Information on 63200 Pt Daniel Guiray

[alan8859]

I am researching my wife's family tree and her Great Uncle Daniel Guiray and Great Grandfather Daniel Guiray both died in WW1.

Great Uncle Guiray died as a result of 'shell gas poisoning' whilst serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers however on his medal records card he is listed as being with the Manchester Regiment before the Northumberland Fusiliers. Was it common to change regiments and would there be any details of his service with the Manchesters?

cheers
Alan

[PhilipG]

Alan, first of all welcome to the Forum.

Changing Regiments:

It often depended on the "exigencies of the service".  Thus, when a soldier came under the orders of a drafting unit, say at Etaples and reinforcements were required, the authorities would make up a draft of men to be sent to the unit most in need at that time, in this case men of the Manchesters to the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Lack of commonsense sometimes caused unsuitable postings e.g. men from a Highland Regiment to a Lowland Regiment.  Regards, PhilipG.

[alan8859]

Philip thanks for the reply to my post. I thought it may have been something like that for the change in Regiment. I think what confused me was his number changing as well as I thought it would have remained the same.

cheers
Alan