^th FIELD TROOP R.E. FRANCE 27 Mar 1915 to ?

344705 R.E. AMARA? 14 Feb 1919 to 22 Jan 1920

344705 R.E. HOME? 23 Jan 1920 to 6 Feb 1920

　

Timeline: 21 Sep 1914 Attestment

7 Dec 1914 Irregular Conduct on Parade at Aldershot

27 May 1915 British Expeditionary Force to France

13 Mar 1919 Discharged Driver for re-enlistment under A.O 4 of 1919

14 Mar 1919 Attested at Amara, Mesopotamia

23 Jan 1920 Home

6 Feb 1920 Discharged from Mounted Reserve Depot Royal Engineers B Company at Aldershot

Medals: Victory War Medal (Roll: RE/101B148 Page: 33456)

British War Medal (Roll: RE/101B148 Page: 33456)

1915 Star (Roll: RE/3A Page: 266)

Discharged: Discharged due to Malaria (30% incapacitated)

Pension : Pension of 12 Shillings per week granted

Can anyone tell me any more about my great grandfather - what he would have done? His movements?

What was he doing in Amarah? My nan said he had his tattoos inked out there to prevent malaria but this is what he was discharged with!

She also said that he was fluent in punjab or urdu which is an indian language Very confused, does she mean arabic or kurdish? How would he have picked up one of these languages?

[Terry_Reeves]

Luke

It's the National Archives for you:

WO 95/4431 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1916 Mar.-Dec.

WO 95/4566 5 Mounted Brigade (1/1 South Midland Mounted Brigade): 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Jan. -

WO 95/5083 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Jan. - Oct.

WO 95/5091 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1916 July - Dec.

WO 95/5091 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Nov. - 1919 Mar.

TR

[Verrico2009]

Luke,

I think the answer is that your great-grandfather worked closely with British Indian troops. I googled "British Indian troops in Mesopotamia WW1" (there may even be a section in LLT) and found this:-

On 23 October 1914 British Indian Army troops, who were already in Bahrain to protect the oil refineries there, invaded southern Mesopotamia and advanced up the Tigris Valley. They soon captured the important city of Basra, and were reinforced. Turkish attacks were repulsed, and late in 1915 the British advanced again through Kut-el-Amara and on north towards the Mesopotamian capital of Baghdad. But by the end of the year Major-General Charles Townshend, who had taken over command of operations, found himself besieged in Kut.

http://www.mgtrust.org/meso.htm

You'll see that there was a lot of involvement.

Louise

[lukerwhite]

Thanks TR,

Im afraid although i have been to the National Archives once before (in realation to family tree and the 1911 census) i have never done this before, what will i find out with those WO numbers?

Luke

It's the National Archives for you:

WO 95/4431 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1916 Mar.-Dec.

WO 95/4566 5 Mounted Brigade (1/1 South Midland Mounted Brigade): 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Jan. -

WO 95/5083 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Jan. - Oct.

WO 95/5091 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1916 July - Dec.

WO 95/5091 7 Field Troop Royal Engineers 1917 Nov. - 1919 Mar.

TR