Can any one verify that members of the 1st Batt. Royal Dublin fusiliers were based there before travelling to Gallipolli. My Grand Fathers soldiers will appears to have been written there on the 15th. of May 1915. His medal card says his first theatre of war was the Balkans. I always thought the Balkans was Macedonia and countries nearby.
The Balkans are thoes countries forming a peninsular bounded by the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and the Black Seas. That would include that part of Turkey to the west of the Bosphorous and the Dardanelles which would also include the Gallipolli Peninsular. His medal card is correct he served in the Balkans.
Furthur to my earlier post I can confirm that the Royal Dublin Fusiliers had a camp in 1915 at Gore Court Park (Now King Georges Playing Fields) Sittingbourne. On April 16th a German Taube aircraft from Belgium circled the camp and dropped several bombs. The only casualty was a blackbird
Originally posted by A Co, 27th Bn: Furthur to my earlier post I can confirm that the Royal Dublin Fusiliers had a camp in 1915 at Gore Court Park (Now King Georges Playing Fields) Sittingbourne. On April 16th a German Taube aircraft from Belgium circled the camp and dropped several bombs. The only casualty was a blackbird
Thank you so much for the info. I am more reasurred now that my grandads record is correct. I may ask more of you , will that be ok?
My GranDad enlisted in August 1914, The 1st batt. Dublin fus. were at that time in India. How do you think he could have been assigned to 1st. batt.? Also he was given Reg. no. 8024 which I am told is a very low number for some one enlisted at that time . Thank you.
Yes you are correct at the outbreak of war the 1st Battalion a unit of the Regular Army was stationed in Madras, India. They were ordered home and landed at Plymouth on 21st December 1914, and attached to 86th Brigade, 29th Division If as you say your grandfather enlisted in August 1914 and had a number not consistent with that period of time but was low enough to be from an earlier time in the 1900's, have you considered the possible fact that he served in the RDF prior to the war and was recalled from the reserve on the outbreak of war. In order to rejoin his regiment he would have had to wait for them to return from India. Are you sure of the date of your grandfathers will and are you sure it was written at Sittingbourne because between 30th April 1915 an 19th May 1915, following heavy casualties on Gallipoli, the 1st RDF and the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers formed one composite Battalion called the Dubsters. Another posibility is that on recall to the colours he was initialy placed in a reserve battalion and was allocated to the RDF after they arrived back from India. Do you have your grandfathers medals? If you do look around the outside edge of them the should be stamped with your grandfathers name, service number and his regiment. If he was assigned to another regiment before the RDF that will be the regiment stamped on his medals. To find out any more about your grandfathers early days prior to Gallipoli you should try to find out if his service record exists in the National Archives at Kew. All First World War soldiers service records that survived 'The Blitz' in the Second World War are stored there. However as only about 35-40% survived you have about a 1 in 3 chance of finding it there. If it has survived it may answer most of your questions or as is often the case pose furthur questions for you to find the answers to. Good luck in your search for your grandads war service. Keep asking the questions.
(Source of above facts on the 1st Bn RDF is 'THE LONG LONG TRAIL: The British Army in the Great War)
Furthur thoughts on your question. Another explanation could be that your grandfather was a new recruit in August 1914 and after training was posted to a home battalion or a reserve battalion to await a posting to whichever unit needed replacements and was posted to the RDF as a result of their losses in Gallipoli. This would acount for his prescence at Sittingbourne in May 1915. He would have been in transit to the front via the RDF Camp. By the way I have seen a lower number than your grandfathers aloted to a soldier who signed on in October 1914
Hello again , I have taken up the search for Grandads history, Can you advise , I have his soldiers will it is dated 16th. may 1915 together with it, there is a Army form w3066 . It certifies that equipment etc are complete with certain detailed exceptions. It is dated 30/april 1915 and is signed by his O.C. @ station " Sittingbourne". Would these two docs. been signed in separate stations eg Gallipolli and s. bourne?. Do you also know where the shipwould have stopped off at on the way to Gallipolli?
