GREATWAR-L Archives

Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-11 > 0973108816


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Records at Kew
Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2000 20:00:16 +0000
In-Reply-To: <034d01c0441e$6737ed40$559b42d8@LOOK.direct.ca>


At 16:11 01/11/00, Don Angus wrote:
>Hello
>
>My father William Craib ANGUS born Midmar ABD 1894 served with the Royal
>Engineers 401st Field Coy from Apr 15 1912 until Jan 23 1919. I have a
>certificate of Disembodiment stating his Regt No. as 402123, Rank as Sapper.
>It goes on to state he was disembodied at Kinross as of Feb 20 1919. I also
>have what is titled a "Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identidy"
>He enlisted in or near Sauchen in Aberdeenshire and I am told the 401st
>Field Coy was garrisoned with the 1st aka the 51st Highland Div at Aberdeen.
>I am sure he served in France because France is stated as the "Theatre of
>War" on the Certificate of Idendity. I also have the 3 usual medals that
>were awarded to WW1 vets. (1914-15 Star, British War Medal, & Allied Victory
>Medal)

Don,

I am uncertain as that you mean by the "401st Field Coy was garrisoned with
the 1st aka the 51st Highland Div at Aberdeen". That presumes the renaming
and renumbering of Territorial Force formations and units in May 1915.

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, the Highland Division, a territorial
formation, with its headquarters at Perth consisted of:

The Seaforth and Cameron Infantry Brigade (Territorial Force);
The Gordon Infantry Brigade (Territorial Force);
The Argyll and Sutherland Infantry Brigade (Territorial Force);
and was supported by:
1st and 2nd, Highland Brigades, RFA, (Territorial Force);
3rd Highland (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA, (Territorial Force);
4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade, RGA, (Territorial Force);
Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery and Ammunition Column, RGA, (Territorial
Force);
The Highland Divisional Engineers (Territorial Force) with its headquarters
at Aberdeen, commanding:
1st Highland Field Company, RE, (Territorial Force) based in Glasgow; and
2nd Highland Field Company, RE, (Territorial Force) in Aberdeen.
Highland Divisional Signal Company, RE, (Territorial Force).
Highland Divisional Transport and Supply Column, ASC, (Territorial Force).
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Highland Divisional Field Ambulances, RAMC,
(Territorial Force).
Highland Clearing Hospital, RAMC, (Territorial Force).
Attached: The Shetland Companies.

In May 1915, the Highland Division was numbered the 51st (Highland)
Division. The numbering being based on the order in which the territorial
divisions went overseas.

At the same time I believe, the Field Companies RE supporting the division
were renumbered 400th, 401st and 404th Field Companies (Territorial
Force). Those three field companies were certainly supporting the 52st
Division on 11 Nov 1918.

>One of my cousins living near London in Herts went to Kew this past
>September to try to look up a number of serviceman's records, my father's
>included. They were far from successful. If I understood their message
>correctly they were told that not all the records have been microfilmed and
>therefore not all records are available. I was under the impression that
>the "A" records had been filmed and were available. Am I mistaken?

The surviving so-called "burnt" British Army Other Ranks records for
surnames beginning with A, B, C, D, E, F, N, O, Q, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and
Z have been microfilmed and published in WO 363 - First World War Soldiers'
Documents at the PRO,Kew. Those beginning R will be available in Autumn
2000 and P in Winter 2000. The year 2001 includes those beginning K, L and
M. In 2002 those starting H, I and J will be released. The programme
concludes in Summer 2003 with the letter G.

You should have been advised that the official archives of more recent
British Army personnel records are incomplete. It is reported that up to
half of the original pre-World War II British Army soldier's personal
records were badly damaged by fire and water following a 1940 German
bombing raid on the Hayes Record Office during World War II. Those that
survived are often incomplete and in a poor condition.

But your cousin should have been able to have consulted the World War I
Medal Rolls at the PRO.

>I was hoping to find out where in France my father may have been and what he
>did. I am told the 401st Coy went to France without division and was posted
>to the 7th Div Jan 17 1915 rejoining the 51st Jan 31 1916. I have acquired
>a "list" of the battles the 7th Div and 51st Div participated in between the
>dates mentioned but do not know if the 401st Coy was also involved in the
>action.
>
>Family tales indicate that he may have been a dispatch rider on a motorcycle
>and he did tell of being gassed on one occasion.

Unlikely since the despatch riders were in another branch of the Royal
Engineers - the Signal Service with its own units - in the case of the 51st
Division the Divisional Signal Company RE.

>Where could I go, write or inquire as to finding more information on his
>time spent with the Royal Engineers. Do the Royal Engineers have a museum
>that may retain battlefield diaries of his company that I could obtain
>copies of?

Unit war diaries, if they have survived, will also be in the War Office
archives at the PRO, Kew. The War Diaries of the First World War for
British and colonial units deployed in all theatres of operations between
1914 and 1922 are in archive WO 95. The diaries are arranged by theatre of
operations, then by army, corps and division within which the unit served.
The theatres of operations include France and Flanders, Italy, Dardanelles,
Mesopotamia, Palestine, Salonika and Russia. The maps, once included in a
number of diaries, have been extracted into a separate archive: WO 154.

The Royal Engineers have an excellent Museum and Library who may be able to
help with unit historical information, but will not have personnel records.

Regimental Museum:

Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent
[Correspondence: Ravelin Building, Brompton Barracks, Chatham, Kent ME4
4UG]; Phone: (01634) 406397; Fax: (01634) 822371. Exhibits include relics,
regimental arms, models illustrating work and development of military
engineering from early times. Also material related to the Corps' civil
mapping and road building around the World.

The Royal Engineers Library: Librarian Mrs Magnuson, RE Library, Brompton
Barracks, Chatham, Kent ME4 4UG, Tel: 01634 822416. The Royal Engineers has
a database of all known references to officers and men in the Corps whose
name has appeared in published military histories etc. Despite the fact
that it is in the middle of a military base, the RE Library is open to the
public.

Web Site

A new unofficial Royal Engineers web site has been established at:
http://www.royal-engineers.co.uk/

>Thank you for any assistance
>
>Don in Richmond, BC, Canada
>
>Aberdeenshire & maybe Banff???
>ANGUS - CRAIB - DINGWALL - MEARNS - ROY - SECTOR
>Norfolk
>ASPLAND - BARBER - EAGLE - GOOSE
>Norfolk until 1870s then London & Surrey
>BENNINGTON aka BENNETT aka BENNETTON
>London/Middlesex - St. John's Wood >Kilburn >Kingston-upon-Thames
>HAYES
>Anywhere, anytime
>MOUBERT
>
>
>
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Yours aye,

Iain Kerr
In Windsor, Berkshire
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
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