30127 William H Winkett

[ajmac]

I have a letter he (my great Grandad) sent to his brother following an injury, the following details are on the letter:
Church Army Recreation Hut.
William H Winkett - 30127
X Company, 5th Worcestershire Regt
Tregamelle Camp, Plymouth, Hunt No4
June 13th 1916

The letter says he doesn't expect to be going back to the front for the duration, thus the injury must have been quite severe I guess.

My Nan always said that he was gassed during the first world war, but never wanted to talk about it. I'm looking to find as much information as possible as to where he was posted and was he really gassed? I presume he was a Private, but I don't know.

Thanks
Alastair.

[LarsA]

Alastair,
It looks like his pension paper have survived and are wiewable on Ancestry. I will have a look and get back.
/Lars

Edit: About 15 pages, which shows that he came to France in Septembe 1916, posted to the 10th battalion. He was wounded three times, first in 1917, nature of wound not stated; then twice in 1918, both times in the feet. The last was of a nature to cause his recommendation for a discharge.

In 1915 he was serving with the 5th, a training battalion, but had not yet come to France.

[ajmac]

Thanks,
Reading the letter agin following your post. I got it wrong! It actually says:
....don't think I shall ever go to the front, we have had very good news up here for a few days there is to be a BIG smash in FRANCE one of the days and I hope that the smash will finish the war so that I can come HOME forever...
So indeed it wasn't any wound that caused him to thik he wouldn't go to france, rather that he thought it would be all over in 1916! I'd now like to find what area of the front he was stationed on, so I can get an idea of what he would have done day to day.
Thanks

Alastair

[LarsA]

He was posted to the 10th Battalion on 23.9.1916. His first wound wa 13.7.1917, second 2.1.18, third, 26.3.1918.

The battalions whereabouts on these dates are most probably recorded in Stackes book on the regiment in WWI. See under "books" in the top menu, it is also available on CD at a lower price than the paper version, or you probably can get it through your library.

if you email me on lars.ahlkvistATmoderat.se I'll help you with the pension papers if. Just replace AT with the correct symbol.

Kind regards,
Lars

[allanp]

Hi Alastair

I have found a reference in the 18th August 1917 edition of the Worcester Herald of, 30127 Pte W. Winkett from Halesowen Wounded.

Regards Allan