Alfred Gest 42240 18th bn

[rgest]

Hello to everyone, I am currently researching my husbands great grandfather who served with the 18th bn and previously the RASC, he was killed 31.07.17 on the first day of the third battle of Ypres and named on the Menin Gate. I have no details of his death but looking at the records of the conditions that day it is clear he was lost in the mud and delluge probably in Sanctuary Wood. I have some records and also census records of him, but we have no photographs of him at all and really my mission is to try and find one perhaps from the battalion, would this be impossible?

[Tim Bell]

The Red Cross records show Alfred was posted missing from  7 Pln of B Coy.  Miss R Gest had made the enquiry and received a negative response on 12/10/1917, after which he will have been presumed dead.  The War Gratuity of £3 shows had been serving for less than 12 months.  Alfred is commemorated on the Chatham War Memorial.  The Pln photos are from 1915, long before Alfred enlisted in the ASC.  I couldn't see an obit or photo in the papers archive.
I note the service medals were returned and think there still may be a prospect that you could seek these from the MoD. I'm afraid I don't know how though.
Welcome to the Forum
Tim

[rgest]

Tim thank you very much indeed. I have another kind gentlemen from the facebook group who told me he was first with the RASC 276917 and then enlisted in Chatham Kent with the Manchester regiment.The records show 'formerly RASC then Manchesters?