by Mike Jones » Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:37 am
Hello DCLI or whatever, I wish I knew your name, I do not usually answer when I dont know who I am talking to but I have such good information on your man, it is a shame to waste it. Plus you inadvertently did me a big favour! Anyhow as you know your great uncle joined the Worcesters early September 1914. He got issued the number 17969, standing just behind him were two brothers, Lewis and Bertie Rogers. They got 17973 and 17975. Now Lewis's grandson was clever and a little ahead of the game. He not only talked to grandad about the war he tape recorded some of it! He has details of where they trained etc. etc. and PHOTOS. Later on in the war Lewis witnessed the winning of two Victoria crosses and fought alongside a Lt. who won one! Statistically most men with a 17000 to 17999 men went to the 10th Battalion but Bertie, Lewis and I suspect your man went into the 1st Bn. If you scan me his medal index card, we can see when and where he landed abroad and be more certain. He left the Worcesters in February/ish 1916 to go to the Machine Gun Corps. I arrive at that date because of the number he got from them, 19592. There was a transfer of men from the Worcesters to the MGC on 22nd June 1916 and they got numbers between 22307 and 22566. Not all the 259 men were ex-Worcs. I do not have Frank Johnson's medals, I wish I could help you there. I know how painfull it is not to have them, I am looking for my grandfathers, 9078 Pte Richard Marsh. Do you have them, please? Regards Mike Jones
Mike Jones