kevlad Posted 13 November , 2006 Share Posted 13 November , 2006 My dad told me that my grandfather, Joseph Lumley was gassed on the Somme and sent home to recover before going back. His medal index card shows the following. Corps; MGC, KOYLI, RE: Rank; Pte: Regt No; 43701, 4316, wr/307825. He got the victory medal. Does anyone have any details about when this gas attack happened or anything else about my Granddad please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 13 November , 2006 Share Posted 13 November , 2006 Kevlad Do you have any unit numbers,like the MGC unit,or the Battalion of the KOYLIs,or the Company of the RE? Otherwise it is quite difficult to know where to look,unless,like some of our Pals on the Forum,you have a guide to what unit the soldier and his number was allocated to. You may find yourself having to look in the WO363 records at the National Archives to find these units, that's if the papers are still in existence. Or,if he was granted a disability pension after the war because of the effects of the gas he could more likely be found in the WO364/2174 records,where his application for a pension would be kept. Best wishes Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlad Posted 14 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 14 November , 2006 I'm afraid i don't have any other numbers. Thanks for the tips though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owilki1984 Posted 6 January , 2007 Share Posted 6 January , 2007 Kevlad, I have only just found your thread, as I have been searching the forum to find stuff about the KOYLIs. I notice you mention that your relation was gased on the Somme. Do you know it to be during what can be thermed the infamous battle of the somme in 1916, or was it a later action. Also do you know the date he joined up/was conscripted. Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlad Posted 16 January , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Oli, I don't have any other info. All i have is what i've already mentioned i'm afraid. It Looks like i'll have to get out and about to try and find out more. My Dad thinks it was the original 1916 battle when his Dad was gassed but i don't know if gas was used or not in that battle. Cheers, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owilki1984 Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Kevlad, I don’t know about the use of gas on the Somme but I am sure someone on the forum will know. I do know however that there were other battles on the Somme, especially in 1918 which I have seen referred to as the second Battle of the Somme. The reason I asked was that my great grandfather was in the 9th KOYLI and was conscripted. He started training in October 1917 and his service number was 49673. A difference of c.6000 from your grandfather. However by looking through the roll of honour in David Clayton’s book, From Pontefract to Picardy. The 9th KOYLI in the First World War, I cant see any soldiers with a service numbers 4…. Listed as dead before 21/02/17. This would suggest that your grandfather was serving later around Spring 1917 (again if service numbers are anything to go by). I can’t see any men listed for the battle of the Somme (1916) with similar numbers. You would assume, unless service numbers beginning with 4 were extremely lucky, that some would have been killed if indeed they were there. All a bit anal with the numbers I know but I hope this helps you a little. More knowledgeable people on this forum will undoubtedly be able to better advise you. Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlad Posted 16 January , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Thanks for that Oli. It does seem to rule out 1916 so i can concentrate on later dates. I'll have to get a copy of that book. Thanks again, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 You might also be interested to know that his RE number tells us that he served with the Inland Waterways and Railways Department (from the WR prefix). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevlad Posted 16 January , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Thanks Chris. I know he worked on the docks at Goole which could explain that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owilki1984 Posted 16 January , 2007 Share Posted 16 January , 2007 Chris, that is amazing. I may be showing my ignorance, but how the heck to you know that from his RE number? Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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