Worcestershire Regiment

Hello

I am interested in tracing the records of my great grandfather, Harry Barnsley, who died in France in October 1918. He is on the roll of honour so I have some of his details and have been to his grave near Armentieres. I would like to find out when he joined the regiment, where his battalion was during his period of service and if possible roughly where he died. I'm not sure how much of this information is available nor how to go about obtaining it, so I would very much appreciate any advice anyone could give me.

Thank you

Giles Draper

Hello Giles,
not going to be easy to track Harry's path to his destiny. He came to the Worcestershire Regiment from the Warwickshire regiment. I assume you already knew this? He is in a block of numbers used for "In the field transfers" but he was more drafted than volunteered to transfer. The draft/transfer was shortly before his death in August/September 1918. Looking at his number in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 42594, I suspect it is also an "In the field transfer". Check on their website if anyone has any details. Finding out where he was when he died should be the easy bit. Maybe some kind person on this Forum can give you details of what and where the 2/8th Battalion was on 2nd Oct 1918. The details are in Captain Stacke's book on the regiment. If not, look at the Topic on this Forum called "MyGrandfather", author, Paul. It lists a book that will give all you want to know. Have you PlumPudding his medal index card yet? This will give the date he went overseas, if it was before 1st January 1916. I suspect he left after this tho.
Regards Mike Jones

Hello Mike

Thank you ever so much for your reply about my great grandfather, it's a great help. I had no idea he transferred from the Warwickshire regiment but it makes perfect sense since he was from Birmingham and not Worcestershire. Where did you find the information about the 'in the field transfers'?

Cheers

Giles
PS are you from Gillingham in Kent? I'm from Maidstone but live in Northants.

Hi Giles,
yes it is Gillingham, kent, right beside the football club of the same name. The "In the field transfers" comes from my own research. I found certain blocks of numbers out of sequence, date wise, always to groups of men transferred in. Harry will have come in with a group of others from the Warwickshire Regiment at a time of need.
Regards Mike

Hi Giles. Is this your man?

Barnsley. H. Private Worcestershire Regiment.
He Joined in 1918 and shortley afterwards was drafted to the Western front. After only 4 days active service in France, he was Killed in Action at Sailly on October 2nd 1918. He was entitled to the General Service & Victory Medals.
423 Park Road, Hockley, Birmingham

Allan

Dear Allan,

Thank you so much for that information, I think it's spot on. It's really made my day to find out more about him and I'm going to pass it on to my grandmother, who is his daughter. She'll be really pleased.

Thanks again,

Giles