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Lincolnshire Regiment labour corps


wallerr

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Can anyone tell me why my grandfather, Henry Waller, b.1892 was in the Lincolnshire regiment agricultural Labour corps. I don't have his date of enlistment but he worked as a railway shunter and had 2 children born in 1915 and 1917. Would this have any bearing on him having a blighty base. Also his two brothers were in the York & Lancs, why wouldn't grandfather have been drafted to the same local regiment.

Roger

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Hi Roger,

It may have been for a number of reasons, the most common being that he was unfit for active service or age.

These links will give you some more info on the Labour Corps:

http://www.1914-1918.net/labour.htm

http://www.geocities.com/labour_corps/

Steve

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Can anyone tell me why my grandfather, Henry Waller, b.1892 was in the Lincolnshire regiment agricultural Labour corps. I don't have his date of enlistment but he worked as a railway shunter and had 2 children born in 1915 and 1917. Would this have any bearing on him having a blighty base. Also his two brothers were in the York & Lancs, why wouldn't grandfather have been drafted to the same local regiment.

Roger

Do you mean that he was in the Lincolnshire Regiment and then the Labour Corps? Despite the 'pals' battalions early on, men could end up in any Regiment or Corps depending what was needed at the time.

stevem

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Do you mean that he was in the Lincolnshire Regiment and then the Labour Corps? Despite the 'pals' battalions early on, men could end up in any Regiment or Corps depending what was needed at the time.

stevem

Good question. I'm sadly lacking on his service record so do not know anymore than what I've stated. He died 1919 of influenza whilst still in service at Litchfield military hospital. Throughout my young life I always thought he'd have been on the front line. Then the internet comes and spoils all your boyhood boasts. Oh what the hell.

Roger

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Good question. I'm sadly lacking on his service record so do not know anymore than what I've stated. He died 1919 of influenza whilst still in service at Litchfield military hospital. Throughout my young life I always thought he'd have been on the front line. Then the internet comes and spoils all your boyhood boasts. Oh what the hell.

Roger

Is he H L Waller buried in Worsborough (St Mary's) Burial ground?

stevem

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Thats him

Follow this link http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...casualty=410041 he is on the CWGC site.

He was in Lincolns and then Labour Corps. He could therefore have served overseas and been wounded. Have you checked for his medal index card? I presume you have checked at Kew for his Service Records (some 30% survived)

I think he may have been in the 12th (labour ) Battalion Lincolns formed at Brocklesbury in July 1916. They moved to France in August 1916 and worked on lines of communication. In April 1917 they were transferred to the Labour Corps as 16th and 17th. Although he seems to have gone to 15th Labour Corps.

One slight problem - I cannot find him on soldiers died for Labour Corps but this may be becasue he died of Flu or they just missed it.

It does though have another Waller who may be one of his brothers!

Waller, Frederick, born Birdwell Yorks enlisted Barnsley Yorks, abode Birdwell, 16653, Private, died of wounds, France and Flanders,24/10/17, formerly 26742, York & Lanc regt.

stevem

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Cannot find a medal index card so I have always assumed he never left English shores.Though one of the "hand downs" is one of the tri nation flag silk handkerchiefs which has a note on saying "brought back by granddad". Did I once read that a sack full of medal index cards were lost in transit? A visit to Kew is one of the next steps. Indeed it is his older bother Frederick, another brother, Ernest, also Y & L's survived.

Thanks

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Cannot find a medal index card so I have always assumed he never left English shores.Though one of the "hand downs" is one of the tri nation flag silk handkerchiefs which has a note on saying "brought back by granddad". Did I once read that a sack full of medal index cards were lost in transit? A visit to Kew is one of the next steps. Indeed it is his older bother Frederick, another brother, Ernest, also Y & L's survived.

Thanks

Yes you need to check the medal rolls for Lincs and Labour Corps. Sometimes you also need a bit of lateral thinking with MICs. Have you just tried putting the surname in?

stevem

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Yes you need to check the medal rolls for Lincs and Labour Corps. Sometimes you also need a bit of lateral thinking with MICs. Have you just tried putting the surname in?

stevem

Thanks Steve, will give it a go. Didn't know of this alternative.

Roger

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Thanks Steve, will give it a go. Didn't know of this alternative.

Roger

The Medal Index Cards - online lead to the Medal Rolls which are not online but at Kew. The letters and numbers next to the medals awarded are the ref. But if you cannot find an MIC you can still check all the Medal Rolls for the Battalion/Corps - it just takes longer. They are in WO 329 at Kew. Good luck

Stevem

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