7th Battalion south Staffs

[Jspencer]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone ould help me with some info?

My Great Grandgather was Serjeant Joseph Spencer, army no. 10584, 7th Btln of the south Staffs.

I have been told by relatives he was in India but confirm this information anywhere. His meadal index cards gives the following info:

Medal Roll Page Remarks

Victory F/101 B/5 505 Killed in Action 11/11/19

British 100 100

15 Star F/2B7 551

Thatre of first war served in (2B) Balkans

Date of entry therein 21/7/15

I understand that 2B refers to the Balkans, some people have mentioned he may have also been in India and Egypt? Is there any other info I can derive from his MIC?

Joseph was wounded and sent home 3 times before being killed by a single bullet in France and is buried in Loos cemetry (if anyone wants any pics of Loos cemtry please email me for original images)

I've been told he may have re-enlisted and that some battalions merged together. I have written off for Josephs service record but it was destoyed in WW2. Is there any other way of finding out exactly where Joseph served etc. I know the war diaries are at lichfield, which is a bit of a trek from where I live....One day maybe I'll get there. I know there is at least one reference to Joseph being wounded according to the war diaries index regarding France and that the war diaries for the Balkans was destroyed.

Is there anything I have missed that I could find out, I'm not up on WW1 at all.

[Chris_Baker]

"2B Balkans" means Gallipoli. The 7th Bn went there, landing on 21 July 1915 from ths ship "Abbushai", after going via Malta, Egypt and Mudros. Joseph must have been with the original contingent. The Bn first went into trenches on the Helles front on 23 July, on the slopes of Achi Baba.

By the way the BWM notes are dittos under the VM references, not "100 100".

[Jspencer]

Hi chris, thanks for that. do you know what the F stands for? Or is this just part of a reference number? As I said, I know nothing about the war

[stiletto_33853]

The F you refer to is a reference to the medal rolls held at the National Archives in Kew, in this case denoting that the initial record office was Lichfield. The numbers following gives volume and page number.

Andy

[enoch beard]

after looking through my research on 9927 pte james wright of the 7th s.staffs, i noticed i had the war diary of the 7th for july 1917 and found the following information

1917

july 21st

following were wounded

10359 pte edwards h.

10581 SGL SPENCER. J.

17803 pte sutton. j.

17722 cpl. fletcher f. j.

12685 pte o'connor t.h.

attempted raid by volunteers from all companies, commanded by 2nd lt. e.r. rich, failed to accomplish its object, the enemy being on the alert,& protected better by wire than reconnaissance had shown. after a bomb duel in which casualties were beleived to have been suffered by the enemy, & we had three slightly wounded, the party was withdrawn, on the principle that a silent raid should not be prosecuted, if the element of suprise fails. at 1 a.m. the enemy sent gas shells over the area.

i think the number is a typo, i have checked the on.line mics and found pte joseph wainwright was issued with the number 10581

enoch