Transfer to Royal Engineers Tunnellers

[SloopJB]

My relative apparently volunteered to transfer from 7 Somerset Light Infantry to RE Tunnellers in Feb 1916.

Not sure if it was a case of you, you and you volunteer?

Anyway the following letter is referenced on the paperwork.

WO letter 27 / GEN No/2731 (a.G.2h) dated 8.3.15

Please can anyone cast light on this document?

[sotonmate]

You might get an answer from the book about the Tunnelling Companies in WW1 "Beneath Flanders Fields-The Tunnellers War 1914-1918". There is a copy in my local small town Library so just might be one in yours. The book is an absorbing read of the hairy life they led.

Your relative might have been in a civilian occupation that led itself to mining/digging etc . I have read where miners were transferred to these duties from the Infantry as there was a LOT of digging going on from 1915 forward,for instance they started digging the Messines mines in 1915 and they didn't get detonated until 1917.

[spof]

The Tunnelling Coys were only started to be set up in late Feb 1915 and at the time, they only wanted men with mining experience so it wasn't a case of someone being "volunteered". If your relative didn't have mining experience, a little bending of the truth may have happened as miners were paid a lot more than infantry.

As the 7th Somersets were still in the UK, it was probably a case of volunteers with experience being asked for on parade unless too many men stepped forward.Which Coy did he go to? It would have been between 170 and 178.

The letter reference is a series of codes which have been lost in time. Most likely a letter to his battalin CO confirming the transfer of him (and any others) to the RE.

[SloopJB]

Thanks guys for the information.

He transferred in Feb 1916.

He signed a statement stating he volunteered and quoting a War Office letter from early March 1915.

Although it was clear the system new he was transferring a few days before he signed.

I think he was a labourer, although my uncle says he worked in the local Tobacco work most of that family did and both could be true.

He said he was 19 when he signed up in 1914 but in fact he was just short of his 17 th birthday.

He was about 5 ft 5 in and 33 inch chest fully expanded so had a boys physic.

Maybe as a tunnellers mate his small size was an advantage.

His paperwork mentions 250, but I think it was 254 as this is more often mentioned.

There is a reference to 181coy but this is the Somerset Light infantry unit he is leaving.

Does this all make sense any further comments or advice most welcome.

Sloop.

[SloopJB]

P. S. the 7th Light Infantry had already gone to France his record says he went to France with Ex. Force France in 1915.

I assume this stands for expeditionary force.

[sotonmate]

250 and 254 probably refer to these two Tunnelling Companies. 250 worked in the Messines tunnels ready for the detonations of,I think,19 mines in 1917, when the bang was heard in London ! 254 worked at Givenchy. The bookI mentioned will give more detail,as will the appropriate war diaries at Kew.

[Terry_Reeves]

Sloop

The letter reference is linked to an Army Order . There are a set of these orders at TNA. All you have to do is to get the volumes for March 1915 and later, then find the letter reference, which will be printed in the appropriate order, to find out what was going on.

TR

[spof]

Thanks Terry. I didn't know there was a way of translating those codes. The set of AOs for 1915 is in WO 123/57

[Terry_Reeves]

SPOF

There is a clue in the letter reference. The letter was issued by AG2, that is the branch of the the Adjutant General's Department which dealt with Infantry transfers amongst other duties.

TR

[SloopJB]

Thanks again all, lots of research avenues to follow.

Had a hunch that A G might be adjutant General, its like trying to solve a crossword, or if you are a lot cleverer than me translating an ancient language!