War Diaries for great grandfather's regiment - Army Service Corps

[plantagenet72]

Hello everyone

Yesterday I posted a thread asking for information on my maternal great grandfather who was in the Royal Field Artillery. I was kindly given a link by Graeme, where I could download the war diaries for his battery and regiment from the National Archives. I wondering if anyone would know if I could get the same thing for my paternal great grandfather who was in the Army Service Corps Horse Transport - his name was Charles M Kelly (T4/160008). Thanks

[kenf48]

I wondering if anyone would know if I could get the same thing for my paternal great grandfather who was in the Army Service Corps Horse Transport - his name was Charles M Kelly (T4/160008).

Unfortunately not on the information above, there are literally dozens of diaries for the ASC. many at Divisional level and even then they do not represent a complete catalogue.

The T4 prefix limits the search a little but not really enough, and although he has a 'fourth Army' prefix there's no guarantee he served in one of the K4 New Army Divisions - see LLT http://www.1914-1918.net/kitcheners.htm.

The ASC medal rolls are not usually much help either but worth checking if you have no other leads, as is the absent voter list for the electoral district where he lived, if it survives. These may give his unit and then you can check to see if a diary survives.

Ken

[ss002d6252]

Unfortunately not on the information above, there are literally dozens of diaries for the ASC. many at Divisional level and even then they do not represent a complete catalogue.

The T4 prefix limits the search a little but not really enough, and although he has a 'fourth Army' prefix there's no guarantee he served in one of the K4 New Army Divisions - see LLT http://www.1914-1918.net/kitcheners.htm.

The ASC medal rolls are not usually much help either but worth checking if you have no other leads, as is the absent voter list for the electoral district where he lived, if it survives. These may give his unit and then you can check to see if a diary survives.

Ken

As suspected, the medal roll adds no extra info.

Craig

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

There were about 1200 ASC Companies in all, and Michael Young's book lists 715 Horse Transport (HT) Units (including 552 HT Companies) by November 1918.

Does his service record exist?

If it does, then that would give you a record of which ASC Companies he served in.

About 60-80% of ASC companies have a diary in the National Archive.

If his record doesn't exist, then I fear you will find it very difficult to progress much further.

From my own recent recent experience of researching my grandfather's movements in France, ASC diaries hardly ever mention rank & file soldiers, even when wounded or killed.

There were occasional mentions of soldiers who had won medals for gallantry.

They occasionally mention officers by name, but do not contain registers of soldiers' names.

[plantagenet72]

Thanks for you all your answers - which was as I expected. I have actually thought about accessing service records for 3 great grandfathers (two I have army numbers for, the other I will posting on here later to try and find out what regiment he was in). How would I do this?

[kenf48]

I have actually thought about accessing service records for 3 great grandfathers (two I have army numbers for, the other I will posting on here later to try and find out what regiment he was in). How would I do this?

It is probably more rewarding to do your own research though we all come up against 'brick walls'.

Your first step should be to have a look at the award winning parent site - how to research a soldier http://www.1914-1918.net

Forum rules do not allow direct requests for access to commercial sites but we will always help to interpret any results. Army numbering is an art in itself and there is a lots experience here as well as private databases folk have created for their own research.

The best thing is to have a separate thread for each soldier as there are regimental specialists and tell us what you've done and already know to avoid repetitive research.

Both Ancestry and Find my Past have service records and at the moment you can access the medal rolls for free on Ancestry which is a good place to start. Both sites have a free trial or you can usually access them for free.from your local library

hth and answers the question you were asking!

Ken

[plantagenet72]

Thank you - I have managed to find out he was a driver - I guess that means he transported supplies or guns.

[kenf48]

In all probability he drove the GS (General Service ) Wagon some good illustrations on this previous thread (esp post 5)

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=202685&hl=%2Bgeneral+%2Bservice+%2Bwagon#entry1990035

Ken

[plantagenet72]

Thanks Ken!