Inter Battalion Transfers, Sherwood Foresters

[StAubyns]

My Grandfather, 20050 Pte W. Stockdale enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on the 24th November 1914 and was discharged on the 18th July 1918 suffering from wounds & shellshock. The only service shown on the BWM & VM Rolls is to the 10th Battalion. His service record(Burnt Document series) does not exist.

However family chit chat says that he served in Gallipoli.

Is it possible that he enlisted in the 9th Battalion, served in Gallipoli, and when the 9th transferred to the Western Front, at some time he was transferred to the 10th Battalion?

Regards Geoff

[Cliff. Hobson]

Geoff.

If he enlisted in 1914 he most proabably went overseas fairly early, have you checked his M.I.C. at the Archives this should give you give you his overseas service details in form of a number i.e. 1. = France.

Regards Cliff.

[Paul Reed]

If the medal rolls in WO329 only mention the 10th Battalion, then that is the only battalion he served with.

[StAubyns]

Cliff, there is no reference on his MIC as to his overseas service and

Paul, WO329 only mentions the 10th Battallion. I didnt know if the references in this document only mentioned the last battalion served in. So it looks like family folk law is wrong, thank you both for your input.

Is it possible to determine the company that he served in, in the 10th Battalion? would the Foresters Museum have that sort of information?

Regards geoff

[Anthony Bagshaw]

Geoff,

The museum does have a very good database of soldiers but unfortunately 90% of it consists of officers and gallantry winners.

Unfortunately it is very unlikely that you will find what Company he served with. My Great Grandfather served with the 11th Battalion, it was only by luck that we found a photo of him and family which stated that he served with D Company.

He might be mentioned in the Battalion history.

If you do have photos and information about your Grandfather and he isn't in the database, i'm sure if you sent them some info they could add him to it. Thats what we did with my Great Grandfather as there was nothing on him.

Regards

Anthony

[Ed Matthews]

Geoff

There is recent history of the 10th Bn. published by Miliquest Publications, Long Eaton, Notts. and written by Cliff Housley who, incidentally, is also the regimental archivist. I have a copy of the book but it only has a nominal roll of all officers who served with the battalion and details of casualties (fatalities).

As a matter of interest, where did your grandfather hail from?

Regards

Ed

[StAubyns]

Anthony, I dont have any information on my Grandfather that relates to his war service other than the PRO info. The family info says that he served in Gallipoli, was caught up in a mustard gas attack in France and was invalided out.

If your'e a Woodhus' Lad (as i have been since 1978) then perhaps you remember the pumping station at Sookholme - he was the attendent there until 1953?

Regards Geoff

[StAubyns]

Ed, my grandfather was a Shirebrook Lad. I have heard mention of the book you mention, but I have ordered"10th (S) BN the Sherwood Foresters: The History of the Battalion During the War"

W.N. Hoyte; Paperback; £7.22

from Amazon last week

Regards Geoff

[Ed Matthews]

Geoff

There is a picture of him in "Brave Sons of Shirebrook" by Trevor Skirrey (Derbyshire Libraries and Heritage Department, 2000). The scan is not a particularly good one but I can photocopy it and send it to you if you haven't already seen the picture.

The blurb with the picture states "Private Walter Stockdale, of the Sherwood Foresters, served in the Dardanelles and on the Western Front. He was later invalided out, suffering from the results of a gas attack."

Ed

[Ed Matthews]

His entry is entirely consistent with what you have been told by family. I note that there is another "Walter Stockdale" listed under the NA MIC index:

Walter Stockdale

Is there reference to a Silver War Badge on the medal index card that you have? I'm assuming that is where you have got his service dates from.

Ed

[Anthony Bagshaw]

If your'e a Woodhus' Lad (as i have been since 1978) then perhaps you remember the pumping station at Sookholme - he was the attendent there until 1953?

Bit before my time, i think. Only born in '84!!

[StAubyns]

Ed, I have got his BWM(but not his VM) and that is where his regimental number came fromm(20050) so I have definately got the right paperwork for the right guy.

I have his MIC and this gives me the dates of 24/11/14 to 18/07/18. This is confirmed by the Silver War Badge rolls and this is where discharge due to shell shock & wounds came from.

I have a copy of WO329 and this is where the 10th Battalion info came from.

I have a copy of Trevory Skirreys book and the info in there came from my family. The photo that is copied in the book is now lost as far as I know.

So really it comes down to wether you believe family hearsay or documentary evidence.

I go with the latter (If Paul Reed says "If the medal rolls in WO329 only mention the 10th Battalion, then that is the only battalion he served with." I believe him.

On the MIC I downloaded there are 5 Stockdales but the one you suggest is not on the download, but I am absolutely sure that I have the right paperwork.

Anthony, you will have to forgive me for being presumptuous about your age!

The input I am getting is really appreciated, I am just nonplussed that the evidence disproves what I have always thought.

Regards Geoff