Pte 15863 Leonard Riva, Manchester Regiment and 89411 Liverpool Regiment

[Brian J Owen]

Good afternoon, Pte L Riva married my aunt, my query is according to his medal index card is he served with The Manchesters and the Liverpool Regiment, who did he enlist with? and because of the two different coloured pens not sure how to interpret the card, any assistance much appreciated, the is not any record of a pension card,

Thank you,

Regards,

Brian  

[Allan1892]

The 1914-15 Star Medal Rolls shows that he entered a theatre of war on the 6/9/1915 with the Manchester Regiment. At some stage, he transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment as he appears on the KLR medal rolls for his British War Medal and Victory Medal. (images courtesy of Ancestry)

[FROGSMILE]

I imagine that he was probably wounded with the Manchester Regiment and on recovery and return to France was sent in a draft of reinforcements to the King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

Edited 10 March , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Allan1892]

Just now, FROGSMILE said:

I imagine that he was probably wounded with the Manchester Regiment and on recovery and return to France was sent in a draft of reinforcements to the King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

A search has failed to find any record of admission to a CCS

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, Allan1892 said:

A search has failed to find any record of admission to a CCS

Thanks Allan.  Perhaps his unit reduced to cadre with the rump dispersed to other regiments.  If his battalion could be ascertained from the medal roll entry it might be possible to ascertain a potential course of events.

Afternote: apologies just spotted the 13th battalion reference. 

Edited 10 March , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Brian J Owen]

Hi Allan, Frogsmile, thank you for you replies, is there no way from his army numbers as to what Battalion he was posted?

Thanks again,

Rggards,

Brian

Sorry, just spotted it, 13th Manchesters, thanks again,

Brian

[RussT]

His KLR number is quite high indicative of a transfer late in the war or perhaps indeed shortly after it ended.

The Medal Rolls show men being transferred from a diverse number of former Regiments. There are few surviving records with near KLR numbers but those few that I did find show that these men were being compulsorily transferred to the KLR on 08/11/1918, and shortly afterwards joined the 18th Battalion.

Regards

Russ

 

[Brian J Owen]

Hi Russ, thank you for the info, I feel now you have mentioned his posible late entry into the KLR, his service was with the 13th Battalion Manchesters, now that will be the path I shall take to find out more as to where they were

Thanks again,

Regards,

Brian

[charlie2]

The 13th Bn went to France in early September 1915, then to Salonika in October/November 1915 and returned to France at the end of June 1918. The Bn was absorbed by the 9th Bn on the 13th August 1918.

Charlie

[FROGSMILE]

48 minutes ago, charlie2 said:

The 13th Bn went to France in early September 1915, then to Salonika in October/November 1915 and returned to France at the end of June 1918. The Bn was absorbed by the 9th Bn on the 13th August 1918.

Charlie

Brilliant, that’s the sort of thing I imagined might be the case Charlie.  The 9th would have received the rump of the 13th to bring them up to strength and then any residue sent elsewhere by the Manchester’s relevant infantry base depot.  In this case to the KLR a few months later as mentioned by Russ.  In the short interim he might have been sick or in a work party of some kind.  Odds and sods were always moving around, especially during the period post the German Spring Offensive.

Edited 10 March , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[charlie2]

Brian

As the 13th Bn Salonika WD has not been digitised you might find this blog of interest https://ayearofwar.com If you join us on the Manchesters forum http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php and search for posts by „Carolineboo“ there are some pages of the WD and other documents which we provided Caroline with.

Charlie

Edited 10 March , 2023 by charlie2

[Brian J Owen]

Hi Charlie, Thank you very much for the information, I will certainly be looking at the Manchester's forum, never knew it existed, thanks again,

Regards, 

Brian 

[Brian J Owen]

Hi Charlie,

Not to good at registering, so had a little trouble getting in to the Manchesters forum, but thank you all the same,

Regards,

Brian