syd Posted 30 August , 2019 Posted 30 August , 2019 I have found a reference to a young Devonshire Regiment soldier (Pte Percy George Norrish 0130) stating that he served in No 2 Company Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. He is listed as such on the medals roll. Would anyone know anything about this company? From others listed, it is clearly not the 2nd Devons.
John Beech Posted 30 August , 2019 Posted 30 August , 2019 (edited) Syd On the Medal Roll on Ancestry after No.2 Comp. Bn. it says 'Devon R.' If its not composite, could it be Devonshire Reserve Battalion? There is also a 1911 census entry for a 'Percie' George Norrish born Witheridge, Devon and living at Crediton, Devon in 1911. He was born 1st April 1900 and baptised on 3rd June 1900, so would have been 18 in 1918. Perhaps a reinforcement draft makes composite more likely? Edited 30 August , 2019 by John Beech
MaxD Posted 30 August , 2019 Posted 30 August , 2019 39th Division Composite Brigade had a 2nd Composite Battalion formed on 10 April 1918 (see LLT) but not with Devons in it so somewhere there was another Composite Brigade with Devons as part of its 2nd Battalion - nothing shows up at TNA though. Or despite the make up of 2 Composite Battalion (13 Glos and 13 R Sussex), did he perhaps serve with them with his Devons cap badge? 21 Composite Brigade has been mentioned on the forum as has 41 Comp Bde. Max
John Beech Posted 30 August , 2019 Posted 30 August , 2019 Syd Found this on a GWF post from 2006 which may relate to a Devonshire Composite Battalion: C L Flick wrote the history of the 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment published 1920. The 1/6th Battalion [Devonshire Regiment] left Basra and went to Amarah where they camped alongside the 2/6th [Devonshire Regiment] for several weeks. The cadres of both battalions left for Karachi on 30th March 1919. The cadre of the 1/6th went to India with No 2 Special Battalion, No 1 Special Brigade, eventually sailing for England on 29th July 1919, on board the "Malwa", landing in Plymouth on 16th August 1919. The 2/6th cadre must have arrived back in England about the same time since both cadres were met by Earl Fortescue, Lord Lieutenant of Devon at Barnstaple Junction Station A later post adds: RECENTLY PURCHASED SOME PAPERWORK, PHOTO'S ETC TO C.Q.M.S. SYDNEY ERNEST PASSMORE M.I.D., 1465 & 265192, 1ST/6TH DEVONS. IN A BOOK DATED FROM 1918 TO 1919 PASSMORE LISTS CASH REQUISITIONS FOR "B" COY, No:2 SPECIAL BATTALION (THE UNIT THAT SERVED ON THE N.W.F.) IT LISTS THE COMPOSITION OF THE UNIT AS : - 1st/4th Devons. 1st/6th Devons. (approx all of 'B' Coy. of the 1st/6th) E & M Section, Composite Coy. R.E. 88th (Fd) Coy. R.E. 71st (Fd) Coy. R.E. Port Directorate R.E. If this is correct, its possible that Percy Norrish served with B Company (No.2 Company?) 1st / 6th Battalion Devonshires in Mesopotamia and India in 1918 before returning to the UK in 1919
syd Posted 31 August , 2019 Author Posted 31 August , 2019 Thank you so much everyone. Percy was a distant cousin of mine. I was unable to find any records for him apart from his medal card which contains very little information. He joined in 1918. His father, Robert George Norrish, served in the Army Service Corps. It does seem likely that he served with the special battalion. I am very grateful. I have never seen the No 2 Battalion listed before. Paul
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