Royal Marine Light Infantry Chatham Division

[ashwellthorpewarmemorial]

I have a cousin of my great grandfather who served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry Chatham Division Special Home Coast Defence from July 1918 to January 1919 - WILLIAM JAMES MACKENZIE, Service No. 3174 (S). He was a Postman (Sorter) and was aged 42 when he enlisted. What military duty would he have carried out in this position? Thank you in advance for any information - Ashwellthorpe

[horatio2]

From June to August 1918 some 350 new recruits, nearly all around 40 years old, were enlisted into RMLI/RMA short service for Home Coastal Defence. 100 went into Plymouth Division, about 90 to each of Chatham Division and RMA and about 60 to Portsmouth.

Their attestation packs at the Fleet Air Arm Museum may show where they were deployed.