17th (Transport Workers) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

[Charles Le Brun]

In the East Yorkshire Regiment’s official history of the Great War it was said that no record of the 17th (Transport Workers) Battalion could be found and that it existed in name only has been the received wisdom to date.
 

However, today in support of a detailed regimental history nearing completion, having read through regimental journals from 1919 it appears it did exist and in that year at least was based in Sunderland. 
 

Any information about this battalion and/or transport workers battalions in general would be very much appreciated. 

[RussT]

A search of the Forum returns these results - might be a start:

 

Showing results for '"transport workers"'. - Great War Forum

 

Regards

 

Russ

[Charles Le Brun]

Thank you, I’m new to this and that’s helpful. 

[RussT]

CWGC records just one man who died whilst with this Bn - 58108 William Oliver Hooper who died 04/02/1919.

 

Having that service number might give you an "in" to search for men with similar numbers who likewise might of served with them - and then that might give you new leads etc etc etc.

 

A very quick look comes up with the 58105 William Henry Smith, whose Medical Form has an official stamp with "17th TW Bn E Yorks" - image below (courtesy FMP).

 

Regards

 

Russ

 

 

[RussT]

Likewise 58114 Burgess ..........

 

 

[PRC]

Few sample officer establishments from the British Army Monthly List:-

November 1918 - not listed. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123099825

January 1919, (only a Commanding Officer): https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123217968

June 1919: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123178920

December 1919: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/109429781

 

Identifying the officers names in full from the long service records \ Medal Index Cards \ London Gazette may then enable internet searches including newspaper archives.

There is also the possibilty of a visit to Kew to have a look at the officers records to see if anything can be gleaned from them.

 

Hope that helps,

Peter

[RussT]

On 26/05/2021 at 05:56, Charles Le Brun said:

from 1919 it appears it did exist and in that year at least was based in Sunderland

 

You can push that back a tad more to at least Dec 1918 - from the record of 58093 Hale ....

 

 

[Charles Le Brun]

12 hours ago, PRC said:

Few sample officer establishments from the British Army Monthly List:-

November 1918 - not listed. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123099825

January 1919, (only a Commanding Officer): https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123217968

June 1919: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123178920

December 1919: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/109429781

 

Identifying the officers names in full from the long service records \ Medal Index Cards \ London Gazette may then enable internet searches including newspaper archives.

There is also the possibilty of a visit to Kew to have a look at the officers records to see if anything can be gleaned from them.

 

Hope that helps,

Peter

Peter

 

Thank you very much, these links have been hugely helpful. I'm beginning to suspect that the battalion was formed in December 1918.  I don't know exactly what transport workers battalions did but the name and the 17th Bn's location inn 1919 are clues and I imagine there was much activity in the ports, etc at this time.

 

Charles

 

 

[RussT]

7 hours ago, Charles Le Brun said:

 I don't know exactly what transport workers battalions did

 

You are not the only one who was questioning their role ........

 

TRANSPORT WORKERS' BATTALIONS. (Hansard, 5 August 1919) (parliament.uk)