madman Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Hi all I've collected medals to the Royal Engineers for a while and was curious is There a way to identify a tunneller from his service number ? Or is it not so Simple thanks for reading Nathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarsA Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 (edited) One of Howard Williamson's books gives number allocations for tunnelling companies. Lars Edited 7 February , 2018 by LarsA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Whilst Lars was finding and giving you a reference book I had ploughed through 300 REs killed in 1915 in six pages of SDGW. Not much of a hint of a system for Tunnellers as far as I can see, though dearly hope there is ! 22 deaths attributed to Tunnelling Companies from 170 to 180, from April to Dec. Numbers ranged from 79948 to 139380, with a hint of blocks in 86000s and 102000s which may have coincided with swifter recruitment periods. Checked the 1917 re-number of the RE Territorials and there are no TCs listed specifically to number blocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertb Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 Nathan, Based on SDITGW database a number of blocks of regimental numbers for the T.C.s seem plausible. Try - 79000-86900 91000-91999 102000-102999 146000-148999 155000-158999 175000-175999 198000-199100 There are a few other blocks where there seem to be a preponderance of R.E. (Tunneller) deaths, according to SDITGW. Cheers, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 7 February , 2018 Share Posted 7 February , 2018 I have a Spr Frederick Flitter 173rd TC RE that fits the 156#### mould. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmm45 Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 there's this thread on 170 TC Ady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 I have a 1914 Star to a member of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry who transferred to the Royal Engineers. He was given a 790** number and is confirmed, on the medal roll, as serving in the 185th Tunnelling Company. Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman Posted 8 February , 2018 Author Share Posted 8 February , 2018 Thanks all for your replies they are very much appreciated the man im curious about is 157639 SPR J H KING R.E His number sits in the brackets mentioned but no other inication Of being a tunneller atb cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 8 February , 2018 Share Posted 8 February , 2018 Simon Jones has been compiling a partial roll of the 179th and 185th Tunnelling Company. See herehttps://simonjoneshistorian.com/men-of-179th-and-185th-tunnelling-companies/ Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman Posted 9 February , 2018 Author Share Posted 9 February , 2018 15 hours ago, Sepoy said: Simon Jones has been compiling a partial roll of the 179th and 185th Tunnelling Company. See herehttps://simonjoneshistorian.com/men-of-179th-and-185th-tunnelling-companies/ Sepoy Thanks for that , very interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Hello, not sure where to post this. But I am researching a Second Lieutenant Percy Coates who was KIA 1916. Records show Percy as 180 Company Royal Engineers (CWGC mistakenly shows 160, but the file showing the cemetery book has 180). I assume this means 180 Tunnelling Company? However as the word tunnelling is not present I just wanted to double check. Then I will download the war diary. Help in confirming this will be appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Adam 180 was definitely a tunnelling company. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Thanks, I wasn't 100% sure that the numbers were unique to tunnelling companies, ie could have been a 180 light railway or something. Apart from the war diary and service record are there any other sources to research Percy Coates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpjpl Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 20 minutes ago, adam1981 said: Thanks, I wasn't 100% sure that the numbers were unique to tunnelling companies, ie could have been a 180 light railway or something. Apart from the war diary and service record are there any other sources to research Percy Coates? Percy Coates - Institution of Civil Engineers Obituary: https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/imotp.1916.16029 JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertb Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 The Grave Registration Report [CWGC] for 2/Lt Coates actually gives "180 Coy R.E."; definitely a tunnelling company. Further down the same page Cpl. C. O'Brien 86174 is listed as "108 Tunn. Co. R.E." definitely not a tunnelling company! Tuypoos are such a nuicance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpjpl Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 MIC (courtesy of ancestry). Commissioned Royal Engineers 29 October 1915: JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Thanks for the replies. The back of the MIC has a Sheffiled address and Percy appears to be on the Sheffiled roll, so I may email their library for a newspaper search. He is also on a Leeds council roll which records as sewerage department. Am I likely to have any look with the war diary? Plan to download this evening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Hi, FMP have some Honourable Artillery Company records for him - link Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpjpl Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 1. The following newspaper articles may be of interest. (All 4 on findmypast) 2. There may be a photo of Percy Coates here: JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Thanks for the FMP heads up, I will get on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1981 Posted 12 December , 2019 Share Posted 12 December , 2019 (edited) I think this answers my original question regarding if Percy was a tunneller. Tunnel warfare must have been extremely trying, very brave men. edit - all war is trying and all are brave men! Edited 12 December , 2019 by adam1981 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now