KOYLI

[james drury]

Hi all. 

 

Am just trying to make sense of a service record around a mans movements over a few days in late October early November 1918. 

 

From what I can see he sailed from Folkestone on the 29th October landing at Boulogne later the day. he then headed to the F Base Camp at Etaples on the 30th. 

On the 29th he was also posted to the 12th KOYLI - would this be before he sailed ? and therefore sailing with a small contingent of them. 

Only 4 days later on the 2nd November he was posted to the 9th KOYLI 

 

On the 28th October the 12th KOYLI were in  Staceghem and remained there for several days this is 153 km form Eatples

On the 2nd November the 9th were at Neuvilly which is 120km from Staceghem and 171km form Etaples. 

 

Would it make sense for him to travel from Etaple  to Staceghem and then only a few days later be posted to the 9th and travel 120km to them. 

 

or 

 

Would he have been posted to the 12th KOYLI  traveled across to France with this posting and arrived at the camp at Etaples. Having been there a few days on the 2nd November be reposted to the 9th KOYLI and then travel to join them later from Etaples. 

He is noted as joining D company in the field on the 10th November. 

 

Hope all that makes sense .... Any thoughts much appreciated 

 

Thanks once again :-)

 

James 

©findmypast/NA

 

[FROGSMILE]

Looking at the dates on the document it appears as if he was sent to France in a draft already earmarked for 12th KOYLI, but that on arrival at the relevant infantry base depot he was reallocated to a unit in greater need, 9th KOYLI, and so sent onwards from Etaples to them.

[ss002d6252]

58 minutes ago, james drury said:

 

Would it make sense for him to travel from Etaple  to Staceghem and then only a few days later be posted to the 9th and travel 120km to them. 

The army moves in mysterious ways.

A lot of transfers in and around depots were paper transfers and quite possibly a man may not even have known he'd been moved around. Sometimes there can be several changes in a day or two before something was settled on. He certainly never got as far as joining the 12th battalion in the field so he may have been destined for them and then, as was often the case, re-directed from a base depot.

Craig

[james drury]

thank you :-) much appreciated - I thought sorting like that might have been the case.