George Henry Booth 2657 1st battalion

[Peter Booth]

My Name is Peter Booth and I am researching my Grandfather who served in the 1st Manchesters and was killed in Ypres in April 1915.
There are some peculiar things about his records that don't seem to add up so if any of you can shed some light I will be very grateful.

His regimental number was 2657 which is a relatively low number, but I am unable to find any other service record before the 1st world War.
When he died on Tuesday 27th April 1915 he was 39 years old and was still a private.

Is it likely that someone of that age could have volunteered for the regiment at the outbreak of war and been given the srvice number that he had?

Thanks in advance

Peter

[tonyrod]

hi peter , and welcome to the forum,  cwgc have him at 40, this was not  unusual  my own g-grandfather was 47 when he was k.i.a. check out ancestry for service and British Army WWI Pension Records, with as much info you can put in the search,

BOOTH, GEORGE HENRY
Initials:    G H
Nationality:    United Kingdom
Rank:    Private
Regiment/Service:    Manchester Regiment
Unit Text:    1st Bn.
Age:    40
Date of Death:    27/04/1915
Service No:    2657
Additional information:    Son of Harry and Mary Booth; husband of Sarah Booth, of 69, Victoria St., Longsight, Manchester.
Casualty Type:    Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:    Addenda Panel 59.
Memorial:    YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

http://www.themanchesters.org/1st%20batt.htm


1915
In March orders were recieved for the attack on Neuve Chapelle, on the 10th March the battalion marched to the SE of Neuve Chapelle, on the next day they attacked but where unsuccesful. On the 12th they attacked the Bois de Biez and eventually reached the fornt line trenches but suffered bad casualties. The attack failed mainly due to other units being unable to reach their objectives.

In April the battalion was ordered up to the Ypres area again where the situation had become critical due to the german gas attack. There the battalion attacked over a distance of 1600 yards and suffered bad casualties from machine gun and shell fire. Here Corporal Issy Smith won a Victoria Cross, exposing himself to heavy fire to rescue wounded men. The battalion was specially mentioned by General Smith-Dorien for their 'great service' in the battle of second Ypres.

[harribobs]

hi peter

and welcome to the forum

George went to France on the 29th March 1915, he also went straight into the 1st Battalion, which were regulars. I suspect he had already been in the army and was in reserve. The soldiers who volunteered at the start of the war were still training at that time and didn't go abroad until the end of 1915

cheers

chris

[Wendi]

Hi Peter and Welcome to our Forum !

Where have you looked for his service record prior to WW1?

Wendi 

[Peter Booth]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies. I tried the war records at Kew but his were lost in WW2. His medal record only shows WW1 activity. I have tried a couple of sites covering the Boer war, but have not been able to find any that list his name. I know that the Regiment covered South Africa and Ireland.
Do you know of any records that would cover the Manchester Regiment prior to WW1?

Thanks

Peter

[harribobs]

peter

it may well be worth a post in the boer war secton to see if his name comes up in the medal rolls, although we all work as a team we tend to specialise in our own areas of interest 

cheers

chris

[Wendi]

Peter, were he as you suspect a retired soldier prior to WW1 his pension records should be at TNA but not available online.

Click Here for their research guide.

Wendi 

[Cathy]

Hi Uncle Peter. I found a George Henry Booth posted to Malta in 1898. I can't link that posting to this regiment though. Try findmypast.co.uk. You'll have to subscribe to get detailed info and / or copies of documents.