Worcestershire Regiment

Hello Everyone, from Louis Scully a new and updated Forum, thank you Louis but from me an old request. Your information to help fill my Data-base, please. For many years I have been researching Worcester Regimental numbers involved in WW1. The numbering system had many twists and turns and was not always sequential. The aim, in the end, is to be able to tell when a man enlisted, which Battalion he went to, if he was a regular, reservist or territorial soldier, etc. etc.. So, if in the course of your own research you discover a definite date of enlistment or training details or which battalion. In fact anything to help clear the fog a bit, either post the information on here as a post or send it direct to me, please. I am not writing a book nor do I intend to. My grandfather was a Worcester soldier and now lies as an "Unknown" somewhere in France. This Data-base is my homage to him and the others of a lost generation. I do hope eventually to use the D/B to raise money to help preserve the Worcestershire Regiment archives. These are currently housed at Norton Barracks, Worcester but must soon find a new home. Many thanks Mike Jones

Hi Mike

I have some information that you might find useful. My grandad Walter John Birch and his brother Thomas William Birch both enlisted as Privates in the Worcestershire Regiment, some time before 1915 in Stourport.

Walter's regimental number was 2076 and Thomas' was 200356. Walter was transferred to the Royal Warwickshire regiment sometime in 1916 I believe along with some others from the Worcesters to form a machine gun corps. Walter was given a new number in the RWR 266918 - he went on to be awarded the military medal for his part in the Battle of Poelcapelle on 9th October 1917.

Thomas was in B coy of the 7th Battalion and was killed in action on 1st April 1917 as his Battalion attempted to take the village of Epehy. He is buried at Buried Arras Road cemetery, Roclincourt, Pas de Calais, France. Thomas is remembered on the Stourport town war memorial and also on a memorial plaque at Stourport Boys School.

If you can provide any more information on either my grandad or my great uncle such as enlistment dates or battalions etc. I would be hugely grateful.

Regards
Phil Birch

Hello Phil, the names and numbers you gave me dont entirely match up and it took me a while to figure out why. Your grandfather Walter John Birch was never a Worcester soldier! He joined the Royal Warwicks and was given the number 5085, late 1916 he was re-numbered 266918. Shortly after that he joined the Machine Gun Corps and got the number 157486. I have no record of any Walter Birch in the Worcesters.
Your great uncle Thomas William Birch did join the Worcesters but dropped the Thomas and joined as William Birch. As you know he is buried as William Birch. When William joined HE got the number 2076 and in late 1916 he, along with the whole Battalion got re-numbered. His new number was 200356, so 2076 and 200356 are one and the same man! To give extra proof Cpl Fewtrell was 2075 and got re-numbered 200355. I could carry on with examples but I am sure you get the drift. I am sure this will not only enlighten but amaze you. Regards Mike

Mike

Thanks very much for the information - it has certainly proved wrong some long time held beliefs!! We always thought Grandad joined the Worcesters as one of his medals has 2076 Worcs. Regiment Pte. W. Birch stamped on the rim. Thanks to your research we now realise this was Williams medal that we have assumed all these years was Grandads...as you said - amazing!

Is it possible using these numbers to find what date and where both men enlisted?

Thanks
Phil

Hello Phil, if only I could give you more information but of all the "Foggy" areas, the numbering system in the 7th and 8th battalions is a "Pea souper" of a fog. They were the Territorial Bn.'s and had their own numbering system. They were still issuing Low 4 digit numbers in late 1915. They issued numbers randomly, i.e. they issued 4573 and 4872 in 1897 but 2220 went out in August 1914! However I suspect that Thomas William Birch was a Territorial soldier before 1914, for sure he enlisted in Stourport and gave an address in Stourport. I am always working hard to clear the fog, thats where input like yours is so vital. I hope one day to understand all aspects of the numbering system. So please check the website regularly for updates. So if anyone out there can help with documents, leads I can follow up, please, please let me know. Regards Mike

Good luck with this, its one area of my research I 've had to move on from, but if it helps this is what I know.

