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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

John Henry Shields


pdavis500

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Hi,

My Grandfather John Henry Shields served as a Private in the Royal Berkshires (28544) and was then transferred to the Labour Corps (98195) and served at the Remount Station at Shirehampton near Bristol. I believe he was conscripted in 1915 in Bristol (the date stamped on his papers could be 1916 as it is a little blurred). He was very experienced with horses having been involved in training racehorses in France prior to WW1and so would have been ideally skilled with working with the horses being brought to Avonmouth.

He later served in France, I assume working with horses at the front, and I understand he was gassed at Bethune, although this could have been where he received medical attention as I understand there was a Clearing Station at Bethune to provide medical help to soldiers. I havent been able to find out when he was gassed, but I've found the main references to Bethune as part of the Lys Offensive in 1918. Were there any other battles he could have been involved in instead?

Would he have been attached to other regiments whilst at the front or served in a Labour Corp Unit?

I also understand that he was at a Military Hospital in Buxton, but havent been able to find out much about this apart from it was staffed by Canadians. Any inforamtion about this or the questions above appreciated.

Paul

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Paul

His Labour Corps numbers indicates that he was in the Corps from April 1917 onwards and that, initially at least he was in 164 Company.

This was a general labour company formed from the 13th Labour Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.

I cannot find any reference in my notes on 164 Company to Bethune but I do know that in January 1918 they were working at two locations only 16Km from Bethune. By April 1918 the company was being employed in the Hazebrouck area so it is quite possible that he was gassed during the Lys Offensive

If this was the case it is quite likely that he would be returned to the UK and placed in a UK based company, possibly 314 Company who were stationed at Shirehampton.

Regards

Ivor

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does this explain anymore for you? hope its helpful (if you have not already got this).

Ivor (Labour Corps specialist on the forum may be able to offer some further assistance if you give him the Labour Co. number 98195 - the one replacing the crossed out one).

susan.

oooopps - it took me so long to fiddle about resizing the image that Ivor has already replied......

Edited by Alan Curragh
Service record page removed - sorry, against Forum rules
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Hi,

Thanks both of you for replying so quickly. Its useful to know the company that my Grandfather served in. Do you know what duties 164 Company carried out when they were sent to France? He was involved or interested in horses all of his life and so I'd be interested if these formed part of 164 Companys duties?

Ivor, I think my Grandfather was so badly affected by the gas that he didnt serve actively again as he was hospitalised and then convalesed . He was only discovered by chance by his Sargeant Major checking bodies on the battlefield and then evacuated for medical treatment. He suffered from a very bad chest for the rest of his life and was nearly always bed-ridden every winter.

Susan, I've obtained copies of the sign-up papers for my Grandfather and his medal record. Where did you obtain the Service Record - was this from Ancestory.co.uk or National Archives or another source? It made interesting reading.

Thanks again for your help.

Paul

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It was from Ancestry site. i am so pleased to have found something for someone!

all the best

susan

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Hi,

My Grandfather John Henry Shields served as a Private in the Royal Berkshires (28544) and was then transferred to the Labour Corps (98195) and served at the Remount Station at Shirehampton near Bristol. I believe he was conscripted in 1915 in Bristol (the date stamped on his papers could be 1916 as it is a little blurred). He was very experienced with horses having been involved in training racehorses in France prior to WW1and so would have been ideally skilled with working with the horses being brought to Avonmouth.

Paul

He attested at Shirehampton11/12/15 as a labourer aged 32y 6 mo. He was called up 17/7/16 and posted to the 13th R Berks 25/7/16

regards

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Thanks Purley.

I've progressed my research with the help of my sister and found the date he was moved to 164 Coy Labour Corps (9th May 1917) and also the date he went to France (19th Sept 1916), and also the date he was taken back to the UK (10th Aug 1917) following being injured in a gas attack. He was treated at the 2/1st South Birmingham General and then discharged due to the damage that the gas had caused, meaning his was no longer able to serve as a soldier.

He was attached as part of the 164 Coy to the 28 Labour Group but between being at Poperinge on the 4th July 1917 supporting the Tank Corps within XVIII Corps and being injured and taken back to the UK on the 10th August 1917, It would be interesting to know his movements and where he may have been injured in the gas attack. I've been told the 28 Group War Diary is held at Kew so I'm planning to head there to further my research (unless someone on here has the answer!!).

Thanks all for contributing,

Paul;

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