Frederick George Webb Wilts Yeo, R. Wilts Regt, MGC

[Skipman]

Frederick George Webb was born at Eaton Cottages Bradpole, Dorset, 18/10/1898 Bridport, his father Alfred Henry Webb, mother Emily Turner. Frederick died Aug 1987 in Greenwich, aged 88.  

It looks like he lied about his age and enlisted Trooper 1688 in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, on the 1st July, 1916. At some point he was transferred Pte 203378 to the Wiltshire Regt, and was wounded in the left shoulder.  At some point ended up in Pte 158129 in the Machine Gun Corps.

 

Medal Roll

 

Medal Index Card

 

Silver War Badge No B334501 Enlisted 1/7/1916 discharged 10/9/1919 aged 23. KR Para.B.1.A.O.11/d/10/8/17  What is Para.B.1.A.O.11/d/10/8/17?

 

Pension Card says 158129 MGC discharged GSW left shoulder discharged 10/9/1917 also says born 1896?

 

Medals are inscribed 1688 Pte F G Webb R. Wilts. Yeo.

 

Is it likely that he lied about his age, served with the R Wilts Yeomanry. At some point he was probably found to be under age. Then ended up in Wiltshire Regt. Not sure if wounded with Wilts, then back to France with MGC, wounded again and discharged. Might the pension card be dates be an attempt to cover up the fact he was under age? No service record survives.

 

Medal roll Does not give battalion or MG Company. Any thoughts on which he might have served with, or any other thoughts on this man's service?

 

Cheers Mike

[kenf48]

  I put his enlistment in the 3/1st on or around  1 July 1915 (is that a typo?). 

Age seventeen he could enlist in the TF for home service.  However I tend to agree he may have been economical with the truth as he appears to have gone overseas before March 1917.  By adding a couple of years to his age he became eligible for overseas service, the TF and by extension the Yeomanry tended to be a bit lax regarding the regulations as they needed to bring themselves up to strength for posting overseas.

His six digit Yeomanry number has been struck through on the Medal Roll indicating he went overseas with them and was serving with in the 1/1st when the Yeomanry was renumbered in March 1917 which he probably joined as a reinforcement on an indeterminate date but after 31st December 1915. Equally he could have been in one of the Squadrons that joined the BEF in 1916.

 

On transfer to the infantry he was given a six digit number.  You will note from the LLT that on 26 September 1917 all the officers and men of the 1/1st Yeomanry having previously been dismounted  joined the 6th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment. His infantry number is consistent with that group.  He was probably wounded while serving with them at an indeterminate date after October 1917.

 

Hospitalised and evacuated to the U.K. he would have been posted to the MGC from a home service unit.

 

He was posted to the MGC  on or around 28/5/1918 (see 158128 Elston).  Very difficult to trace an MGC Battalion at this stage of the war they would be posted to the Base Depot at Camiers and from there to an active service unit.  Elston went to 33 Bn MGC but no guarantee your man did.

 

As for the Army Order query once again the LLT is your friend

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/demobilisation-and-discharge/soldier-discharged-o-2b-10-8-1917/

 

 

Ken

Edited 11 June , 2019 by kenf48

[Skipman]

What can I say Ken, that's marvellous. Maybe one day I will be able to find all that information and have the confidence to post it, knowing it is correct; then again, perhaps not. Appreciate you sharing your expertise. Webb is a great uncle of a work colleague of my wife, and will be delighted.

 

Attached the date of enlistment and you will see why I thought 1916

 

Many thanks Mike

Edited 11 June , 2019 by Skipman