GS933 William Ephraim Comber

[Guest Ephraim]

Hi all

This is a bit of a dry subject but I wonder if anyone can tell me what the GS prefix denotes on my great grandad's service number?

Here's what I know:

He was a 43 year old ex territorial who volunteered in late 1914 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex serving on the western front. He was killed at Aubers Ridge on May 9th 1915

What has always puzzled me about his service number is that it seems to fall between two stools so to speak.

I know that regulars and those on the reserve had L numbers

Those on the special reserve had an S prefix

Kitchener men had a G prefix

Where does GS come in?

My guess is that this was a prefix for retired territorials volunteering for overseas service but it is only a guess.

Can anyone enlighten me?

Ephraim

[Sue Light]

Can I just bring this up to the top again as I was also hoping for an answer. One of my Steyning men also had a 'GS' number - Private GS/784 William Manvell, also 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. He died on 29/1/15 - from 'Soldiers Died' I realise that he was one of the earliest with this prefix to die, and as his service record doesn't survive I would be interested in any additional information.

Thanks - Sue

[Stuart Brown]

GS stood for General Service prefix. I cannot add to that.

Stuart

[Paul Reed]

The GS numbers in the Royal Sussex were apparently applied to certain men who had served or were serving in the Special Reserve on the outbreak of war, who then re-enlisted for 'four years or duration' - it is possible they were given an option on the outbreak of war to change their terms of enlistment from that of the Speical Reserve to the wartime ones, however, I have never seen anything written down on this. I have never come across a GS number over 1000, so I don't think there were that many of them. Most ended up in the 2nd Bn, but many were later transferred to other battalions of the regiment.

That Avatar of yours looks mighty familiar!?

[Sue Light]

Thanks for that Paul.

Regards - Sue

[Guest Ephraim]

Thanks for the reply Paul. I thought the special reserve might have something to do with it

You should regognise the Avatar. I lifted it off your website as you have correctly surmised! In deference to your rank I shall change it to my other one!

Sue

Private Manvell was one of Thirteen men killed on 29th January 1915 at Cuinchy where the 2nd battalion Royal Sussex were defending a brick redoubt known as the Keep.

As I understand it there was a fairly serious effort by the Germans to take this area of the front from 25th January. It is reffered to in the 2RSR diary as the defence of the Brickstacks. The battalion received a commendation for their efforts

The first GS man to die in 2RSR was Private GS 167 Alfred Langford on 23rd December

My great grandfather was in France by mid December and a large draft of replacements arrived at that time so it seems likely that Manvell was in the same draft

Rob

[Paul Reed]

Glad the info was of use - nice photo of the regiment's badge.

From my experience none of the GS men arrived in France in time to get the 1914 star.

[Guest Ephraim]

What qualified someone for the 1914 star?

Did one simply have to be in France or Belgium that year or would they need to have been involved in one of the major engagements?

I know my great grandfather was out there by December because he sent a postcard from Bologne that month

There's also the fact that private Langford was killed on 23rd December

[Paul Reed]

The cut off date was 22nd November; you had to serve in France and Flanders up to and including that date to get the 1914 star. After that you got the 1914/15 star - a big 2nd Bn draft arrived in France on 23rd November, including many GS - so they missed the 14 star by one day!