16th Lancers - a numbering question

[Chris_Baker]

I've looked up the MIC of a soldier of the 16th Lancers. He was 12431 Pte Hugh Gordon.

Curiously, his MIC records no medal entitlement and says "EEF 24 June 1919".

A quick look at Soldiers Died shows very few men with numbers near his. The nearest is 12493 Pte William Arnold, killed on 31 October 1914. (CWGC says he is buried in grave A1 in Kemmel Churchyard).

All other casualties with numbers remotely near Gordon's died in 1918, in France.

The 16th Lancers were indeed moved to Syria after the war, so the EEF bit fits, but can any conclusion be drawn from the numbering? Why would one man be in France in 1914, when no other casualties (in the number range) died until 1918? Just luck? Or was there something unusual (or even erroneous) about Arnold?

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Chris,

Perhaps Arnold was the odd man out in that he served with a unique squadron, with respect to the men with numbers around him?

Have you looked up Pte Arnold's medal 1914 medal roll to ascertain his squadron?

Compare it to Gordon's..................perhaps?

Just a thought.

Ian