Richard Joseph McGrath Regimental No. 3375 Leinster Regiment

[JackiePatterson1]

Hi

I am researching my grandfather who joined the Leinster Regiment in 1914. We have his war medals which show his regiment and regimental number on the back and with this information I have been able to obtain his medal card but not his war service record. I would be grateful if anyone out there could help me understand what it all means. It would appear that he had three regimental numbers: Leins R 3375, Conn Rang 15149 and Leins R 7177987. His qualifying date for the 1914 Star was 25.10.14. Also I would like to know what the letters and numbers just above this date mean.

It would be fantastic to find out exactly where he served during the war as he was one of the lucky ones to make it back home in 1918.

His name was Richard Joseph McGrath – his medal card shows this as Rath McGrath. He lived in Dublin in Ushers Quay during the 1911 Census so we would assume that he enlisted in Dublin in 1914. His rank was Private and his service number was 3375. My father believed that he was a batman to an officer.

I have attached a picture of him in his uniform, his medal card and the reverse of his 1914 Star. Any information in relation to his movements during the war and any advice on finding his war service record would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Jackie Patterson

[Black Sapper]

The Long Long Trail will help you understand the MIC

http://1914-1918.net...dal-index-card/

Here for more regimental history

http://www.leinster-regiment-association.org.uk/history/20th/1914_1918.htm

[JackiePatterson1]

Hi Black Sapper

Thank you so much for your response. I now know by following your link to the Leinster Regiment that my grandfather must have been in the 2nd Battalion as his qualifying date for the 1914 Star was October 1914 and that was the only Leinster Regiment battalion in France/Belgium at that time.

Do you have any suggestions on how I could find his service record or find out why he had three regimental numbers?

Many thanks.

Jackie

[spof]

Hi Jackie

He was trnasferred at some point into the Connaught Rangers which is why he got his second number. There are various reasons why he was transferred - being sick or wounded and spending time away from the battalion are the most common ones. He could also have been part of a bastch of men transferred as the Connaughts had agreaeter need of men at the time.

The third number is a 7 digit Army Number which meant he had either re-enlisted or was still serving when the Army was renumbered in 1920. The good newqs is this means his service record will still be with the MoD and wasn't damaged like so many others in 1940. You can contact MoD here for a copy.

And talk to the Leinsters Museum - http://www.leinster-regiment-association.org.uk/index.html

Glen

[JackiePatterson1]

Hi Glen

Thank you! I am so grateful for your help with this. I am downloading the forms and I will be send them off to the MOD asap. I do will an update when I hopefully hear back from them with my grandfather's service record.

Fingers crossed!

Jackie