1st Btn Lancs Fus & Cheshire Regt service number questions

[Medaler]

Hi,

Sorry, but I am here again in need of help. This time I am looking for a Lancashire Fusiliers expert, and a Cheshires one too if possible!

There are no signs of a surviving service record either so I'm struggling.

I am afraid I have no idea what Btn this guy (Longmate) served with in the Cheshires and that may be a key factor. It just states "Formerly 4446 Chesire Regiment" on his SDGW entry.

Also, can anyone give me an approximate date for the issue of No 37368 in 1st Btn Lancs Fus? This is the unit and number on his CWGC details. There is a photo of him taken in Nov 1917 with a Lancs Fus cap badge, so it must have been before then, but that is all I know.

Can anyone please give me a dig out on either of these ? - It would, as always, be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mike

[sotonmate]

This is one of the things that you do to get an idea of when the service number was issued.

Go to Ancestry UK (if you don't have a sub there is usually a month's free trial,or the local Library may have a free link) select the Silver War Badge Records in Military and in the search box just enter the regiment you seek.It will bring up a list of all the SWBs to that entity and you can scroll down the pages until you find nearby numbers,click on view and the resultant SWB List will give you an enlistment date.Some are not sequential so you might have to work on a few to get an idea.I usually do a sample of around 20 to get an idea of the sequence reliability. You sometimes get numbers out of date sequence so it is essential to get a decent sample to narrow down the accuracy.

[John_Hartley]

Not a Cheshires "expert" but I reckon that's a late issue Territorial number, meaning it may well not be possible to pin down battalion. It doesnt appear on his medal index card so I'd reckon you're looking at a man who signed up with the Cheshires and was then posted to the LFs after training. Late 1915 or early part of 1916 for the Cheshires - at a guess. If you also want to have a guess at battalion, then his place of residence makes his local Territorial unit the 5th.

[Medaler]

Sotonmate,

I like your approach, it makes perfect sense when you think about it - and I had'nt. Sincerest thanks for that, it could solve a lot of my problems in the future.

John,

That info you have provided has helped me a lot. Very much appreciated I can assure you!

Sincere thanks to both of you,

Mike

[ss002d6252]

Late 1915 or early part of 1916 for the Cheshires - at a guess

From a quick look through the SWB rolls I would agree with this.

If you also want to have a guess at battalion, then his place of residence makes his local Territorial unit the 5th.

The 5th seems to have allocated this number around the end of 1915.

Craig

[Medaler]

ss002d6252,

Many thanks for your confirmation.

Regards,

Mike