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Remembered Today:

"Batch" transfer to 2 Royal Irish Regiment from 10 DCLI


MaxD

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I find more than a dozen or so  men of 10 DCLI (there may be others) all of whom went to 2 R Irish presumably at the same time as their R Irish numbers are consecutive (around 16165) as are their DCLI numbers (around 38570).  I find no service records for any near numbers.  One clue is that a medical record for one of them in December 1917 shows him in 2 R Irish.

 

Could this be one of those cases of arrive in France in DCLI and then diverted to 2 R Irish or did something noteworthy happen to 2 R Irish that needed an influx from elsewhere?

 

Max

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I think it probably relates to problems with keeping Irish and Ulster recruited regiments up-to-strength after the attrition of 1916, due to the decision not to introduce conscription there, the only part of the then U.K. not to do so.  Apparently, after much angst, this led to some Irish units, especially Service Battalions, but probably others too being sent men recruited in England.  There are several threads about this in the GWF  that go into the statistics in some detail.  I also found this following article of interest: https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/brotherhood-among-irishmen-the-battle-of-wijtschate-messines-ridge-june-1917/

 

NB.  Interestingly 10th DCLI (Cornwall Pioneers), were a pioneer battalion allocated to 2nd Div throughout the war, apart from a period attached to 66th Div between 16 Jul and 7 Nov 1917. Pioneer battalions were usually very strong in numbers when first raised and it might be that they were combed out to provide reinforcing drafts to line battalions that had suffered heavily.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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3 hours ago, MaxD said:

Could this be one of those cases of arrive in France in DCLI and then diverted to 2 R Irish or did something noteworthy happen to 2 R Irish that needed an influx from elsewhere?

 

Yes it was.

 

16162 Sgt Noble Derby Recruit, railway worker from Andover  medical 28 March 1917 Winchester mobilised 10 April 1917 posted 3 DCLI
To BEF  8.7.1917. 10 Bn DCLI  No2 IBD
Transferred 2nd Bn RIR 30.7.17

 

16169 Ough another Derby Recruit, farm labourer Cornwall called up 20 January 1917 to BEF and posted as above.

 

Unfortunately the war diary lists reinforcements in July and August as Appendices and these appear to have been mislaid.  They probably arrived in time for an operation on the 16th August when the 2nd Battalion sustained 110 casualties, you may find some of them on CWGC.

 

Ken

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Splendid detail Ken thank you very much.  And yes certainly one of them 16137 Prout 17 Aug 1917 10 DCLI to 2 R Irish - excellent.

 

Max

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