margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 I would appreciate any information on the 23rd (Labour) Coy (ASC) in 1916 please. I have recently established that an ancestor of mine, John William Mills Service No SS/22864 died on 10 March 1916 aged 28, whilst serving in France and Flanders. He is buried at St Sever Cemetary Rouen and I have obtained a photograph os his grave from the War Graves Commission. Would it be possible to find out when he enlisted, what his role was and what wounds he died of. Many thanks in anticipation for your help. MILLS_JOHN_WILLIAM WAS RECORD WW1.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 (edited) Hi if you have Ancestry access......... SDitGW - record HERE - enlisted in London Medal Roll HERE - - - states "Accidently Killed" Medal Index Card HERE Soldiers Effects HERE - died near Rouen - Gratuity paid to Half sister Jessie E Searle Edited 3 August , 2017 by jonbem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 (edited) If you look at http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/letter-prefixes-to-british-soldiers-numbers-in-the-first-world-war/ you will see the prefix to his service number "SS" means "Supply Special" - depending what his civilian trade was. Edited 3 August , 2017 by jonbem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Many thanks, I am not a member of Ancestry (I use Find My Past which gave me a start point for my original search. I would love to see the detail if you are at liberty to divulge, I appreciate if that is not possible though. Thanks again for the additional info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Just now, margliz said: I would love to see the detail if you are at liberty to divulge, I appreciate if that is not possible though. Final changes to copyright and posting attachments 08/05/17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 On FMP, if you go to A-Z records (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/historical-records) put in search field "Army" or "Armed", there are lots more lists to search that may give you more info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Thanks again, I will take another look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 There doesn't appear to be a service record, possibly lost in WW2 bombing of the archives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 OK thankyou, at least I have closure on where he is laid to rest, God Bless him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 The war diary, if it can be located, might give some detail, but ASC Labour Company ones are often tucked within other regiments or divisional ones, so really need in depth searching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 You can get his medal index card download from National Archives for £3.50 HERE There are usually six on each record so the other five relate to other people Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Thanks again. I'm no expert and only found out about him via my family history search. Never even knew that my grandmother had a half brother! Shame that neither she nor my father are around to find out more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Purchased a copy of his medal index card, thanks again for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 3 August , 2017 Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Potential this has the war diary for the 23 Coy - HERE - again a £3.50 download from National Archives - is within this lot Reference: WO 95/1604/4 Description: Divisional Troops: Divisional Train (17, 19, 23, 24, Companies) A.S.C. Date: 1916 Jan 1 - 1919 Apr 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 3 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 3 August , 2017 Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 (edited) 20 hours ago, margliz said: I would appreciate any information on the 23rd (Labour) Coy (ASC) in 1916 please......... John William Mills Service No SS/22864 died on 10 March 1916 aged 28, whilst serving in France and Flanders. He is buried at St Sever Cemetary Rouen The 23rd (Labour) Co. ASC were formed on 1st November 1915 (and disbanded 25th March 1917) They served in the BEF at Rouen, where Private Mills is buried [info from Col Michael Young's history of the ASC; Annex K, p.236] I have no precise details regarding 23rd (Labour) Co ASC however I note from 'No Labour No Battle' by Starling & Lee (p.79) "At the beginning of October 1915 it was decided that the ASC Labour companies should be used to discharge RE materials from ships. As a result one company would be stationed at each of Boulogne, Havre and Rouen and two at Calais." As 23rd (Labour) Company ASC was formed just a couple of weeks later and went on to served at Rouen, then it seems a likely possibility that this was their task Edited 4 August , 2017 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbem Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 19 hours ago, jonbem said: Medal Roll HERE - - - states "Accidently Killed" Wondering what the accident was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margliz Posted 4 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 4 August , 2017 Thanks for the extra info michaeldr 4 hours ago, jonbem said: Wondering what the accident was? Yes would like to find out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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