George Victor Huzzey 6355 joined in 1902, left at some point and then was recalled at the outbreak of hostilities in 1914.

No use what so ever I know.
I am hoping to travel to Norton Barracks one day and hopefully they will be able to assist with some research. They have carried out some for me but I have a need to see it for myself.

Good luck

Lee

Hi Mike,

I am overwhelmed by the great work being done by every contributor to this wonderful site. As a result of the information posted here I have recently discovered the fate of my great grandfather, Francis Charles Jabbitt, 4th Btn Worcs. Regmnt., Number 20520, who died on 6th August, 1915 at Lone Pine, Gallipoli.

Do you have any further information, such as when he enlisted, and where else he was stationed before Gallipoli - or anything else?

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards,
Andrew Jabbitt

Hi Andrew,

I can tell you that Francis Charles Jabbitt (20520) enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment at Birmingham.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards,

Louis

Thanks Louis.

Do you have a date of enlistment by any chance?

Cheers,
Andrew

Hello Andrew, your relative enlisted around Christmas 1914. He was one of the men to answer Lord Kitchener's call "Your Country needs you". His military career was a short and tragic one. He started training early in 1915, he should have got 6 months training but was probably less. With the number he had, 20520 he was destined for the 8th battalion. When training ended, around the end of May 1915, Gallipoli was coming up and he with many others were transferred to the 4th Bn.. George Brooks went with him, George enlisted at the same time and place and got number 20523. I am sure they would have become friends. As you know Francis was killed in August 1915, so his Military career was 8 months. At least he did not stand in the mud of Flanders for years and then get killed. The horrors of war! Regards Mike

Mike,

Thank you very much for the information. I was really moved to read about my great grandfather.

Over the last week to 10 days I have been reading about the Gallipoli campaign and the fruitless attempts to open a new theatre of war in the middle east.

At some point I would like to look in the national archives at Kew which is near us, do you have any advice for finding out more?

Once again many, many thanks.

Andrew

Mike,

My Great Grand Father was 9048 William Henry Connor 1st Bn Worcs D.O.W. 19/11/14 at Neuve Chappell.

I know he was either a territorial or reservist prior his call up in 1914.
He worked for the Birmingham Municipal Gas co.

He may have had a brother, Charles Connor also in the Worcs. I know of a Charles Connor who also has a low 4 digit regimental no 9121 and may have been POW? I am not actually sure if related?

I also know he had a brother called George, 2nd Worcesters killed at Loos in September 1915.

I hope this is of help to you.

Many thanks.

John Connor

Mke,

If it is of any use or help I know from the PRO William Henry my Great Grand Father also served as 5852 3rd Bn South Staffs Regt. I know absolutely nothing more of this.

He also had a son again William Henry Connor no 5243996 who served in the Worcs I know from the PRO he enlisted 13.10.20. I know he went to India between Oct '21 and May '28 but I do not know which Bn or further details.

He possibly served in India with his Uncle Henry/Harry Connor?

Many thanks

John Connor

Hi John, I am busy looking up the three Worcester soldiers for you but to save me looking in the wrong files can you clear up a couple of points. William was definitely not a Territorial soldier, the number is wrong for that but what makes you say he was "Called up in 1914", please? Secondly, in what context did the PRO at Kew say William was an ex South Staffs man? Do you for instance have his service record or come to that any of the other 2 men's records? Regards Mike

Mike,
Re 9048 William Henry Connor
I obtained in January 1983 from MOD Bourne Ave Hayes UB3 1RF following information.

Enlisted into Worcs Regt at Birmingham 28.8.14
Posted to 1st Bn 14.10.14
Wounded in Action 18.11.14
Died in No 26 Field Ambulance of wounds received in action 19.11.14

Letter goes on to say "There is evidence that he had served previously as No. 5852 in the 3rd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment but we have no other details of that service."

Family "legend" told he was a terratorial/reservist. Also Bn diary mentions 1st Bn meeting at Winchester(?) with Reservists.
Ignore the reference to "call up," just figure of speech.

Many thanks
John Connor