William Thomas George

[Dannemois]

William Thomas George

Hi, I'm doing a bit of research of the those WW1 enlisted servicemen who were residing in our local village of Brithdir, in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales and wondered if anyone could help with any further details on William Thomas George who at the time of enlisting resided at 13 Old Bristol Terrace, Brithdir.

He was aged 19 years 10 months on enlistment dated 14 Aug 1914.

I am trying to make sense of his records but having difficulty reading some of the wrtting. For example on the Statement of Service for 366120 Pte William Thomas George (Royal Hospital top left corner) it would seem he joined the Welsh Regt 2 Bn. There are lines of writing grouped by date (21 Jan 1916) ( 24 Feb 1916) ( 28 Dec 1916) I can not read, can someone please help?

There is a medically report dated Dec 1917 which states cause of discharge ‘physically unfit’ due to Dysentry as a result of active service due to strain, exposure and infection. He was discharged 17 Dec 1917.

Any details and help on this soldiers war time service would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance, Roy

[Guest Fleagle]

Hello Roy,

Can just about make out the following from the section you refer to:

Attested Enlisted - 14/08/14

Posted - 11/01/16

Deprived of a day's pay

absent without leave - 26/01/16

Deprived of a day's pay

absent from billett - 24/02/16

Transferred to Class W

?-?-?-?-? - 28/12/16

Hope this is of some help

Also, this man's MIC shows him in the RAMC.

Cheers,

[Guest Fleagle]

Roy,

He also seems to have been part of the MEF (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force): 19/07/15 to 16/10/18.

Cheers,

[Dannemois]

Thanks Fleagle

It's very difficult at best to understand these service papers; and without you guys help I would be completely lost.

Thanks for your time

Regards, Roy

[kenf48]

His Silver War Badge mic confirms he enlisted on 14th August 1914 and was discharged under the terms of Army Order 265/17 2(a)(i) on 17th December 1917

2. Under the amended conditions the badge will, subject in every case to the approval of the Army Council, be issued only to the individuals specified below, who have served with the military forces subsequent to the 4th August, 1914:

(a) Those who, having served as officers and being still of military age, have retired, resigned or relinquished their commissions:

(i) After service overseas in the armed Forces of the Crown, on account of disablement or ill-health caused otherwise than by misconduct,

He is on the RAMC SWB List 417

RAMC 2nd WFA is 2nd Welsh Field Ambulance, which is confirmed by his service record. The 2nd WFA served as Divisional Troops with the 53 (Welsh) Division.

His service record shows his conduct as 'very good', and he was 'sober and reliable' in spite of his minor transgressions mentioned above.

He enlisted in Cardiff, his original number was 1806, aged 19 he was married and may have enlisted in the Territorial Force for Home Service. His enlistment record shows he was 'embodied' on 14 August 1914. Whether or not he was in the prewar TF is not clear but this date is very shortly after the outbreak of war and he was posted straight into the FA so I suspect he may have been a pre war Territorial. He was renumbered in 1917.

He began his service with the 2nd Welsh Field Ambulance, and was with them when posted to the M.E.F. on the 18/7/1915 and went with the Division to Gallipolli. His service in Gallipoli led to the breakdown of his health, he originally succumbed to dysentery on the 8th October 1915 and was evacuated back to the UK on the 26th October. On return to the UK, and was posted to the 3/2 or 3rd line (reserve) unit of the WFA until the 11th January 1917 when presumably still very ill and unfit, he was posted to the Army Reserve where he remained until his eventual discharge in December.

His incapacity was recorded at 19% disability (pensions were calculated on the extent of incapacity based on the recipients ability to work), he was aged just 23 on the commencement of his pension.

He would also have been entitled to the 1915 Star BWM and Victory Medal (though not shown on theSWB card).

If there's anything else please ask.

Ken

[Dannemois]

Hi Ken

I am absolutely amazed at the amount of detail you have posted on this soldier and I thank you dearly. Is this something I can do myself save bothering people or am I doing the correct thing by requesting help here.

Many thanks

Roy

[kenf48]

Is this something I can do myself save bothering people or am I doing the correct thing by requesting help here.

Thanks, no problem, we're all learning. I enjoy browsing the records and constructing a narrative, although with more time there is a great deal more to discover beyond the bare bones of the record.

The LLT is indispensable for putting the records in context, and it's simply the more you look at them the more familiar you become. I had a head start as my grandfather was at Gallipoli with the SWB, so guessed the 2nd WFA was either with their Division or the 53rd, and as the latter was a TF Division it was the logical choice. You already had most of it.

My interest has waxed and waned over the past decades, but the recent easy availability of the service records and the personal stories with the occasional 'gem' gives the conflict a human face also helped by a bit more free time in retirement and the helpful interchange on this forum!

Good luck with your research, the more you do the easier it gets but we all have questions, so ask away!

Ken