George Henry Kelley, KiA at Hillah on 24 July 1920

[Bob.NB]

Guys,
I’m doing some research into George Henry Kelley who was KiA at Hillah on 24 July 1920. I have two questions and would welcome some help:

1)   George initially enlisted in the 21st Battalion the Manchester Regiment and given the number 52909. From this number, can anyone tell me when he enlisted?
2)   His later entry in the regiment’s enlistment books state that he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment (No. 3512883) on 13 March 1919 at Cortona (Italy?). At this time the 2nd Battalion was part of the garrison at Bonn and the 21st Battalion was in France (?). The 2nd Battalion received 12 officers and 353 men in May 1919 and so there is a good chance that Pte Kelley was with this group? Can anyone throw some light on this?

Any help most gratefully received.
Many thanks as always.
Bob B

[Tim Bell]

Hi Bob,
From SWB Rolls
52911 enlisted 10/05/1916
52913 14/10/1916 – Discharged 21st Bn.
52919 06/06/1916
I couldn’t find any records for 52900 numbers but guess these were probably also allocated to conscripts who had enlisted in the summer of 1916.
Where did you find the enlistment book dates please?  I’d like these for the 3 non-com Band Boys.
Tim

[Bob.NB]

Tim,
That's a great help, thank you - I hadn't looked at the SWB roll.
For enlistment books I'm afraid you will have to go to the Manchester Regiment archives at the Tameside Local Studies Library in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The enlistment books often contain quite a lot of information which then makes it easier to carry on researching.
Thanks again and best wishes.
Bob

[charlie]

 Bob
It seems to me to be a bit strange that he was still in Italy 6 months after the 21st Bn had moved back to France. Is there anything in the casualty lists recording him as wounded or sick?

Cortona seems a heck of a long way from anywhere used by the British, its not even on the supply routes from France. I‘m not questioning your reading abilities but have you mistaken Cortona for Tortona which was on one of the main railway lines used to move men and supplies from France?

I don‘t think the British army had a recruiting office in Cortona 
Charlie

[charlie]

Bob
Further to my last post, the Italy volume of the Official History records that in February 1919 it was decided that 4 infantry battalions were to remain in Italy. The units were to be made up of soldiers who had joined the colours in 1916 (which fits in nicely with Tim‘s findings) or later. One of the battalions selected was 22nd Manchesters. It is possible that he was transferred to the 22nd and if later than the armistice it would not show on the medal roll. The OH further records that Tortona was as a base for disposing of stores.

Charlie

[Bob.NB]

Charlie,
The plot thickens - yes he did suffer some type of wound or infection (I can't decipher it) in June 1918 at Villaverla, Italy and was sent by ambulance train to Genova where he remained for nine days.
I think he was probably one of those who remained in Italy, possibly working at the Tortona depot where he signed up for the 2nd Battalion - unluckily for him.
Thanks again and best wishes.
Bob

[charlie]

Charlie,
The plot thickens - yes he did suffer some type of wound or infection (I can't decipher it)

Post a scan or photo, we might be able to help.

[Bob.NB]

Charlie, Just found that he was diagnosed with influenza when with the 39th Casualty Clearing Hospital.
It's the previous few days with the 31st Ambulance train that I cannot decipher but I guess it's to do with the (Spanish?) Flu..
I hope it uploads OK - I can never get this to work.
Thanks again for all your help.
Bob B

[charlie]

Bob
PUO(Ebid) is the diagnosis. PUO= Pyrexia of Uncertain Origin. From a sample taken of approx 26000 cases  about 21500 were found to be Trench Fever, which is a contagious disease spread through lice. Interestingly the initial symptoms of Trench fever and influenza were similar. To quote from the Official History - Medical services, Diseases of the War Vol. 1
„Before influenza became epidemic the diagnosis of trench fever was frequent and unhesitating. After influenza appeared trench fever was a rare cause of admission and every fever with pain was called influenza“

What the Ebid bit means I don‘t know.

Charlie

[Bob.NB]

Charlie,
You are a mine of information - that's brilliant, very many thanks.
The old adage about research - "never give up", is so true.
Thanks again for all your help.
Bob

[charlie]

Bob
What I thought was „Ebid“ is actually „Epid“ the p is badly written. Epid is short for Epidermal i.e. on the skin. One of the symptoms of trench fever was a rash that consisted of small rosy spots and was usually found on the chest and abdomen.

Edit - I must have sat in the sun too long yesterday, the abbreviation is of course PUO and not POU, still the same disease though  I‘ve corrected it in my previous post.
Charlie

[Bob.NB]

Charlie,
Many thanks for sticking with this.
It's definitely "PUO (Epid)" so what you say makes sense but just a few days later he's in hospital having been diagnosed with "Influenza"?
I guess he could have had both.
Best wishes.
Bob