Labour Corps Mesopotamia 1917 - 1919

[Peter Bentley]

Hello As you may be aware i am writing a family book about my grandfather Tom Bentley IARO (Major) Deputy Assistant Director Labour Corps in Mesopotamia. This was a Staff Officer posting rather than a command posting of an individual unit.

I have a query and it relates to his decorations MID's etc - I wonder if anyone has a name(s) of the General Officer(s) commanding the Labour Corps in Mesopotamia in the timeframe 1917 - 1919 so that I can follow Tom's career over this 2 year period. Specifically in the LC was a Director (usually a Brig Gen)  then Deputy Director (Lt Col/Col then DAD (Major/Capt) as a command structure. The hope is that that the GOC wrote a memoir or left papers in a repository i.e. TNA but first I need a name(s). The family in the UK hinted at many MID's medals etc but no trace at the usual sources TNA MOD etc.

 

Talk Soon

[michaeldr]

In Starling & Lee's book 'No Labour, No Battle' there is quite a bit re Mespot. 

Eg: p.177 there is ref (1919) to Director of Labour, Brig. Frost. He is quoted from a Report of Labour Directorate the ref for which is given as WO 95/4992.

I hope that this helps n can certainly recommend the book.

 

Good luck, Michael

 

 

 

Edited 8 July , 2021 by michaeldr
Spacing

[charlie962]

9 hours ago, michaeldr said:

Eg: p.177 there is ref (1919) to Director of Labour, Brig. Frost. He is quoted from a Report of Labour Directorate the ref for which is given as WO 95/4992.

In fact if you look on Discovery National Archives and search for    WO95 Mesopotamia labour director   you will get 24 hits, most of which are digitised and downloadable.

Mostly late 1918,1919 but includes some DADs for different stations.

 

Charlie

Edited 8 July , 2021 by charlie962

[charlie962]

10 hours ago, michaeldr said:

Director of Labour, Brig. Frost

BrigadierGeneral FD Frost MC. This might be your man ?

 

(father of John Frost of Arnhem fame)

Edited 8 July , 2021 by charlie962