All,
Many thanks for your respective inputs. We thought we had posted a response last night, but we can’t find it now. Therefore, here goes with a second attempt.
We have looked at Leslie’s RE connection and were aware the WR/ prefix to his regimental number signified ‘Waterways and Railways’; his RE medal roll page is also stamped ‘RAILWAYS’. We used the same method to determine the most likely date for his transfer to the RE, and this showed it took place, including the assignation of his 338878 number, during the period 18-24 May 1918 at Longmoor Camp, Hants under the authority of Army Council Instruction (ACI) 468/1918. Of the 35 men identified by name for our sample, 31 were infantrymen, one was from the cavalry and just 3 are recorded as having served in the RE only. Leslie came from a family of craftsmen, so we accept it is possible that he could have been transferred due to specialist skills/knowledge. We have yet to find a copy of ACI 468/1918, which might provide more specific guidance. However, looking at the men’s previous occupations, where recorded, they include a gardener, a tanner and a printer; only 2, a ‘railway servant’ and a fitter’s mate show any form of connection to the rail industry. On the other hand, 2 (possibly 3) of the men have lowered medical categories while at least 16 have records of wounds or hospitalizations before the end of 1917. Therefore, our current thinking (albeit not confirmed) is that Leslie and the others were compulsorily transferred on the grounds that they were no longer medically fit for infantry service. As for his WR/205551 regimental number, the WR/2055XX range of numbers appears to have been assigned in almost the same numerical sequence to our sample group (there are 1-2 exceptions), suggesting they were issued before these men were dispersed among RE railway units. The earliest recorded date of anyone moving elsewhere is 17 June 1918, again suggesting the WR/2055XX numbers were assigned before that date.
Leaving aside the above (and our original post), we still feel Leslie spent some time with the 2/8 Bn Manchester Regiment. Firstly, there are family recollections of him having done so alongside a relative who, from our separate analysis of Census records, we believe to be 42414 Richard Ernest Millson who is recorded as serving in that Bn. Secondly, we have researched other grandparents’ WW1 service in other regiments and studied several hundred records in the process. As a general rule, we have noted medal roll entries showing transfers between infantry regiments almost always contain Bn details while those related to infantry to corps transfers, eg RE, RA or Labour Corps, Bn details are often omitted. Therefore, while respecting these surviving records as a good guide, we believe they can’t always be taken as entirely accurate.
Finally, we too were confused about regimental numbers being assigned apparently out of sequence in terms of date. However, ACI 1499 of 1916 ‘Procedures Regarding Transfers and Postings of Infantry Drafts on Arrival in France’ makes provision for IBDs to have blocks of up to 5000 un-assigned regimental numbers so they can be used for inter-regimental transfers in France. This should have reduced the risk of duplicated numbers and may explain how some numbers do not follow in strict date order.
Kind regards and season's greetings,
Millsons
