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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

A 'Driver' in WW1


nickmj

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Evening all. I recently discovered that my Grandfather was a Driver for the 1st London Regiment for about 18 months from March 1915 serving from northern France down to the Somme. What exactly would have been the duties of a Driver obviously apart from driving, but driving what etc. Any info gratefully received.

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Could be horses or vehicles. Do you have service number or have you found him on a census which might give an occupation.

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He was Private 1319, Regimental Number 200126, He was a boiler worker before signing up. 

 

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To the best of my knowledge, Infantry battalions did not have mechanical transport in the Great War. Therefore he is likely to have been a driver of a horse in the transport platoon. The horses drew small wagons carrying ammunition or  the cook's trailer.  

 

For a first hand source on the roles, get hold a copy of "Four years on the Western Front" bu Aubrey Smith who was in the Transport Platoon of 1/5th London Regiment

There are lots of reprint available including 

http://www.naval-military-press.com/four-years-on-the-western-front.html

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Can you give his name so I can look for any service records? Did he survive the war?

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11 minutes ago, johnboy said:

Can you give his name so I can look for any service records? Did he survive the war?

No service record on FMP or Ancestry. 

  I think Delta is correct. Horse driver for the battalion transport (1st London - R.F).

A.S.C drove motor transport.

Edited by GWF1967
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1 hour ago, delta said:

 

For a first hand source on the roles, get hold a copy of "Four years on the Western Front" bu Aubrey Smith who was in the Transport Platoon of 1/5th London Regiment

There are lots of reprint available including 

http://www.naval-military-press.com/four-years-on-the-western-front.html

There is an interesting topic about the author

Cheers

Maureen

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Thanks for all your replies, yes he did survive the war but there are no service records online as he was probably a victim of the burnt records. I only found out about his service after meeting up with a long lost cousin recently who had some papers. He was Albert George Housden and a regular soldier who signed up in 1909. After being a Driver and coming home after 18 months on the front he was a Groom in the Army and described as a 'first class shot' on his 'certificate of employment during the war', so must have fired a rifle in battle? 

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Quite likely he saw action, either before or during his time as a driver. The Transport Platoon was a highly suitable place for an experienced ex Regular as he would have understood the needs of the role implicitly 

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