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Remembered Today:

Army Vet. Corps


John_Hartley

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My current researchee (about whom I know precious little) served with the Veterinary Corps. His service number was SE/6736. Does the SE prefix give any clue to what his job might have been, in the same way as ASC prefixes?

John

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John,

I've seen this prefix for some AVC guys who ended up in 5th Seaforth and have wondered what it meant.

Looking at AVC casulaties this is by far the most common AVC prefix, which might argue against any specialised qualification. Dunno what the skills required by an AVC OR were, but basic 'horse sense' :D was probably very common in 1914.

The first AVC casualy is SE/343 on 8 Oct 14, the second SE/17 on 5 Nov 14 - it could just be the prefix used for wartime enlistments.

Jock

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Jock

Your theory could well be right. My man is SE/6736 and died at home 9/11/18. My guess is that he was probably a young man - based on no trace on 1901 Census and no listing as Absent Voter. About the only thing I know about this guy is that folk, who were almost certainly his relatives, were registered voters in the village in 1918.

I reckon this is now a "cold trail". Thanks for the info, mate.

John

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In 'Army Veterinary Service in War' by Moore (1921) General Moore notes that ' on first mobilisation of the field Veterinary Units with the Expeditionary Force for france, expansion of AVC was made by cavalry reservists for horse keeper or groom duties' he goes on to say thatbthe majority stayed with the AVC, ultimately transferring and becoming NCOs. the 'majority of the AVC personnel employed during the War, with the exception of theose with mobile Veterinary Sections, were either over 41 years of age or were a category unfitted for service in the front line. Recruits or transfers, as a rule, had a working knowledge of horses'

Records were also kept of their civilian skills and these were utilised ( ie joiners in the construction of hospitals etc etc).

In the establishment lists for hospitals and units there are no job titles easily representing S/E. Ptes are either 'grooms' or 'dressers'.

The location of the death of your researchee ( if he died) may give an indication as to which mobile Unit he was with, if you think he was young.

Looks as if S/E is a Special or Service enlistment?

Adam

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In one of those Statto moments -

There are 419 AVC casualties on SDGW

9 have R/ numbers(3 or 4 digits), where a previous regiment is given it is cavalry or artillery, all 'Died'. How about R = Remount.

3 have SR/ numbers (2 digits - 16, 40, 45), one is ex King Edward's Horse. How about SR = Special Reserve.

37 have TT/ numbers ( 4 or 5 digits, all with a 0 as first number - except for one 3 digit number without a 0 - misprint?). Striking that the earliest casualty in this lot is Dec 16. Checking a random sample of 5 on CWGC turns up 4 attached to TF units. And Howard Wilkinson lists TT-0288 as appearing on an AVC Territorial Force WM. So how about TT = Territorials ?.

The remaining 370 have SE numbers - and somebody else can find something to say about them. I could buy either of the expansions offered Adam.

Quite a nice little research project here for someone.

Jock

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One of my local men was an AVC man with an SE number.

Albert Holden, Private SE/1306, 10th Veterinary Hospital, enlisted 'soon after the outbreak of war.' His service record doesn't survive, but he was a forty year old, single man, who had not had any previous military service. By occupation he was a carter, believed to drive the coal delivery horse and cart locally. His date of entry to France was 8th December 1914, so quite early, and he died one week later of illness while still in Boulogne.

'Wartime enlistment' would fit him well.

Regards - Sue

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Of course, thinking about it a bit more the one thing that is missing from my carefully constructed edifice above are the men who were 'none of the above'. I.e. not Remounts, not SR, not TF and not wartime enlistments .........

R = regulars might be a better suggestion.

My head hurts :(

Jock

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Quite a nice little research project here for someone.

Not me, mate. I am already deeply regretting posting this in the first place. My head hurts just reading your response.

I think, from the three comments, that we can just assume that SE is just the "usual" designation and I am more than happy to leave it like that.

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  • 2 weeks later...

SE prefix denotes that he is a member of the 9th Section Veterinary Corps and I do note know how large the 9th Section Veterinary Carps was.

Regards

John

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I've researched about 6 men of the AVC, and all had SE prefixes. If their service papers have gone they are most difficult to research, as the medal rolls offer no clues as to unit. I found one, I think, on an embarkation log, and the rest were just 'well we know he was in the AVC and that's about it'.

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  How about R = Remount.

After being treated at the veterinary hospitals horses were reissued to the Remount Service ready for further use.

This is described in "Animal War Heroes" - Peter Shaw Baker

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Regarding Jock's comments suggesting 'TT' prefixes refering to Territorials, I would agree. I have details of three men of the AVC who served in the 1/1st West Lancs Mobile Veterinary Section, 55th (West Lancs) Territorial Division and they all have a 'TT' number - TT0367, TT0373 & TT01728.

Ken

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  • 1 month later...

I have just found Huxley, HJ SE/18093

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment: Army Veterinary Corps

Secondary Regiment: Royal Field Artillery

Secondary Unit Text: attd. 52nd Army Bde.

He was killed on 22/08/1918

He was my mothers grandfather, and that side of the family was lost with a remarriage. Is there any good reference material on the AVC during the war?

I would be interested to know the distribution of the AVC to the RFA.

It is amazing that of that this unit has been so neglected, but when you think about it, the major form of transportation and supply was the horse (and the use of pigeons!)

Any pushes in the right direction would be appreciated as I put this man and his life back together for his decendents.

Bill

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With regard to prefixes; the following link is a list of prefixes compiled by myself and other forum members. Please add to it, correct it and above all use it! :D

It is the intention that when there is a definitive list to send Chris and copy and have him include it on the site. At the moment I believe a significant amount of the letter prefixes are included, but I'm still a bit short on the ground for numeric prefixes. Do note that I have a more complete and up to date copy, and when I've tidied it up a bit then I'll post it.

I hope it comes in handy,

Alex.

http://www.1914-1918.org/forum/index.php?s...181&hl=prefixes

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