Duncan Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 I have in my collection a Victory Medal to a Pte 203781 Ernest George Harding Kempster, from Knowle, Bristol. He was born some time around 1897. His MIC states that he enlisted on 16 July 1914 into the 4th Gloucesters (doesn’t state 1/4th or 2/4th), and was discharged due to sickness 16 July 1917. His number indicated overseas service after March 1917, meaning 4 months in France max. Any idea why someone would be home service for over two and ½ years of the war, then be sent overseas for only a few months? Cheers, Duncan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lund Posted 3 April , 2006 Share Posted 3 April , 2006 Could it be his age perhaps? Sent out only when he became old enough? I have come across a lad today who was mobilised with the local territorials at only 15 years old. He went to the front when he was 18 and volunteered for a trench raid on his first time in the trenches, he never came back from it. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Nixon Posted 4 April , 2006 Share Posted 4 April , 2006 Or maybe whatever sickness caused him to be discharged in July 1917 had also kept him at home prior to February/March 1917. By the time he would have been sent abroad, the army was becoming decidely less "picky" about who it passed as fit for overseas' service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan Posted 4 April , 2006 Author Share Posted 4 April , 2006 Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try and get hold of his service records, may be they'll have the answer. Duncan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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