William Marden, DCLI PoW

[davemarden]

Hello all, I’m new to this forum and trying to find information about my grandfather’s time as a prisoner of war in WW1. Is this the place or can somebody please direct me?

His name was William Marden who enlisted in London in 1898 and joined the Duke of Cornwall’s Light infantry based at Bodmin. He did 26 years service before leaving in 1924.

We have his army record papers but they are a little vague in the period of WW1. From what I can glean he was taken prisoner on 22^nd February 1915 and repatriated on 9^th January 1919 but on his Casualty form there is a note

“W.O. Relatives report PoW Wounded back – List 12186”

We know he suffered a gun wound to his hip – is there a possibility he was home before 1919?

The reason I ask is that he had a son born in 1917 (yes- I know the implications!).

He was at Wittenberg before transfer to Mersburg

[ss002d6252]

We know he suffered a gun wound to his hip – is there a possibility he was home before 1919?

Some wounded men were repatriated early but it should say on his records if this is the case.

Craig

[davemarden]

The records are not that informative. We've tried all the usual websites and cant find anything at all on him or his time in service either in WW1 or South Africa. Does the WO list 12186 referred to have any significance?. The son was born in Plymouth - does anyone know if the DCLI had any association with Plymouth in 1917?

[davemarden]

Alternatively, can anyone suggest a source that might give information on his time at Wittenberg and Mersburg?

[ss002d6252]

does anyone know if the DCLI had any association with Plymouth in 1917

By 1917 men were sent wherever the army needed them so he may been assigned to another unit.

2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

He served with the 2nd DCLI in South Africa - Kings South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 South Africa clasps, Cape Colony clasp, Orange Free State clasp and Transvaal clasp.

Craig

[ss002d6252]

We have his army record papers but they are a little vague in the period of WW1.

Is it his full service record you have ?

Craig

[davemarden]

As far as we know we have "all the information that we hold" and its is fairly complete with dates of posting (but doesn't say where) until we get to 1910 when he was at Gravesend - then suddenly he's a PoW in 1915. The only other reference we have to WW1 is on his Casualty Form which states "Proceeded to Front 13.10.14" with the number 3514.

One things is odd. On all his papers his service number is altered from 5594 to 5429006 - is this normal?

[ss002d6252]

The 7 digit number was his new number from when the army were re-numbered in 1920.

craig

[Richard L]

Only the most seriously wounded were selected for repatriation, and there are examples where even those could not be repatriated as there were insufficient German prisoners to exchange

[davemarden]

The whole period surrounding WW1 is very confusing. Although with the 2nd Bttn in South Africa, he was in the 1st Bttn that was stationed at the Curragh in 1914 prior to moving to France but my aunt (his daughter who was born in 1915) said the family was in Ireland when she was a baby. Are the records reliable with so many men moving around at that time - has anyone else come across errors?

[ss002d6252]

Moving between the 1st and 2nd Bn's of a regiment was quite common - in peactime the battalions usually alternated on overseas service so , for example, 1st Bn would be in India and 2nd Bn in the UK. A man would usually spend his first year or so in the UK training and then be posted abroad so he may spend a year with the 2nd Bn and then posted to the 1st Bn.

There are a multitude of other reasons a man moved between battalions - one was under/over strength, he was ill, he had a skill that was required or he was involved in training.

In war time a man would be sent wherever he was required.

Craig