vespa100 Posted 15 November , 2013 Share Posted 15 November , 2013 Hi I'am trying to help my friend find out about his granddad, Thomas John Colville number 20092 what got me intrested is number his only two different from my great granddad Thomas Henry Lynchy number 20090. Thanks for reading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 15 November , 2013 Share Posted 15 November , 2013 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Army consisted of vastly more than 21,000 men. We'd really need the Regiment, battalion and any other details you have, please! He could be Name: Thomas Colville. Regiment or Corps: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Regimental Number: 20092, then Royal Engineers Regimental Number: 619774. It would appear he enlisted very early after War had been declared and was serving in the Balkans, arriving 18 July 1915. He thus qualified for the 1915 Star as well as the British War and Victory medals. He was demobilised 15 February 1919. .... but the Army didn't expect there to be such a demand for manpower initially, so each Battalion in each Regiment used the same number sequence until late in the War when a unique 6 figure number was introduced. This would be after 1917 so his transfer to the Royal Engineers (if this is him) would be after that date, I think. Nice to think that nearly 100 years later you are friends with someone whose great grandpa stood next to yours in the queue to enlist! It seems they both survived, hopefully fairly unscathed! EDIT: No, as stated, with Regiments and Battalions using the same numbers, although these appear to be only 2 numbers apart, your Thomas Henry Lynchy was in the Royal Field Artillery, already serving as a regular soldier when War was declared in August 1914, and he was in France by 20 August, therefore qualifying for the 1914 Star, and rosette emblem, and to join the Old Contemptibles Association. He went Overseas as a Gunner, but was promoted to the rank of Serjeant during his service. No date of demob shown. Unfortunately, it looks as if "Thomas" was the only thing they had in common! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little bob Posted 15 November , 2013 Share Posted 15 November , 2013 Thomas John Colville 20092 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers later 619774 Royal engineers. Thomas Henry Lynchy 20092 Royal Field Artillery Entered France 20th August 1914. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 15 November , 2013 Share Posted 15 November , 2013 Hi Bob, Vespa. I think Bob's typed 20092 in error, as Vespa said, his regimental number was 20090 (and is on the MIC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vespa100 Posted 15 November , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 November , 2013 Hi Kevin I only got talking to my friend in work about researching my great granddads military history and he said he has his granddads medals and it turns out there is a two number different as they say it's a small world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vespa100 Posted 15 November , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 November , 2013 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Army consisted of vastly more than 21,000 men. We'd really need the Regiment, battalion and any other details you have, please! He could be Name: Thomas Colville. Regiment or Corps: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Regimental Number: 20092, then Royal Engineers Regimental Number: 619774. It would appear he enlisted very early after War had been declared and was serving in the Balkans, arriving 18 July 1915. He thus qualified for the 1915 Star as well as the British War and Victory medals. He was demobilised 15 February 1919. .... but the Army didn't expect there to be such a demand for manpower initially, so each Battalion in each Regiment used the same number sequence until late in the War when a unique 6 figure number was introduced. This would be after 1917 so his transfer to the Royal Engineers (if this is him) would be after that date, I think. Nice to think that nearly 100 years later you are friends with someone whose great grandpa stood next to yours in the queue to enlist! It seems they both survived, hopefully fairly unscathed! EDIT: No, as stated, with Regiments and Battalions using the same numbers, although these appear to be only 2 numbers apart, your Thomas Henry Lynchy was in the Royal Field Artillery, already serving as a regular soldier when War was declared in August 1914, and he was in France by 20 August, therefore qualifying for the 1914 Star, and rosette emblem, and to join the Old Contemptibles Association. He went Overseas as a Gunner, but was promoted to the rank of Serjeant during his service. No date of demob shown. Unfortunately, it looks as if "Thomas" was the only thing they had in common! As you can tell I am new to this. Is the old contemptibles association he has joined or is it becuase he was in from the start. Any help would be greatful. Thank you Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBattle Posted 16 November , 2013 Share Posted 16 November , 2013 Sorry, what I meant was that when the British Army landed in France the German Kaiser disparagingly described them as "a contemptible little army" so any survivors after the War who were within sound of the enemies guns in 1914 could apply for the 1914 Star with clasp (showing 1914) and a small rosette to wear on the medal strip (when not wearing the medals). This had to be applied for after the man's Commanding Officer had verified he was so entitled to claim, as being "in from the start" as you say. For quite some while after the War, they held regular meetings of these "Old Contemptibles" and attended Remembrance Services etc . It was the small rosette that I understand gave rise to the three medals (1914 Star, British War and Victory) becoming known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred after popular cartoon characters. Your friends ggf would not be eligible as he didn't serve Overseas until 1915, and his Star medal should have a clasp showing 1914-1915. What you now need to ask is if any RFA expert amongst the Pals can perhaps suggest what unit he may have served in. There are medal rolls that can be viewed at the National Archives in Kew, but I guess you're not close by, so a kind Pal might find time to look them up (if info not already available). You can then apply for that Units War Diary. Same would apply for the Inniskillings, so you might need two or more specialist in the dark arts of Unit identification and War Diaries! Trust that helps a bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vespa100 Posted 16 November , 2013 Author Share Posted 16 November , 2013 Thanks Kevin I picked up my friends granddads medal card today . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Mackenzie Posted 16 November , 2013 Share Posted 16 November , 2013 On that basis - and using Chris Baker's excellent Long Long Trail site (link at top of page) - I think Thomas was in 1st Battalion. Both 1st and 5th were in Gallipoli but the 5th landed on 7 August at Suvla Bay. Edit: Sorry - 6th Battalion were there as well but also landed on 7 August Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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