A/Sgt John Rich, Devonshire Regiment and Northumberland Fusiliers

[Martin Rich]

I came across this discussion whilst doing some early research on my grandfather and was interested in the early part of the thread.

I knew that he had served with the Devon's, though I don't know which unit, but was surprised to find that his medal card records him serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers. His rank and service numbers were: 

JOHN RICH
British Army 3601 Acting Serjeant Devonshire Regiment

British Army 48620 Acting Serjeant Northumberland Fusiliers

I'm inpressed with the knowledge that some of you have, which is a flattering way of saying that any insight you can give me into his service history would be much appreciated.

[Pat Atkins]

Welcome to the forum! For best results it would probably be best to start a new thread, including his name and units in the title: this will attract experts like flies to jam, and avoid complicating this thread (e.g. "Sgt John Rich, 3rd/4th Devons, 2nd (Garrison) Northumberland Fusiliers" or somesuch). If you have biographical detail that would also be useful.

[Michelle Young]

Split into new thread. 

[George Rayner]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your research.

From Fold3-a subscription package linked to Ancestry-is a Pension Card.

Tells you quite a lot but not the unit he was with...

Although the medal roll courtesy of Ancestry shows...

 

George

[RussT]

Welcome to the Forum.

A couple of observations to kick this off:

His initial Regiment/Battalion - the 3/4th Bn of the Devonshire Regiment never served overseas - so it's a bit strange that those details appear on his Medal Roll.

Devonshire Regiment - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)

As some time during his service he was evidently transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers and re-numbered accordingly as per normal protocol. He was posted to the 2nd Garrison Battalion of the NF, which was in India from October 1915. Although A/Sgt Rich served overseas (i.e. in India) he did not (on the face of it) serve in a theatre of war, and on that basis he would have ordinarily only be entitled to the British War Medal (and not the Victory Medal). However, his Medal Roll tells us he was issued with both medals.

Northumberland Fusiliers - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)

Other inferences from his Medal Roll can be made - but given there is already a number of apparent mysteries as per the above with his actual service, then any other inferences would not help in providing solutions.

Further independent work will instead be required in an attempt to unravel his actual service.

Regards

Russ

[RussT]

Some very quick thoughts as a suggested resolution:

I suspect he actually served overseas with either the 1/4th or 2/4th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment both of which saw service in India but also a theatre of war - Mesopotamia/Egypt. The men adjacent to him on the Medal Roll reveals such service.

If he became sick/wounded with either of those Bns but remained sufficiently fit to serve upon recovery, then a transfer to a Gn Bn would make sense. I'm thinking that any such pause is his active service meant a return to the UK, a posting to the 3/4th Bn upon recovery and then a transfer and posting overseas from the 3/4th Bn Devons to the 2/Gn Bn NF in India. In this scenario the NF Medal Roll compilers would have made a mistake in stating his initial (overseas) service was with the 3/4th Devons when in fact it would have been with either the 1/4th or 2/4th Devons.

Russ

[RussT]

48629 Frank Broome 2/Gn Bn HF has a Service Record.

He was transferred following recovery from an ailment (varicose veins) from the 1/4th Bn Devonshire to the 2/Gn Bn NF on 07/02/1917 whilst in Basra.

I would propose A/Sgt Rich followed a similar route.

Regards

Russ