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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

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Search for Northumberland Fusiliers/Labour Corps service?


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Hi I am trying to research my great grandfather Robert Hammond who I know served in the Northumberland Fusiliers. I have just inherited his British War Medal and Victory Medal. All I have managed to find online is his medal card. Can anyone tell me why he has two regimental numbers 37845 (on his medals) and 251527, it looks like he served in the fusiliers and labour corps is this correct? And any advice on where to find what battalion he would have been part of, or where he served would be great. 

 

Thanks. 

Edited by Guest
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Welcome.

You answer your own question. Numbers in WW1 were regiment or corps numbers not army ones. So if a man changed regiment he would be given a new number. So when he got transferred to the Labour Corps he got the second number.

The Medal Card is an Index Card to the Medal rolls. In his case the rolls give no extra useful info.

he has a pair. The British War and Victory Medals. This proves he did not serve in a theatre of war prior to the start of 1916. The Card generally only records regiments he served in whilst overseas.

Edited by Mark1959
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Generally men joined a regiment, eg Gloucester, Wiltshire, Northumberland close to their own area. If specialised such as horse handlers they would go in a service A.S.C or A.V.C . Miners and heavy workers or those like postmen or telegram could go in a specialist Engineers or communications regiment. Through a lot of heavy fighting whole companies could get wiped out. A few lightly injured could be returned to action but if their regiment had moved on or no longer existed they got moved to the Labour corps, labour meaning manual working. It was possible to get back to another or even the same regiment.

in grandfathers case, he could have been wounded or even on leave then returned , but then there are always exceptions others will argue. Unfortunately if his records were destroyed it may be guesswork but you could try the regimental museum. 

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