Attached to a regiment

[doogal]

Hi

When an officer was transferred/attached to a different regiment, what documentation, beyond the immediate regimental war diary notation of his departure and arrival, would exist?

I am trying to trace details on an officer transferred from the 5th West Riding Regiment to the 2/4th Hampshire Regiment in July 1918.

with thanks for any help -

regards

doogal

[Desmond7]

I know this sounds like the old old story but there is a good chance that any transfer/promotion will be recorded in the local rag. See below:-

Squadron Sergt. Major D.A. Cathcart, an experienced non-com of the Royal Scots Greys, has, for service in the field, been specially promoted to a commission as 2nd Lt. in the Royal West Kent Regt. and joins the 1st battalion. He is a grandson of the late Mr. James Cathcart of Slatt and a brother of John Cathcart of Alfred Street , Ballymena.

Ballymena Observer, February 11. 1916

This is but one of many examples. You will also find, I'm sure, little snippets about officers being transferred to a 'different theatre' etc. Reading between the lines one can also detect where an officer's face did not fit ... being sent off to West African Regt. etc!!

[doogal]

Hi Desmond,

thanks for this - the problem I have is that I know so little about the chap - I don't even know his first name, let alone where he came from.

(after fruitless searches of MIC's officer's records, regimental histories, officer's lists, archives and diaries. He's in there somewhere, I know.)

(to all - his name is H Brown, Lt - yes, I'm trying to find his details again. )

regards

doogal

[Desmond7]

I see your problem .. Brown is one of 'those' names!!

[doogal]

this man seems to have slipped through some of the most momentus events in human history unnoticed....

which, I suppose, seems to be the fate of so many.

- well, our family have a letter from him to my Gt grandfather's widow, so he hasn't quite disappeared yet.

I think its a case of going back to the MIC's. His aparent absence from CWGC and a mention in a war diary from September 1918 lead me to believe he survived at least.

regards

doogal