Army Veterinary Corps

[tonyrod]

hi ,help needed with this soldier  se/26359 frederick w vickers and his unit ,  cannot find anything apart from his medal index card and medals awarded,  

  any information on this soldier  and his unit  greatly appreciated ,  TONY

Edited 15 January , 2018 by tonyrod

[sotonmate]

Welcome to the Forum !

This appears to be one of the Corps which don't list units served/posted to, and to make matters worse, no service record apparent on Ancestry UK. You might find an entry in Absent Voters List for 1918, provided that your man was over 21 then.

The SE prefix is a Special Enlistment (General Service), and by noting a similar number near the one you quote, this soldier MAY have enlisted around Dec 1915. Not certain as the sequences are not strictly date-synched. I saw SE/26285 as enlisting 6 Dec 1915.

The entitlement to the British War and Victory medals lean towards this, as the soldier didn't qualify for a Star medal.

Edited 16 January , 2018 by sotonmate

[tonyrod]

 cheers sotonmate, I  have ancestry and  forces service records no joy  with either , just not seen the se prefix,      I had  to rejoin  not been on for a good while to busy haha,  if I find out I will post . regards Tonyrod

[charlie962]

Findmypast has one of those surprise bits of paper found in another mans file that has him. But I suspect the list is 1919 not 1915

 

                  

 

  yes thats 1919 so perhaps talking about extension of leave ? 19th Vet hosp APO 4.

 

Charlie

[charlie962]

Several close SE numbers seem to have been called up for service  late March 1917 ?  Some appear to have attested previously but transferred immediately to reserve.  I am assuming the SE number was only allocated when they were mobilised, ie end March early April 1917. (needs checking out by going through a sample of files to see if any commonality of original attestation dates. Certainly a logical sequence for mobilization dates)

 

SE men could be shipped across to France pretty quickly due to their specific horse handling skills and were often excused the square bashing and other martial training.

 

You will find service files for several such if you look on FMP or Ancestry. FMP is easier to specify search criteria.

 

Charlie

Edited 17 January , 2018 by charlie962

[tonyrod]

Cheers Charlie,  I  will have a good look at the  FMP  on ANCESTRY,   his wife was admitted to Cane hill mental hospital  in august 1918 , could this be regarding is discharge ? just a thought? regards Tonyrod

[tonyrod]

update  found on the Long Long Trail,

19th AVC, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division March 1915-Feb 1916; then 42nd (East Lancashire) Division

Divisional Troops    under direct command of Divisional HQ
268th Machine Gun Company    joined 20 January 1918, moved to 42nd Bn MGC 23 Feb 1918
1/7th Bn, the Northumberland Fusiliers    joined as Divisional Pioneer Bn 12 February 1918
42nd Battalion MGC    formed 23 February 1918
42nd Divisional Train ASC    retitled from the East Lancashire Divisional Transport and Supply Column on 17 January 1916, and the units also retitled as 447, 448, 449 and 450 Companies ASC. Remained in Egypt when the Division moved to France and was transferred to 53rd (Welsh) Division). replaced in France by 428, 429, 430 and 431 Companies ASC which joined at Pont Remy on 4 March 1917
19th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC    
239th Divisional Employment Company    joined 1 June 1917 ,     many thanks to Charlie,and Sotonmate,

[charlie962]

1 hour ago, tonyrod said:

his wife was admitted to Cane hill mental hospital 

That may well be explanation of extended leave 1919 'urgent private affairs'

 

52 minutes ago, tonyrod said:

update  found on the Long Long Trail,

Yes I'd seen that but couldn't make any further progress, I'm afraid.  Where is APO4 (Army Post Office 4 ?) Was 19th Veterinary Hospital the same as 19th Mobile Veterinary Section ?

 

Charlie

[tonyrod]

sorry for delay Charlie, I would say no to,  Was 19th Veterinary Hospital the same as 19th Mobile Veterinary Section ? and  some information on the postal service 

Bombs dropped on Base Army Post Office 4

At Calais, "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE 4", celebrated the end of the war with the production of a special postcard for Christmas 1918. The illustration on the card represented both a commem-oration and a celebration.

This card was designed by A. Goodall for members of the Army Postal Service. It wished a happy Christmas to "AP04 CALLERS, OLD AND  NEW." The left hand side of the card commemorated an incident which occurred in January 1918, when a German air‑raid on Calais completely destroyed the buildings of Base Army Post Office 4. The right hand side of the card celebrated 'Victory & Peace' and 'Christmas 1918'. On the back was a hand‑written message, "Wishing you the best of luck and happiness in the coming years."

https://www.worldwar1postcards.com/soldiers-mail.php,  hope this helps, regards Tony

Edited 24 January , 2018 by tonyrod
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