5128 Pte John Conlin, 5th Connaught Rangers.

[jack]

I'm researching 5128 Pte John Conlin and in the Service Medal and Award Rolls Remarks column it states Class Z 22.3.19. Also, in the Index Card all it says is that he was awarded the Victory and War Medals but no other details apart from above. Can anyone shed any light on the meaning of Class Z and does anyone have any more information of this soldier?

Jack

[Michelle Young]

The answer is, as quite often the case, on the Long Long Trail website.

Class Z Reserve

This was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration”, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.

 

[jack]

21 minutes ago, Michelle Young said:

The answer is, as quite often the case, on the Long Long Trail website.

Class Z Reserve

This was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty, and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration”, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.

 

Thank you, Michelle.

Jack

[chaz]

he has a record on Fold3 as Jonathan Conlin, same regiment and number.

may help if looking for his roots.

cant see any other records so normally I would presume born around 1895 to 1900 , only entitled to the pair so presumably not joined before qualifying for a star. From pre war records. 

4824 joined on 7th February 1894
5251 joined on 28th January 1895

for WW1 service numbers were prefixed with battalion number therefore 2/5128 or 3/5128 but as his Medal roll does say 5/5128 he was a member of the 5th Btn. missed from his MIC.

From the LLT, this may help if you want to check the regimental war diaries to see where he had been.

5th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Dublin in August 1914 as part of K1 and placed under orders of 29th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division. Moved to Kilworth but back to Dublin in October. Moved to the Curragh in January 1915.
May 1915 : moved to Hackwood Park (Basingstoke).
9 July 1915: embarked at Devonport and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros.
Landed Anzac Cove 5 August 1915.
30 September 1915 : moved via Mudros to Salonika.
September 1917 : moved to Egypt for service in Palestine.
30 April 1918 : left the Division and sailed from Port Said, arriving Marseilles 1 June.
23 July 1918 : came briefly under command of 14th (Light) Division.
22 July 1918 : placed under command of 197th Brigade in 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

[mancpal]

If he landed at Anzac Cove and moved to Salonika via Mudros in 1915 surely he would have qualified for a  ‘14-15 star.

Simon

[jack]

18 hours ago, chaz said:

he has a record on Fold3 as Jonathan Conlin, same regiment and number.

may help if looking for his roots.

cant see any other records so normally I would presume born around 1895 to 1900 , only entitled to the pair so presumably not joined before qualifying for a star. From pre war records. 

4824 joined on 7th February 1894
5251 joined on 28th January 1895

for WW1 service numbers were prefixed with battalion number therefore 2/5128 or 3/5128 but as his Medal roll does say 5/5128 he was a member of the 5th Btn. missed from his MIC.

From the LLT, this may help if you want to check the regimental war diaries to see where he had been.

5th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Dublin in August 1914 as part of K1 and placed under orders of 29th Brigade in 10th (Irish) Division. Moved to Kilworth but back to Dublin in October. Moved to the Curragh in January 1915.
May 1915 : moved to Hackwood Park (Basingstoke).
9 July 1915: embarked at Devonport and sailed to Gallipoli via Mudros.
Landed Anzac Cove 5 August 1915.
30 September 1915 : moved via Mudros to Salonika.
September 1917 : moved to Egypt for service in Palestine.
30 April 1918 : left the Division and sailed from Port Said, arriving Marseilles 1 June.
23 July 1918 : came briefly under command of 14th (Light) Division.
22 July 1918 : placed under command of 197th Brigade in 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

Thanks, Chaz. I don't have a Fold3 account. Are you able to pass on the details, please?

Jack

[chaz]

Jack

all they have is  

Full Name  Conlin, Jonathan

Rank Name  Private

Service Number  5128

NA Url  /details/r/D1904513

NA Years  1914-1920

Regiment  Connaught Rangers

Archive Reference  WO 372/4/224630

Conflict Period World War I

Served For  United Kingdom

[Keith_history_buff]

WO 372 is the archive series for the WW1 medal index cards.

[Keith_history_buff]

Quote

4824 joined on 7th February 1894
5251 joined on 28th January 1895

This didn't fall out of the sky

Paul Nixon has the right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of the aforementioned work.

This is from his analysis of service numbers issued to men who enlisted under Regular terms of service. 
https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2011/07/connaught-rangers-1st-2nd-battalions.html

There is a surviving record for 5128 James O'Brien of the Connaught Rangers, who enlisted 28 Nov 1894

I would have anticipated a 5 digit Regular number for a man in a New Army battalion. Perhaps he enlisted in the Special Reserve, served with the 3rd or 4th Battalion, and was transferred to the 5th at a later date?

[Keith_history_buff]

If I am reading this correctly, he was on leave from 11 September 1918, with a multitude of others from the same regiment. His initials, surname and service number are recorded, nothing else. 

This is from 
Daily Orders Part II
17 October 1918
Scheme Concentration - Great Baddow, Essex
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM/WO363-4/SUPP/118612

[jack]

On 09/04/2024 at 15:48, chaz said:

Jack

all they have is  

Full Name  Conlin, Jonathan

Rank Name  Private

Service Number  5128

NA Url  /details/r/D1904513

NA Years  1914-1920

Regiment  Connaught Rangers

Archive Reference  WO 372/4/224630

Conflict Period World War I

Served For  United Kingdom

Thanks again, Chaz.

[jack]

On 09/04/2024 at 16:24, Keith_history_buff said:

If I am reading this correctly, he was on leave from 11 September 1918, with a multitude of others from the same regiment. His initials, surname and service number are recorded, nothing else. 

This is from 
Daily Orders Part II
17 October 1918
Scheme Concentration - Great Baddow, Essex
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM/WO363-4/SUPP/118612

Thanks, Keith.