London Regiment Territorial Force

[tcb1606]

Hi there

 

Could someone please try and assist me. I'm trying to gather information on my Great Great Grandfather Fredrick Blute 1864 - 1916.

 

His first enlistment was with the Cameron Highlanders 1st Battalion (Reg No. 1207).   I'm sure I have found all the information I can on this part of his Military life, however it's his Military service in London I'm having trouble with (Reg No. 20148)

 

Question 1:  20th London Regt. is this the same as 23rd Supy. Coy (see attachment)

 

Question 2:  London Regiment Territorial Force and National Reserve Supernumerary Coy, are they one in the same?

 

Question 3:  I have attached a photo of Frederick in uniform taken in 1914, is there any significance to the stripes on his sleeve?

 

Question 4:  Frederick was retained on home duties at various stations unable to obtain transfer to the front line due to his age. He was knocked down and killed by an engine while on patrol duty.  Would there have been a newspaper article about this, and if so, where could I search online?

 

Question 5:  The attached photo is the only photo I have of Frederick.  I've searched everywhere on the internet trying to find any other image of him.  I know this is a long shot, but is there any website out there that I could missed.

 

 I would appreciate any information anyone could share.

 

Many thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ss002d6252]

Quote

Question 1:  20th London Regt. is this the same as 23rd Supy. Coy (see attachment)

They are two different units.
 

Quote

Question 2:  London Regiment Territorial Force and National Reserve Supernumerary Coy, are they one in the same?

The Territorial Force and the National Reserve were different organisations although for ease of use the Territorial Associations administered the National Reserve. Think of the Territorial Force as a fully equipped reserve available to assist the army whereas the National Reserve were a group of ex-soldiers who had put their name forward to be used if they were of use to the Government in times of crisis. The Supernumerary Companies of the National Reserve were used to guard bridges, factories etc.

[ss002d6252]

An 'R Blute' of the same address also served - presumably a brother or son ?

Craig

[tcb1606]

Hi Craig

 

Thank you for your replies.  

 

Finally I now have an answer about the Territorials and Reserves, I can stop going around in circles...  His final unit would definitely have been the Supernumerary Coy, as he was patrolling a station when he was killed.

 

Thank you for the info on' R Blute', I have never noticed this before.  He had a brother Robert Blute (1876) and a son Robert Blute (1899).

[ss002d6252]

14 minutes ago, tcb1606 said:

Hi Craig

 

Thank you for your replies.  

 

Finally I now have an answer about the Territorials and Reserves, I can stop going around in circles...  His final unit would definitely have been the Supernumerary Coy, as he was patrolling a station when he was killed.

 

Thank you for the info on' R Blute', I have never noticed this before.  He had a brother Robert Blute (1876) and a son Robert Blute (1899).

It appears it was #43940 Robert Blute (there's an entry in the 'National Roll of the Great War' for both Fred and Robert) but neither it or the Silver War Badge roll shows an age - on reading it again though the text of the entry would indicate it was his son, Robert.

 

It looks like the National Reserve men of the Supernumerary Companies were eventually placed in to the Royal Defence Corps in March 1916 but prior to that it looks like they were 'attached' to a Territorial Battalion for admin purposes, I suspect this is where the 20th Bn part comes from.

Edited 12 December , 2017 by ss002d6252

[MBrockway]

Fairly probable that Home Service men in Territorial third line battalions would also have been deployed to guard or defence duties?

[clk]

Hi,

 

4 hours ago, tcb1606 said:

...is there any significance to the stripes on his sleeve?

 

They are good conduct chevrons - see for example here

 

Regards

Chris

[ss002d6252]

51 minutes ago, MBrockway said:

Fairly probable that Home Service men in Territorial third line battalions would also have been deployed to guard or defence duties?

I'd agree - more than likely those men would have been put on guard duty,  probably alongside the NR men in the supernumerary companies I'd guess.

A May 15 AO stated the Supernumerary Co name would be followed by the title of the unit attached to and that National Reservists used for guard duties would become members of the TF - http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/supernumerary-companies-army-order-187.html

Craig

Edited 12 December , 2017 by ss002d6252

[tcb1606]

Thank you everyone for the replies, they have really helped.

 

 

[John Beech]

Hi

 

Just to add to what Craig said some of the Supernumery Company men were not just National Reserve men,  but many had joined local TF battalions in 1914 /early 1915 but were usually not then assigned to the main TF battalion, including the third line TF Battalion,  but rather were sent straight to Supernumery Companies. The surviving service records shows many of these men to have had previous service both regular and with the Militia / TF but they tended to be towards the upper enlistment age limits.

 

In my area, both the Foresters and Leicesters formed several such companies which as has been alluded to were used for local defence. In the Foresters many were badged as 'Robin Hoods' ie 7th Battalion, Foresters, whilst the Leicesters were linked to the 4th and 5th Battalions.

 

Another role they performed were as POW Camp guards, my interest, and the Leicesters Supernumery Companies guarded Donington Hall for example. The Foresters guarded site in and around Nottingham initially before moving to Brockton on Cannock Chase and some  to guard POW in Lincolnshire. 

 

On formation of the RDC, the Foresters transferred to 161th, at Brocton, and 165th Protection Companies, Lincolnshire, and the Leicesters to 156th and 157th Protection Companies. 156th guarded Kegworth POW Camp as well as Donington and 157th Company guarded No.6 Shell Filling Factory at Chilwell

 

Regards

 

John