1st Reinforcements of 6th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers

[13757gilligan]

Is there any way to find out the names of other ranks that were part of the reinforcements left behind when the 6th Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers, 10th Irish Division departed for Suvla Bay on 6th August. I understand the reinforcements comprised 5 officers and 168 other ranks, the officers are named in the war diary.

The reinforcements then landed on 15th August the morning of the battle for Kiretch Tepe.

[Old Scalyback]

The original draft list would have been destroyed in the Arnside street fire in WW2. However it would have been used in the compilation of the 1914-1915 star medal roll and the men should be listed together on it.

Find a casualty from the 6^th Bn with a date of death later than 15^th August on the CWGC website and check his medal index card for a date of entry into theatre of 15^th august. When you find one that matches find him on the medal roll and his companions in the draft should be around him on the roll.

[13757gilligan]

Thanks a lot!

[Nickmetcalfe]

The original draft list would have been destroyed in the Arnside street fire in WW2. However it would have been used in the compilation of the 1914-1915 star medal roll and the men should be listed together on it.

Find a casualty from the 6^th Bn with a date of death later than 15^th August on the CWGC website and check his medal index card for a date of entry into theatre of 15^th august. When you find one that matches find him on the medal roll and his companions in the draft should be around him on the roll.

Unfortunately, this won't work because (1) The men from the 5th & 6th Bns who were left out of the initial landings were on Lemnos, which was considered part of the theatre for the award of the Star, are all detailed as entering the theatre on 7 August; (2) the 1914-15 Star roll is arranged alphabetically; (3) cross referencing to the BWM & VM roll won't work because it is arranged by regimental number, although it is possible to identify which men were 5th Bn and which were 6th Bn; (4) all of the men who died in the period 15-17 August 1915 are listed as entering the theatre on 7 August.

I have put together a series of notes about the evolution of the Regiment during the war i.e. when various reinforcements were received and from where. You can see the piece for the 5th & 6th Bns here: http://www.nickmetcalfe.co.uk/the-evolution-of-the-regular-and-service-battalions-of-princess-victorias-royal-irish-fusiliers-1914-1918-part-4-the-5th-6th-5th6th-11th-service-battalions/

I doubt, however, that my notes will add to the answer you seek, which, (with the exception of the officer's detailed in the war diary) I believe is beyond the scope of the available records.

Nick

[Guest]

Very occasionally one sees diaries that recorded the nominal rolls of the drafts. While a few of the BEF dairies for 1914 have some nominal rolls, the vast majority don't. Across the body of Gallipoli war diaries at battalion level I have never seen only once seen (see Edit below) a nominal roll of an ORs draft. As mentioned above it is impossible to unpick them from the 1914-15 Star medal rolls. There is an extremely remote possibility that some nominal rolls might be buried deep in a Brigade or Div Admin war diary, but I think it is unlikley. I have been through the 10th (Irish) Div and the 31st Inf Bde admin diaries some years back and nothing sticks in my mind. The 10th Div General Staff and Admin diaries are pretty dry reading.

Most diary material was made in dulpicate and the Army was fairly efficient at sending copies on to the relevant Infantry records offices. There is a remote chance that the museum archives might have some relevant records, but this is a very long shot.

As a point of interest, and possible encouragement, the 31st Inf Bde diaries for Gallipoli are the most detailed of any of the Kitchener units.

Good luck with your search. MG

Edit: The 6th Bn East Yorks War Diary contains nominal rolls, so at least this shows some units did keep good records.

[KGB]

Unfortunately, this won't work because (1) The men from the 5th & 6th Bns who were left out of the initial landings were on Lemnos, which was considered part of the theatre for the award of the Star, are all detailed as entering the theatre on 7 August; (2) the 1914-15 Star roll is arranged alphabetically; (3) cross referencing to the BWM & VM roll won't work because it is arranged by regimental number, although it is possible to identify which men were 5th Bn and which were 6th Bn; (4) all of the men who died in the period 15-17 August 1915 are listed as entering the theatre on 7 August.

I have put together a series of notes about the evolution of the Regiment during the war i.e. when various reinforcements were received and from where. You can see the piece for the 5th & 6th Bns here: http://www.nickmetcalfe.co.uk/the-evolution-of-the-regular-and-service-battalions-of-princess-victorias-royal-irish-fusiliers-1914-1918-part-4-the-5th-6th-5th6th-11th-service-battalions/

I doubt, however, that my notes will add to the answer you seek, which, (with the exception of the officer's detailed in the war diary) I believe is beyond the scope of the available records.

Nick

Dear Nick, Many from the 5th Royal Irish Regt were drafted to 5 R Ir Fus immediately before sailing for Gallipoli, a large percentage were southerners.

[13757gilligan]

Thanks for all of your replies, these have been very helpful.