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WW1,soldier research.

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Sleepynicmatt (U13844304) on Monday, 20th July 2009

  Me Again..Is it possible that a soldier in WW1 could be in 3 different regiments? I have found the service record of my g,grandfather John Melean,and it lists the 3 regiments,but there is some confusion about the spelling of the surname Melean.Could this still be my John Melean?How do I confirm it is the correct soldier? I am new to this type of research and would appreciate any help and advice.Many thanks.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Monday, 20th July 2009

  Are you sure it is three different regiments, and not three different battalions of the same regiment?
  
  It is not impossible to have served in three regiments, especially if your relative was commissioned (men commissioned from the ranks often moved to another regiment), but it was more common to move between battalions in the same regiment.
  
  Can you say which units he served with?
  
  LW

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Sleepynicmatt (U13844304) on Monday, 20th July 2009

  Hi LW,thanks for the reply...John Melean's 3 units were Army Service Corp,North Fusillers,and finally Tank Corp....(these are what are listed on his service card)the tank corp is listed at cwgc website and on a cenotaph near where I live.I would just love to do a bit of research on his 'war' history.John Melean died feb 1919,aged 37,leaving a wife and 9 children!his wife set off to 'meet' him in Southampton on his return from???? but he died before she got there.I have his death cert from Southampton though he is buried in Cardiff.I am interested in where he fought and would dearly love to piece together everything about him during WW1.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by colonelblimp (U1705702) on Monday, 20th July 2009

  It's possible. My great uncle enlisted in the RAMC in 1914 and served with them in Salonika. In September 1918, he was transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, in the same theatre. I don't know whether he volunteered to go but I think it's more likely, given the manpower situation by that stage of the war, that there was a "rake-out" of suitable men from noncombatant units to top up infantry battalions. John Melean could maybe have found his Way from the ASC to the Northumberland Fusiliers in the same fashion, then volunteered for the Tank Corps.
  
  It seems it is the same man in all 3 corps - there's a medal index card for John Melean on which they're all listed:
  
  

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• Message 5

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  Posted by vera1950 (U9920163) on Monday, 20th July 2009

  yes it is possible to serve in different regiments and battalions.
  My husbands grandfather enlisted in Jan 1915 into the 5th Manchester (Wigan).
  On the 1st of July 1916 he was in the Kings Liverpool Regt which along with the Manchesters took Montabaun.
  he was KIA on 23rd April 1917 near Arras and was then in the 18th Manchesters.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Tuesday, 21st July 2009

  Snm
  
  Very interesting. Transferring from the infantry to the Tank Corps puts him in good company - Clement Attlee did the same thing (although he transferred back again before seeing action in tanks).
  
  Researching your relative's war service may be difficult if you don't have any more details. As he was a private, he is unlikely to be mentioned by name in any unit war diaries.
  
  I believe the T2 prefix to his ASC number identifies him as a man who volunteered for the second Kitchener Army. For the first two "Kitchener Armies", each Army Command raised a division (ie. 9th and then 15th Scottish, 10th and then 16th Irish). If you know where he joined up, you should be able to find out which ASC units were formed for the relevant division, and where. Local newspapers of the time may mention volunteers by name.
  
  His transfer to the Northumberland Fusiliers was probably voluntary. His ASC unit's war diary, if it exists, won't mention him by name, but it might mention the departure of a draft to the NF (but if you don't know roughly when he transferred, it could take a lot of looking!
  
  I would suggest you try one of the specialist WWI websites - they know a lot more than I do. The Tank Museum at Bovington is very good, and they may some ideas about finding out his Tank Corps service.
  
  Good luck
  
  LW
  

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Sleepynicmatt (U13844304) on Thursday, 23rd July 2009

  Thanks LW for reply,and yes I will start looking thru local newspapers in Cardiff library to see if I can find out any more info.I should up my game on doing this research, as I really dont have a clue on where to look and don't understand all the abbreviations/units/regiments etc....And I will definately take at look at some websites too...I have a picture of John Melean in uniform given by a cousin but she has no other info on him at all,and seeing him in person and uniform I would dearly love to know more about his war years....Thanks again Aileen

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Sleepynicmatt (U13844304) on Thursday, 23rd July 2009

  hi colonelblimp & thanks for your reply.i have found john melean's medal index card on the website,and have paid and printed it off for my file.And I am now going to research at the local library to see if I can find out any info about enlisting etc and also if there is any mention of his death(thinking that it might give small obituary with information?)thanks again...

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Thursday, 23rd July 2009

  Snm
  
  The K2 division that covered Wales was the 19th (Western) Division. Lloyd George pressed for a "Welsh Corps" of divisions raised solely in Wales, but Kitchener resisted, eventually giving way and allowing one; 38th (Welsh).
  
  19th Divisional Train ASC had four companies, 154, 155, 156 and 157. One of these was probably raised in Cardiff (I don't know which one).
  
  The following site is often recommended, and they offer to answer questions:
  
  
  
  LW

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