Bedfordshire Regiment 1914 Star ,Buffs,1st Garrison Batt Bedfordshire

[inniskilling dragoons]

Hi,

I am trying to trace the war Harry Reeves Bedfordshire Regiment 24320;East Kent Regiment L/8947 had.

I have some of his record which was half burnt ,stating that he demob in 1919 in the 1st Garrision Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment which I belive started in 1915,he has a 1914 star and was badly wounded in the early stages of the war(I know this from a local press cutting reporting of the death of his brother Thomas Reeves 5512 8th Battalion East Surry Regiment).

What I am trying to find out what Battalion was he in at the begining of the war where he got badly injured.Served with the Buffs in India 1916 and demob in the 1st Garrison Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment,did he transfer from the Buffs to 1st Garrision Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment whilst they where in India.

He enlisted 12/08/08

Date of discharge 16/12/19 (on his medal card Action taken list X/1991/2 what dose this mean)

Thanks to anyone who can put me right.

[ian turner]

My guess is that he saw his war service with the Buffs, and was eventually transferred to the Beds in the wind-down to his discharge.

I suppose the service record is too damaged to see the early pages (attestation) which can mention battalion numbers, or on his military service sheets?

Failing that, you might get an idea of which battalion he was in when first entering the theatre of war by checking the actual medal roll which is indexed by his MIC (have you downloaded the MIC? It sometimes gives battalion numbers).

Looking at The Long Long Trail it looks as if he was in either the 1st/4th or 1st/5th battalions of the Buffs, which were in India in 1916.

Finally you might try to ask for any pals on here who are Buffs experts/numbers experts to help, by posting a topic mentioning the Buffs and his number.

Ian

[inniskilling dragoons]

Thanks for the help Ian.

What I got on his medal cards Enlisted 12/08/08

Discharge 16/12/19

I have a local press cutting stating that he is now serving with the Buffs in India 1916 after being badly wounded in the early stages of the war.I think he was serving in the Bedfordshire Regiment at the beginging of the war which battalion I do not know.

On his medal roll I have th following

Medal Roll Page

Victory K/2/104.B.q. 592

British do do

14 Star ?/2/3 96

Date of entry 7.9.14

Thanks

[ian turner]

Here is another take - all speculation frankly, but maybe it points us in a direction:

Per SDGW, numbers in the Buffs around L/8947 were 1 and 2 Bn casualties in 1915. L/8948 was 1st Bn KIA 20/10/14.

Your man's entry date was 7/9/14, and if in the Buffs it would put him as 1st Bn, since the 2nd went to France later.

Then at some point early in the war he was wounded and transferred to the Beds. The 1st Garrison Bn Beds went to India in 1916.

The '14 Star entry - does it give a number for the theatre of war entered? Does it show both Buffs and Beds regiments?

Does the '14 Star have any references that tie it to one or other regiment? Maybe worth to post a copy of the MIC for more expert analyses?

Ian

[inniskilling dragoons]

Hi Ian

You are right Harry Reeves L/8947 was in the 1st Bn Buffs first and then transferred to the 1st Garrison Bn Bedfordshire Regiment at some point after or during 1916

He was in India with the Buffs July 1916(Local Press Cutting),I cannot seem to see any mention of a 1914-15 Star perhaps he was in Hospital in 1915.His cause of discharge in December 1919 is Para 392(XVI)KR which I think is no longer fit for service.

Next task is to go Kew and read the War dairys for the 1st Bn East Kent Regiment.

Thanks for your help.

[ian turner]

I cannot seem to see any mention of a 1914-15 Star perhaps he was in Hospital in 1915.

You mentioned his medal roll card has the '14 Star. He would have qualified when entering a theatre of war on the date given. This is not the '14-15 Star, which was for later entry.

If you have his medal index card then it might be worth your while posting it on here. Some pals can interpret what it says and unlock some further info for you (no promises mind!)

Ian

[inniskilling dragoons]

Hi,

I will have to get one of the family to help me with the scanner.

I have the medal roll and page for the following

ROLL PAGE

Victory K/2/104.Bq 592

British do do

14 Star ?/2/3 96

I made a mistake no 1914-15 as he has 1914 Star.

Thanks

[Michael]

I can confirm his entitlement to the 1914 Star. He sailed from Southampton on TS Minneapolis with the 1st Buffs on 8/9/1914. On 21/11/1914 he was reported to be in a London hospital with serious head wounds. He was from Deptford.

He isn't mentioned in the war diary but if you read up to about mid November 1914 you'll have an idea of their activities on the Marne and 1st Ypres.

Mick

[inniskilling dragoons]

Thanks Mick,

I been trying to work this out for years,Harry Reeves is my Great Uncle.I know you must be very busy but any information on Harry Reeves would be greatly appreciated or any leads I could follow.