Scout Section,1st Battallion, Essex Regiment

[green_david]

Hello

Am wondering if anyone can tell me exactly what the function of the Scout Section was? Was it reconaissance? Did it have anything to do with snipers?

My grandfather, about whome we know very little, was Private 41951 C. P. (Charles Patrick) O'Riley; this was an assumed name, as we believe he signed up underage; we believe him to have been born May 1st 1900, in Lambeth, as Charles John Green. His medals are inscribed O'Riley and at some point after the war he went back to his real name, before disappearing in 1929, still sufftering shell shock, and was never heard from again. Apparently, he was still in the Army until 1924 though I have been unable to find anything Service records other than his medal index card (attached) which reveal nothing. (Other than he had originally been in the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, Private 9723.)

Thanks in advance

David Green