Collis brothers, East Surreys, (part 2, Ctesiphon)

[jmta04]

Hello again.

In my first post, I suggested that James and Harry Collis may have joined the 1/5th East Surrey territorials together in November 1910. Is there anything in their service numbers (1090 & 1842) that can confirm or refute this?

Whilst in India in 1915 with their battalion, 50 volunteers were called for to join the 2nd Norfolks in Mesopotamia. The brothers were in this group and sailed to Mespot in August 1915. On joining the 2nd Norfolks they were soon in action at the battle of Ctesiphon, where both brothers were wounded and removed to hospital. At this point, unfortunately, I lose track of Harry, but James was discharged from hospital to duty in mid December.

I am most keen to find out any extra details of the events surrounding this small group of volunteers and the men involved, if possible.

On Harry's MIC he is shown as being 1/5 East Surreys and 2nd Norfolks, no others. On James's, he is shown as 1/5th East Surreys and 8th East Surreys (which he later joined) but not the 2nd Norfolks. Why the discrepancy?

In January, James was returned to India, where I assume he returned to the 1/5th East Surreys (although I cannot confirm that this is so) now in the North-West Frontier province. Is this likely to be correct?

For some reason, James was back in England by June 1916, where he re-engaged for the remainder of the war. Could this be because he had been wounded, was due leave or some other reason. He originally engaged in 1910 for a term of 4 years, so was well over this time.

Any additional information will be most useful in filling out graddads military career. Sadly, he died when I was 10, too young to take proper interest.

Regards,

Scobie

[David_Underdown]

The actual medal rolls at Kew may reveal a little more. The answer may simply be that while one was officially transferred, the other for reasons known only to the beauracracy of the time was only attached to 2nd Norfolks.

1/5 East Surreys were still in India in January 1916 according to http://www.1914-1918.net/eastsurreys.htm, so he may well have gone back to them.

If they initially joined up together, I'd have thought their service numebrs would be closer together.

[jmta04]

Hi David.

Although I originally thought that the brothers joined together, I agree with you that they probably did not. Had they they done so I agree that their service numbers should have been very close together. As Harry's appears to be the later number, perhaps he followed his younger brothers example.

As I mention, after the brothers were wounded at Ctesiphon I lose track of what happened to Harry. They were both in hospital in Basra, but whether Harry went with James back to India or was returned to the 2nd Norfolks I do not know.

Many thanks,

Scobie