Fred W Posted 27 May , 2004 Share Posted 27 May , 2004 On the 4.5.1915 200173 Pte W Cartmell 1/4th Bn. L North Lancs R arrived in France. In 1918 he won a DCM in Portugese East Africa whilst attached to the 1/1st King's African Rifles. How would he have become attached to the KAR? Would he have been drafted or volunteered? If the latter how would he have known to volunteer? Has anyone out there got an answer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gem22 Posted 27 May , 2004 Share Posted 27 May , 2004 Fred Whilst I cannot answer for your specific soldier perhaps the following might help your general understanding of service transfers. My father enlisted in the Loyals as a territorial in 1936. He transferred to the Royal Artillery in 1937 when he decided to join the regulars. In 1944 he went out to Kenya as an instructor with the KAR. From the little he told me about his time in Kenya it seems that it was quite normal for soldiers, particularly Officers and NCOs, to be transferred to regiments like the KAR, as instructors etc. In the case of your soldier it is unlikely he volunteered. Quite a few British and Indian troops ended up in various parts of Africa. The Indian Army in particular provided many troops. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsman64 Posted 27 May , 2004 Share Posted 27 May , 2004 Fred I think it is likely your man first of all transfered or was drafted into the 2nd Battalion LNLR. See below: 2nd Battalion August 1914 : in Bangalore, India. Moved to Tanga, German East Africa, landing 3 November 1914 with the 27th Indian Brigade. Moved to Mombasa on 7 November and commenced operations in EAST AFRICA. Moved in May 1916 to South Africa, to allow for recovery from mass ill-health. Moved to Egypt, landing at Suez on 18 January 1917. 14 April 1917: attached to 232nd Brigade, 75th Division. The Battalion was moved in rapid succession to the 233rd and 234th Brigades of the same Division, and detached as a result of a medical board on 9 August 1917. Proceeded to Sidi Bashr and then placed onto Lines of Communication at Gaza. I would imagine he was then attached to the KAR as an instuctor or similar as they served along side the 2nd Battalion. Hope this helps. Best regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 27 May , 2004 Share Posted 27 May , 2004 I don't have a source for this, but I have read somewhere that quite a number of territorials were attached to the King's African Rifles. I know of 4 or 5 men of the 9th King's Liverpool Regt who were attached to the KAR. From what I have found out so far, they were generally quite experienced territorials. Regards, Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred W Posted 27 May , 2004 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2004 Thanks Garth, Paul. That he might have been an instuctor seems to fit the bill, although I don't know about him joining via the 2nd Bn, since his DCM citation still has him with the 1/4th Bn attached to the 1/1st Bn KAR. I am aware that the 2nd Bn LNR were in East Africa because another Nelson man, Rennie Woodward, also a parishioner of St Mary's church, won a DCM at Tanga. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jock Bruce Posted 27 May , 2004 Share Posted 27 May , 2004 A considerable number of TF soldiers served with the KAR, as instuctors and filling specialist SNCO posts in the battalions - at least 16 from the 5th Seaforths alone. Haven't seen anything about the selection criteria. For grubbers in the PRO, a list of British NCOs serving in KAR in Sept 18 can be found at CO 534/26 ff373-422. Jock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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