Trying to find more on grandfather after startling discovery this Christmas

[Mattyboy0911]

Happy new year all,

 

I have been interested in the great war for many years, and as my partner's great grandfather died in Arras, we have been visiting the battlefields and memorials for around 10 years now and love visiting the area. This Christmas day I got startling news that we have discovered that my own grandfather fought in the great war and survived, he never spoke of it once, not even to his wife or children, my mother found out by chance.

 

I'd love to find out more if anyone can point me to where I can find more information. I have joined find my past, and forces war records, but the information is very limited.

 

His name was William Henry Rowbotham from Liverpool, Service number: 27218 in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Apparently he fought in the battle of Loos. He was a private and then a sergeant. He would have been 17 at the Battle of Loos.

 

The record I found on national archives states it's a medal card. It states the date 1914-1920. Is that just the years the medals were handed out, or is that saying he served from 1914 to 1920? I'd very much appreciate any help in finding out more information about what my grandfather did during the great war.

[johnboy]

It is just a date range. The Medal Index card might show when he entered France or Belgium

[Coldstreamer]

without looking (as on phone) Loos is generally 1915. If that's the case then mic will say

Edited 7 January , 2020 by Coldstreamer

[jonbem]

Hi and welcome

Here is the Medal Index card on Ancestry

He entered France 27/9/1915

Edited 7 January , 2020 by jonbem

[Mattyboy0911]

Thanks, actually sorry I forgot I do have more. I'm not sure what that is I've uploaded, but it states the date of disembarkation is the 27th September, 1915, and I think it states demobilization on 1st of March, 1919

[jonbem]

HERE on Ancestry the Roll for the 15 Star

[Coldstreamer]

yes demob

[jonbem]

Here the roll for BWM & VM on Ancestry

[Mattyboy0911]

Wow, thanks so much for all of that, gosh that was quick. That has helped, it seems he was in the 10th battalion, that will give me plenty to read up on.

 

Many thanks!

[jonbem]

Here is the War diary on National Archives for £3.50

or on Ancestry

scroll back & forth as needed

 

[helpjpl]

10th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne on 27 September 1915:

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/royal-welsh-fusiliers/

 

This may be of interest:

https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=7379

 

JP

[clive_hughes]

There was a published version of the 10th RWF's War Diary as well, but at the moment I don't think it's available in reprint form.  Burton, F.N., assisted by Comyns, Lt. A. P., The War Diary (1914-18) of the 10^th (Service) Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers. (William Brendon & Son Ltd: Plymouth, 1926).  100 pages.  

 

The battalion was disbanded in February 1918 as part of a manpower economy drive, and the personnel divided between 2nd Battalion RWF (a minority) and an  Entrenching Battalion (the majority).  The latter wasn't part of the RWF but subsequent fatalities are usually described by Commonwealth Wargraves etc. as "10th RWF" even though the unit had ceased to be.  In March-April 1918 many ex-10th men from the Entrenching unit were attached to the 63rd Royal Naval Division on the Somme front.  My own experience is that for some reason the medal rolls do not record the Entrenching Bn. element of their service, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.    

 

The medal roll says nothing about the 2nd RWF, so I would assume that, if he was still with them at that time, he joined the Entrenching Bn. 

 

Clive