Reasons for a medal card showing multiple regiments

[5963silversurfer]

The only war record I have for Private Cyril J Dodd is his medal card which reads as follows:

E York R Pte 42525

Manch R 90032

Y&L R 3514066

Also there are two lines that read

GSM/Y+LR/1 P37 Clasp Iraq

B104-117 d/3.11.24 GSM Iraq

My questions are

1. Why would a soldier enlist and change regiments three times (probably between 1916 and 1921 ish)

2. I know about the General Service Medal + Clasp for service in Mesopotamia/Iraq, but do the reference codes give away anything else?

3. My best guess is that his service in Iraq was with 2nd Btn. York/Lancaster - can anyone advise how I can find out what the battalion were doing there - and possibly on to India afterwards?

All I can add is that he enlisted around 1916 and was back in England and out of the army by 1923.

Many thanks to anyone who can offer help.

Stephen

[ss002d6252]

E York R Pte 42525

Manch R 90032

Y&L R 3514066

The East Yorks were the first battalion he served overseas with . After that it was at the whim of the army as to who he served with - generally a move between battalions could suggest he had been wounded or sick and was re-deployed after recovering but its not a 100% certainty as there are other reasons.

Craig

[ss002d6252]

3. My best guess is that his service in Iraq was with 2nd Btn. York/Lancaster - can anyone advise how I can find out what the battalion were doing there - and possibly on to India afterwards?

They were apparently acting as part of a post war occupation force in Iraq from 1919 to 1921 and re-deployed to India in 1921.

Craig

[Old Owl]

Hi Stephen,

Welcome to the Forum.

The letters and dates refer the the medal rolls: reference and page number and the date d.3/11/24 is the date that the medal was issued.

Hope this helps.

Robert

[5963silversurfer]

Yes, thank you.

So the address in Rotherham given under the date would presumably be the "home" address the army sent the medals to?

[kenf48]

The medal index card shows (as above) he first went overseas after 31/12/1915 and was awarded the BWM and Victory campaign medal.

Note the asterisk which links the GSM with the Manchester Regiment I believe this indicates he was serving with the 2nd Bn Manchester Regiment in Iraq

see http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/315743.html

In 1920 the Army introduced a system of renumbering and the Manchester Regiment was allocated 3511001 - 3589000 from 1920 a soldier retained his number while in service, and the number appears to have gone with him to the York and Lancs. [Their numbering began 4736001] by this time he was serving on a regular enlistment and may well have gone to India.

The practical implications for this is that as it's almost certain he served after 1920 and his service record will be at the MOD (Veterans Agency)

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

It also means his campaign medals will be named to the E. Yorks; his GSM to the Manchester Regt and the issuing Regiment to the GSM was the Yorks and Lancs and he will appear on their Roll, these are held at Kew. I think the two 'war medals' are on the Manchester Roll and should tell you which Battalion of the East Yorks. he first served with; and yes the address was the last known and usually given on discharge, as there's no note to say they were returned it's safe to assume he was living there. The date of issue was not usually noted on the cards for the 'war medals' so I believe that refers to the issue of the GSM.

Generally in the records I've seen where soldiers reenlisted post armistice this occurred virtually at the same time as discharge, however as noted above he could have been with the Manchester Regiment anytime after his initial posting overseas and there are many reasons for this including perhaps the reorganisation of the Army in early 1918.

Ken

[5963silversurfer]

Many thanks Ken.