Allahabad & Khyber Pass WW1

[SydneyDave]

Hello,

First time on, so very grateful for any help at all !

My grandfather Laurence Allen Farrington served in Allahabad & Khyber Pass sometime between 1911 and 1919.

On his medal roll it mentions he was discharged in 1919 under "Para392 [xv1] K R'S aged 25.This may be because he was underage when he enlisted.

Possibly only 15....he fell out with his Dad and joined up.He was a Corporal and Reg No 35896.

His Corps then was RGA 1/4 S.A.R. Bde but that was back in UK I guess ,and may have nothing to do with his time in India.

If anyone has any pointers it would be greatly appreciated.My Mum says he was with the RGA Royal Garrison Artillery....that much we know.

Any information on the area and what we were doing in the region would be great.Have done lots of reading but need something specific would be great.

Thank you,

SydneyDave

[kenf48]

His medal index card shows that he was entitled to the British War Medal, (although his number is listed as 35898 I assume it's the same man).

This medal was issued to a soldier who did not enter a theatre of war but who left 'home shore' during the war. Typically it was issued to men who went to India and other overseas stations e.g. Gibraltar. See http://www.1914-1918...d/themedals.htm

He does not appear to have any other entitlement which means it's unlikely he saw action on the NWF, had he have done so during the war (i.e. up to 1919/20) he would have been entitled to the Indian General Service Medal Afghanistan 1919 (he appears to have been discharged before the Waziristan campaign).

It seems most likely he was stationed on garrison duty in Allahabad or one of the other major 'forts' on the sub-continent.

In your original post I think you are referring to to the SWB (Silver War Badge) Rolls where his number is shown as 35896. (The Medal Rolls are not online an only available at Kew they may, but it's unlikely for the RGA, list his unit in which he was serving when he became entitled to the medal).

392 (xvi) KR is his reason for discharge (in this case xvi means 'no longer fit for military service') in all likelihood some tropical disease e.g. malaria, or an accident.

2(a) 1 refers to his entitlement of the SWB see LLT http://1914-1918.net...-badge-records/

The SWB rolls usually give the Depot (or other UK Battery) as that is the unit the soldier was discharged from, in other words it seems likely he was sent home from India but was eventually fit enough for garrison service at home.

Without a service record it's almost impossible to give a date for his illness/injury, repatriation, recovery and eventual home posting.

The Long Long Trail (the parent site link top right) has a list of RGA companies http://www.1914-1918...nies-index.html which includes those stationed in Allahabad i.e. no 51 and 52 Company RGA.

His service/pension record does not appear to have survived but there is no evidence he was much 'under age' when he enlisted prior to the war as a regular soldier in 1911, the usual recruitment age was 18, although he would not have been eligible for overseas service until age 19 (i.e. in 1913) if his 'army' age was 25 in 1919. (there are a number of threads on the forum concerning age limits etc).

Suggest you have a good look at the LLT especially 'researching a soldier' but in the absence of other family stories/photos etc its difficult to discover much more about his service other than he was most likely on garrison duty in India with No 51/52 Coy RGA until he was repatriated due to illness/injury and then remained on Home Service (coastal defence?) until his medical discharge which came after the Armistice.

Ken

[SydneyDave]

Wow ! Thank you Ken.So much information.Must re read KR's for a start.Sure it mentions under age issues but have ascertained his birth date as back in 1894 so 17 when he enlisted.My Mum has a photo of him in India, and if possible will post this.

You have given me lots to think about and follow up.

Thank you very much indeed.

David

[SydneyDave]

Have photos now of Grandfather in India.The photographers credit reads 'G.W Laurie & Co Lucknow Naini Tut and Mussoorie.'

I have another photo currently missing with all the guys on horses.My Mum served in Burma as a nurse and her photos taken by same company 25 years later.

Anyway this just for anyone's general interest.

.

[SydneyDave]

Photos don't appear to have made it ,so will try again ! D

[mandy hall]

Hello Dave

The SWB rolls are available on Ancestry

He is recorded as Laurance Allen Farrington

Discharge unit Royal Garrison Artillery 1/4 S.A.R Bde

Regiment no 35896

Rank Cpl

Badge no B91784

Unit Royal Garrison Artillery Dover

Piece 2986

List no RGA 0801-1200

Record Group WO

Class 329

Mandy

[kenf48]

The correct name for the photographer is Lawrie and a Google search throws up many references online.

Here is one example http://www.soldierso...lterAnniss.html This soldier was stationed in Lahore which is 900km North of Lucknow.

There is also a reference to his firm in this academic paper http://www.donau-uni...archer_no13.pdf

which shows he was working in Lucknow and Nainital it goes on 'He became one of the most eminent practitioners in Lucknow operating till 1920. He expanded his business further with branches in Mussoorie (1890-94), Allahabad (1892-1894), Bareilly (1895 -1908) and Ranikhet (1895-1915).'

Naini Tal, today Nainital, was a Hill Station and even further North though it's possible he may have been granted leave to go there (though it seems this was more likely to have been a privilege for officers.) As the photographer seems to have also been including Mussoorie on the card post 1914 it's also possible the Allahabad branch was also operating during this period. The article above also shows that during this period photographers travelled quite a lot following the work.

[seems researching photographers could be as engaging as WW1!].

Whatever, it certainly puts your man in Northern India.

Ken

[SydneyDave]

Thank you Ken and Mandy.

Yes I got spelling wrong ...it is indeed Lawrie.

Can I not post photos with my messages....?

They have appeared to be in place as I press ''Post' but not appearing ,so think maybe I can't.

Really only in the hope a specialist out there will recognise something pertinent.

[kenf48]

I think you need a minimum of 5 posts to send attachments (it used to be 10 so I'm not 100% on that) Anyway you now have 6 so try again. I don't think it's you, more the Rules!

Ken

[SydneyDave]

Here is Grandfather Farrington.......He went on to be Head Verger at Bradford and also Carlisle Cathedral.

If anyone recognises some kind of clue in the uniform etc that would be great.Thanks.

[SydneyDave]

[MaureenE]

There were some Mountain Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery stationed in India during World War 1 in the North West Frontier region. For details see this link from the Long, Long Trail

http://www.1914-1918.net/mountain-battery-index.htm

So if the family believes Laurence Allen Farrington served near the Khyber Pass, it seems possible that he may have been transferred to one of these Mountain Batteries. For some links to some photographs of the area see the FIBIS Fibiwiki page “Khyber Pass” http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Khyber_Pass

For general information about actions in this area, see the FIBIS Fibiwiki page “North West Frontier Campaigns”

http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=North_West_Frontier_Campaigns

Cheers

Maureen

[MaureenE]

I don't seem to be able to edit the above post to post the following information.

The FIBIS Fibiwiki page Royal Artillery includes some links to photographs of RFA soldiers in India during WW1

http://wiki.fibis.org/index.php?title=Royal_Artillery

Cheers

Maureen

[SydneyDave]

Thank you Maureen,

Will have a good look.

D

[SydneyDave]

On 5/24/2013 at 10:30, SydneyDave said: