Sgt. William Hazell.

[Sgt_Hazell_Great_Grandson]

My Great Grandfather was Sgt. William Hazell.

Born 1870 , died 30th April 1923 , result of lung problems from gas.

He served in The Lancashire Fusiliers ( number 1464 ) in India from 1885 until 1897.

He served in The Northampton Regiment (36974 ) and then The Labor Corps ( 88207 ) serving in France in 1917 in The Great War.

We know some of his War movements but would love to know more about his time in India Pre War.

Our family would be most happy on any ideas to help us in our task.

Many many thanks,

Roland Hazell.

[Chris_Baker]

Hello Roland, welcome to the forum.

The only way to find out more about his pre-war service in detail is to see if you can find his service records. If the exist, they are held at the National Archives in Kew.

If you know which battalion of the Lancs Fus he was with in teh late 19th Century, I am sure some of our experts can help tell you where they were.

[Sgt_Hazell_Great_Grandson]

Thanks Chris.

We welcome any sort of info about our Great Grandfather.His war years are as important as his pre War years.

He was in No 10 Northampton Labour Company which later became 148 Labour Company.

Any information about his time in the Labour Corps would be fantastic.

Thanks , Roland.

[Paul Reed]

One of my great uncles must have served at the same time as your relative. His details are:

Name: ADAMS

Initials: W W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment: Northamptonshire Regiment

Unit Text: 6th Bn.

Secondary Regiment: Labour Corps

Secondary Unit Text: transf. to (85809) 144th Coy.

Date of Death: 18/10/1917

Service No: 39084

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. O. 10A.

Cemetery: MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT

He was wounded at Ypres when his unit was making roads across the battlefield near Passchendaele. I believe his unit and your relatives served very closely together.

[Sgt_Hazell_Great_Grandson]

Thanks Paul,

I have my Great Grandfathers war diary of sorts. Labour Corps often did not keep a war diary so records are collected from other units.

The only mention i have of your Great Uncles company is from 31st July 1917. Both companys were attached to 59 Gp ? 144 company to the Army group and 148 company working on Lt Railways.

Roland.