help required.....please!

[Guest scunny]

hello all,

i`m new to this site and a little unsure of proceedings, but i`m reliably informed this is an excellent forum. i have recently acquired a trench watch which i am having restored as i type. there is nothing outstanding or remarkable about the watch itself but on the reverse is an inscription. this reads as follows:- to CSM I. LESTER from all at A, B and D gun groups. xmas 1917.

i have done a search of the national archives to the best of my knowledge ( limited! ) and have found no record of said serviceman. i would love to find out a little of this man, if he existed, and even if he actually owned this particular timepiece. could anyone out there possibly shed a little light on the matter?

yours in grateful anticipation

scunny

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

I would suspect his Medal Index Card if he has one is in both his Fore & Surnames rather than just an initial,CSM of ABCD Gun Groups suggests MG Companies within an Infantry Brigade {ie MGC}

[ian turner]

Is it definitely initial 'I' - have seen a medal index card for a CSM in the MGC -

Medal card of Lester, Thomas

Corps Regiment No Rank

Machine Gun Corps 5451 Company Serjeant Major

Northumberland Fusiliers 8620 Private

Not a 'T'?

Ian

[Guest scunny]

I would suspect his Medal Index Card if he has one is in both his Fore & Surnames rather than just an initial,CSM of ABCD Gun Groups suggests MG Companies within an Infantry Brigade {ie MGC}

thank you very much for your help. when reading the inscription, i had it in my mind that he would have served in the royal artillery as opposed to the mgc. this sheds a new light on things. thanks again.#

scunny

[Guest scunny]

Is it definitely initial 'I' - have seen a medal index card for a CSM in the MGC -

Medal card of Lester, Thomas

Corps Regiment No Rank

Machine Gun Corps 5451 Company Serjeant Major

Northumberland Fusiliers 8620 Private

Not a 'T'?

Ian

thanks for your reply ian. i was sure before that the inscription was in fact an "i" but now i`m not so sure!

like i said in the original post though, the watch is away at the moment and until it comes back i cant confirm either way. i will let you know as soon as i can.

just in case though, i have obtained a copy of csm thomas lesters medal index card.

again, many thanks.

scunny

[Guest scunny]

hello all,

as previously stated the watch in question was away being restored. i`m now glad to say its back and in perfect working order. however, the inscription on the back ( all in upper case ) reads

TO

C.S.M I. LESTER

FROM

A B&D GUN TEAM.

6TH K.V.R.

XMAS 1917

there is no way the "I" could be mistaken for a "T" and as such i`m at a loss to the original owner as i cant find his MIC.

information omitted in the original post but included this time ref 6th K.V.R. may be of interest to someone?

if anyone could possibly shed any light on this matter for me i`d be very grateful.

thanks

scunny