Norfolk Regiment Help understanding service Papers

[beestonboxer]

I am having problems understanding a member of the Norfolk Regiments service details . Man in question is 43615 PTE Thomas Henry Gathercole.

it states the following

Enlisted at North Walsham , 19.10.14

posted to 1/1 Herts Regt

Embarked Folkestone 26.7.16

Disembarked Boulogne 27.7.16

Arrived 17,I,BD 28.7.16

10.8.16. 17.I.BD to 8th Btn Norfolk Regiment

i took a look at the Embarkation dates for the Herts and 8th Norfolk and both dont match up with Gathercoles Embarkation date of 26.7.16.

Why would he be posted to the herts and what is 17,I,BD . ( 17th infantry brigade ? ? )

His discharge documents states him as being in the 3rd Btn.

I am a little confussed any help most welcome .

[Stebie9173]

What started to happen as heavy casualties were taken on the Somme is that men were transferred to the Regiments most needing them on arrival in France at the Infantry Base Depots on the coast at Rouen and Etaples. 17 Infantry Base Depot was at Etaples.

Basically, in July 1916 there was a fairly healthy reservoir of men who had already volunteered for overseas service but were in a Regiment or battalion that either didn't serve overseas in its own right or who had not yet had a major call on the men waiting in its reserve battalions. The Military Service Act of 1916 had just been passed and gave the Army the right top transfer men where the Army wanted them to be. A lot of Territorial Force Reserve Battalion men were sent overseas to be "sorted" at the Infantry Base Depots and sent on to needy battalions. They would be held at the Base Depot for a couple of weeks (later this would also include additional training at the Etaples "Bull Ring") and then sent onto their new Regiment and battalion.

In Gathercole's case he would have spent the period between 28th July 1916 and 10th August 1916 at No. 17 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples until sent to the 8th Norfolks who he would have joined a few days later.

Steve.

[sotonmate]

Your man didn't serve overseas with the Herts Regt. His posting to France was to an Infantry Brigade Depot where he probably did some battle training before being posted to where e was needed,in this case to the 8 Norfolks.

[beestonboxer]

That all makes things much clearer , also included in his papers was a mention of the 1st 6th Norfolk Btn ( cyclist ) which was also confusing me as thay didnt serve in France, so i take it that the 1st 6th Norfolk Btn was his original Battalion before going to France ?

[Stebie9173]

Yes, he was trained with the 1/6th Norfolks and transferred to the 1/1 Hertfordshire Regiment solely to send him overseas. He was technically serving with the Hertfordshire Regiment in France, but the medal rolls tend to not show these very temporary "records only" battalions because the man never saw "active" service with them.

Steve.

[beestonboxer]

Thanks very much for all the information ,i have had his medals sitting at home for a few months and have only just got around to looking at his service record ( a wet rainy day here in Norfolk ) proved to be very interesting , looks like he was wounded at passchendale his record shows wounded in action 22.10.17 i believe the 8th Norfolks were engaged there at this time . shrapnel wound left leg gsw left leg 226 days in hospital

thanks again for the help much appreciated