Lancashire Fusiliers in Gallipoli, Egypt then France.

[robmoff]

I have a MIC and some scans of the Pay book of a Henry Chapman who served with the Lancashire Fusiliers. His MIC gives a date of entry to 2B of 23rd August 1915. While the scans of his Pay Book (they are probably actually digital photos from a third party) are not too clear entries 1 and 3 are definitely Suvla Bay. There is then a time gap and entries resume early in 1916 through to late June ( just before the fold on the next scan), another brief time gap and entries resume, under a heading Franks and are all 'in the field'

These tie in fairly well with the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. They arrive in Suvla Bay 7th August 1915, withdrew to Egypt 21st December 1915 and arrived in Southern France in July 1916. The gaps fit in with the movements from one country to another, and the last entries are certainly France. That still leaves one problem, HIS date of entry into Gallipoli is given as 23rd August (on his MIC). Could he have been delayed, possibly aboard ship, due to sickness or injury; or is there something I'm missing?

Could anyone identify any of the places in the Pay book please?

[Stebie9173]

I know that some troops (specifically the 1/4th Northamptons in early August) left the Transport, and "1st Reinforcements" in Alexandria, the main contingent landing at Suvla on the 16th, with the "reinforcements" arriving on 21st August 1915 having been transported to Gallipoli aboard a "tramp steamer" (the Esmeraldas in this case) They departed Alex 17-8-1915, arrived Lemnos 20-8-1915, then to Gallipoli aboard fast boat 21-8-1915, and joined unit 23-8-1915 (the latter date a coincidence, perhaps)

I suspect a similar event might have occured in this case?

Steve.

[robmoff]

Your thoughts make more sense than mine. (I ought to have a rubber stamp made with that on!)

Thanks

Rob