Greg Bloomfield Posted 26 October , 2007 Share Posted 26 October , 2007 Pals I need some help please on these battalions. I have the medals to a soldier who served in 52nd Graduated Battalion (Devons) but who later fetched up in the Royal Berkshires. Would anybody know if drafts were taken from these training units to plug gaps as and where required or would they have gone into a Devons battalion and been transferred at a later date? He was in the 52nd (Graduated Bn.) in March 1918, at a time when the army was incurring massive losses because of the German breakthrough and many units would have needed reinforcing so this might possibly have influenced events. Any pointers would be appreciated. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmoha Posted 26 October , 2007 Share Posted 26 October , 2007 Orbat site Found this the other day in relation to a 53rd Young Soldiers battalion, scroll to the bottom and it explains the role of Training Battalions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bloomfield Posted 27 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2007 Thanks mate but I already had that. I can't find any reference anywhere though as to whether or not these lads stayed within their regimental systems before being re-cap badged or were moved from the Graduated battalions directly to other regiments (as I suspect they were). Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 27 October , 2007 Share Posted 27 October , 2007 Greg There were only 23 regiments which had Graduated and Young Soldier battalions so a high proportion of Graduated men would have been sent to other regiments. This was especially true in terms of the 1918 Spring offensives. "Cap-badging" was pretty nominal in these cases. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bloomfield Posted 27 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2007 Thanks Ron I had suspected as much. He was later wounded with the Berkshires, somewhere around Le Cateau so family rumour has it, and then went to Ireland with the 2nd battalion in 1919 where he met his wife, so a happy ending. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 27 October , 2007 Share Posted 27 October , 2007 Hi, Did the graduated battalions keep diaries? I've been trying to access 53rd Royal Sussex's diary but with no luck. Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 27 October , 2007 Share Posted 27 October , 2007 There was no requirement to keep a War Diary except on active service. Some battalions kept informal diaries/ logs/ scrapbooks, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Garnett Posted 27 October , 2007 Share Posted 27 October , 2007 Thanks, That would explain why I couldn't find one! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prussia Posted 28 October , 2007 Share Posted 28 October , 2007 Pals I need some help please on these battalions. I have the medals to a soldier who served in 52nd Graduated Battalion (Devons) but who later fetched up in the Royal Berkshires. Would anybody know if drafts were taken from these training units to plug gaps as and where required or would they have gone into a Devons battalion and been transferred at a later date? He was in the 52nd (Graduated Bn.) in March 1918, at a time when the army was incurring massive losses because of the German breakthrough and many units would have needed reinforcing so this might possibly have influenced events. Any pointers would be appreciated. Greg Hello Greg Coincidently I'm a Plymothian and have a great uncle who was called up into the Devons in 1918! He was part of a large draft taken around June 1918 into the 5th Berkshires. He was regrettably killed on August 24th 1918 a couple of days after the 5th Battalion the Berkshires successfully assaulted the village of Meulte and just before the Battalion assualted a wood just to the north of the Peronne road with very heavy casualties.In fact he was one of only 3 casualties that day. I was able to buy a private history of the 5 th Berkshires whist visiting the Somme about 5 years ago. It is very much in the form of a battallion diary and list all casualties and actions in 1918. Do you think it it may be of some help to you in your research ? regards Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bloomfield Posted 28 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2007 Malcolm There's every chance it could if he was in the 5th Battalion at that time. His name was Pte W E Stevens, 11446. He was shot in the hand on one occassion but only superficially and cracked on. He was secondly shot in the leg and this caused him to be evacuated. I'm afraid that Le Cateau is the only place name the family can remember him mentioning but that's not a million miles away from there. If you can come up with anything it would be hugely appreciated. What was you Great Uncle's service number by the way? Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prussia Posted 29 October , 2007 Share Posted 29 October , 2007 Malcolm There's every chance it could if he was in the 5th Battalion at that time. His name was Pte W E Stevens, 11446. He was shot in the hand on one occassion but only superficially and cracked on. He was secondly shot in the leg and this caused him to be evacuated. I'm afraid that Le Cateau is the only place name the family can remember him mentioning but that's not a million miles away from there. If you can come up with anything it would be hugely appreciated. What was you Great Uncle's service number by the way? Greg Hello Greg My great uncle William Reginald Giles was given a new service number (43893) when he was drafted to the 5th Royal Berkshires. My book covers the territorial Battalions of the Royal Berkshires in 1918 (5, 6 and 8th Battalions). I was interested only in the 5th where my great uncle served. However I got the book out last night and can confirm that the clue from family members about Le Cateau is correct - the 8th Battalion Royal Berkshires attacked from there (against L'Eveque Wood on 23 October 1918) as part of the larger preparations for the assualt on the Forest of Mormal. Casualties were Officers: 1 Killed and 4 Wounded(including the Medical Officer) Other Ranks 19 Killed ,1 died of wounds , 67 wounded and 3 missing. Was your mans number the original one that he had in the Devonshire Regiment? You are very welcome to borrow the book for a couple of weeks if you want to copy anything for your research. Send me an E mail and we'll sort it out. regards Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bloomfield Posted 29 October , 2007 Author Share Posted 29 October , 2007 Malcolm PM on it's way. Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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