Acorna Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Hi All It's been a long time since I last used this wonderful resource. I hope you can be as helpful as on my previous visit. I have downloaded and read the WW1 records for Frank Vidler, my wifes Grandfather. He joined the 6th City of London Rifles in 1915 but later transfered to the RASC. He appears to have sustained some form of injury but I am unable to decern what it might have been. It also seems unusual for someone to transfer from a fighting unit into a service unit during the hostilities. Also, did he serve overseas? From his records I think not. I'm asking a lot, I know, but would anyone be kind enough to look through his records and see if they can interpret something I can't. I have created a PDF file to make this easier. The file can be found HERE. The records are 28 pages so I have not attached them to save space on this site. Thank you in advance. Ray Hines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw63 Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Hi Ray, Far from it being unusual for a man to transfer from a frontline unit to a support role it was very common. Wounded men who were no longer capable of frontline duties were put to work in the ASC, Labour Corps, etc. For example, my grandfather, W G Wilkinson, was transfered from the KLR to the ASC because of heart trouble and my great aunt's husband, Thomas Corry, was transfered from the KLR to the Labour Corps due to wounds recieved. Frank Vidler did not appear to serve overseas and was not wounded. Interesting that he has a Medal card because his service papers do not say he left the UK. Actually, I think the medal card is for another Frank Vidler RASC. The service number on the MIC does not appear anywhere in his service record. I think it says infected bonn [sic] (bone?) tissue left thumb (4/8/16) and Myalgia (muscle pain) (21/11/16) Military Hospital Fovant, Wiltshire. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 1 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Simon Thanks for that mate. I guessed that, but as I stated above I cannot identify anything pointing to Frank being wounded. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin ss002d6252 Posted 1 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 1 May , 2013 He had home service only. I think it reads that the transfer to the ASC was at his request. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin RussT Posted 1 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 1 May , 2013 So the MIC at the end of your pdf must be for a different Frank Vidler, as that man received the BWM and VM so must have served overseas. He also has a different RASC Number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lees Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Ray, Page 26 of the records deals with his hospital admissions and this shows that he was treated in hospital firstly for 33 days with "Inflammation of the connective tissue, left thumb" and later for 11 days with "myalgia", which is muscle and joint pain, so a bit like arthritis, I suppose. I hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 1 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Thank you guys, very quick and extremely helpful. Ken: I'm glad that you could read that as I couldn't make out what it was. Thanks That would also explain how he could request a transfer, and get it. Thanks again guys, brilliant result. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggoner Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Having read his service record, it looks like he was transferred to the ASC twice - first voluntary and second compulsory. His ASC service number is a bit of an enigma - with a "T" prefix, he should have been horse transport but his unit is shown as a mechanical transport one. Very curious. All the best, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw63 Posted 1 May , 2013 Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Ray, An interesting site about Fovant: http://www.fovanthistory.org/entry_point.html Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 1 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 1 May , 2013 Thanks again and I'll have a read of that Simon Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Hi again I've been rereading pae 3 (Statement of the Services) for Frank and something makes me think. The statement starts Oct 1915 when he joins the London Rifles, a combat unit? He appears to transfer to ASC in May 1918, nearly 3 years later and near the end of the war. Why did he not go overseas with the Rifles? Were they a defence unit? It just seems strange to me when I consider how many troops were used on the front line in that time. I know very little about WW1 so I may just be showing my ignorance. Thanks Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw63 Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Hi Ray, The 1/6th City of London Rifles was already in France (18/3/15) when your man enlisted (30/10/15). He was first posted to the third line battalion 3/6th City of London Rifles at Fovant and presumably stayed in the 3/6th until he was attached to the TF Records Office 9/2/17. There are then two entries I can't read One looks like promoted to Acting Corporal. Then requests transfer to Army Service Corps 5/5/18, transfered and posted to M/T (Motorised Transport) Depot, Horner Grange, Sydenham the same day. Returns to the 6th London Regt (Reserve Battalion) 28/5/18. Transfer Centre Aldershot - attached 16/7/18. Transfered (compulsory) to ASC 19/7/18 Reserve Supply Personnel Depot, Prees Heath, Salop, Shropshire. Posted to 882 MTPO (ASC M/T Post Office?) London 30/7/18. He had signed the Imperial Service obligation and so was willing to go overseas. I think his eyesight was poor (Left = 6/60, Right = 6/12) and that, together with the left thumb and myalgia, could have kept him at home. I think his medical category was B2. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Simon, you're a real star, thank you. I presume from this that the third line battalion 3/6th City of London Rifles was a reserve unit and never sent to France. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 2 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Ray There is a brief history of the battalion near the bottom of this page. Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw63 Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Totally. From the LLT - http://www.1914-1918.net/london.htm (scroll down 3/4 of the way): 3/6th, 3/7th and 3/8th Battalions Formed in early 1915. By April 1915, at Tadworth. Moved in October to billets at Surbiton / Orpington / Blackheath respectively, then to Fovant in January 1916. 8 April 1916 : became 6th, 7th and 8th Reserve Bns. Moved to Newton Abbott / Dartmouth / Paignton in autumn 1916, then Dawlish in December. Moved to Blackdown in April 1917, where they then remained. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Moved to Newton Abbott / Dartmouth / Paignton in autumn 1916, Magic :-) That explains why he was in Newton Abbot where he married in 1917. I owe you a drink Simon, thank you very much I would never have found this information or even known that it existed. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw63 Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 No worries Ray Sorry Glen, I stole your thunder. I swear your post wasn't there when I put my last one in! Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 2 May , 2013 Admin Share Posted 2 May , 2013 No problems Simon. The end result is the same so all is good. Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorna Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Sorry I missed your post Glen, I appreciate your help. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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