Assistance required.

[soldier75]

Hi,

Giving Denny26355 a hand tracing her Grandfathers military service, we have a possible connection to a Pte James Mason No 21588 9th Bn South Lancs. However, we have hit a stumbling block. Her Grandad was married in Widnes, Lancashire in Aug 1919, the 9th South Lancs where still in the Dardanelles until the end of Sept 1919 when they emabarked for UK and disbandment. Under what circumstances would he have left before the Bn in those days, I doubt he would have been granted compassionate leave, even with the war ended.

Can anyone suggest a reason, we have checked the SWB Rolls and can find no trace of him, family recollections do not mention he was wounded or evacuated sick.

Pte James Mason 21588 South Lancs is a burnt/destroyed record, that has been ascertained, so no luck there, the South Lancs museum may have some details, but as yet we do not know how much.

Anybody got any ideas as to where to go next, apart from a local newspaper archive check this week.

Thanking you in anticipation

Jones 75 Harry

[delta]

what was his pre-war employment - could this have given him prioirty for release

[grantowi]

Might have been wounded, left behind to recover and join his unit later

Grant

[soldier75]

Grantowi and Delta,

No recollection in the family of any wounds or sickness, and his possible pre-war occupation was Pipe Fitter, so I doubt that would grant him early release. Thanks for the suggestions anyway.

Jones 75 Harry

[ian turner]

9th S. Lancs were in 22nd Div.

From Long Long Trail:

Demobilisation began at Chugunsi, and the Division ceased to exsit by 31 March 1919.

It therefore seems possible that he had returned to the UK by August 1919?

Ian

[soldier75]

Ian,

Not what the Regimental History says, according to that they embarked for the UK and disbandment at the end of Sept 1919. I have no doubt that the Division ceased to exist, but the Bn was retained in their location.

Thanks for your input.

Regards Harry

[ian turner]

Harry,

Whilst the division and the battalion had official end dates, men were individually demobilised at varying dates after the war's end. I have no idea whether this was the case with your chap, but it would seem a possibility.

Ian

[soldier75]

Ian,

Already considered that, but we can`t come up with a reason as to why, he was not wounded and there is no knowledge of him ever contracting any sickness/disease, so it`s a mystery.

Tahnks anyway.

Regards Harry

[Chris_Baker]

Most battalions were wound down in size after the respective armistices. Men were demobilised and discharged while the remainder of the battalion remained where they were. Other than certain trades which were prioritised, in general those men who had volunteered early were released before the Derbyites or conscripts. There is nothing particularly unusual about a man being in England in August 1919 when the cadre of his unit was still overseas.

[soldier75]

Chris,

Many thanks for this useful info, hopefully this will help to convince us that this is what happened, Pte James Mason, we think, joined up in Feb/Mar 1915, so it would make sense, thanks again.

Regards Harry

Most battalions were wound down in size after the respective armistices. Men were demobilised and discharged while the remainder of the battalion remained where they were. Other than certain trades which were prioritised, in general those men who had volunteered early were released before the Derbyites or conscripts. There is nothing particularly unusual about a man being in England in August 1919 when the cadre of his unit was still overseas.