Numbering and units for Derby men

[Yarnold66]

My great uncle (Private Arthur Henry Powell, nos. 3806, G/17969) joined up under the Derby Scheme in late November 1915. He chose to defer and was mobilized in February 1916.

Would he have been given a regimental number at the time of attestment or upon mobilization? Also at which stage would he have known his designated Battalion?

Many thanks for any replies.

[kenf48]

He would be given his number on mobilisation.  On attestation he was placed in the Army Reserve B and given an armlet.

 

At the inception of the Scheme the War Office specifically stated it could not guarantee entry into a particular corps, only that men were needed for the infantry.  In reality men were recruited locally and when th Proclamation was made given a date and told where to  ‘report to the military authorities’ usually this was the local Depot.

 

 He would then be posted to a Training or Home Service Battalion, later the Training Reserve.

 

 He would not know which active service Battalion he would be posted to, and if posted to France it was not uncommon for men to have the expectation of joining say, the 6th Battalion of the Bullshires to find themselves posted to the 9th, or even a Battalion of another Regiment .

 

A real example shows a soldier attesting  in November 1915 in Bournemouth, mobilised on the 2 March 1916 in Winchester (Hampshire Regiment Depot)  and appointed to the Somerset Light Infantry; posted the following day to the 3rd Battalion SLI then on the 4th March  attached to the 10th East Lancs at Wareham Dorset for training and in May posted to the 8th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment also in Wareham.  Finally posted to the BEF in August and the 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment.  This was fairly typical and an example picked at random from the records. ( Due to sickness this particular soldier was transferred to the Army Pay Corps in 1917).

 

It looks like your great uncle was originally posted to a TF Home Service Battalion (2/5)  for training and allocated the 4 digit number. Was he from Hastings?  When posted on active service to the 13th Battalion in France he was allocated the second number under the terms of Army Order 204/1916 which effectively gave the Army authority to transfer men from the TF to New Army or Regular unit’s.  He did not serve overseas with the 2/5 but was on their strength when he embarked  for the IBD in France.  Looking at the Rolls seems he was part of a larger draft from the 2/5.

 

Ken

Edited 17 November , 2018 by kenf48

[Yarnold66]

He was employed as a footman near Battle - so Hastings was just down the line. 

Many thanks Ken
 

[Yarnold66]

There were two recruiting offices in Hastings. One for the Regular Army and another nearby for the 1/5 Royal Sussex.

I know my uncle attested in Hastings under the Derby Scheme and in February 1916 was mobilized and posted to the 2/5 Royal Sussex.

At which office did he most likely attest? 

Many thanks for any replies.

[kenf48]

Most likely he attested at the HQ of the 5th Bn (TF) which was in Middle Street.  There was also a Drill Hall/Station in Battle.

See https://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Sussex/TownHastings.htm

 

That said to boost recruitment there were often ‘special events’.  Local newspapers are online (best viewed on a PC rather than tablet) nothing jumps out, other than Battle Fair.

http://www.eastsussexww1.org.uk/newspaper-portal/

 

Ken