17 replies to this topic

[ss002d6252]

I have a puzzle with this man, 2803 Hicks, 6th DLI , later 250270.

He attests at Bishop Auckland (Bn HQ) on 26 Sep 1914 (as per his records).

The 6th DLI trained in the UK until 19/20 April 1915 when they where sent to Ypres however this man's records indicate he first went overseas on 23 Jan 1915 however this doesn't tie in. (he's the only man so far Ive found with this date of entry).

Any ideas ?


 Capture1.JPG   54.46K   9 downloads

 Capture2.JPG   38.45K   8 downloads

[munster]

I wonder did he have a trade and was needed or maybe an officers servant and went with his officer. Or perhaps a reinforcement of one.john

[skipman]

The earliest 1/6th DLI death (overseas) is 26/4/1915. Could he have gone over with another battalion, been wounded and ended up in 1/6th?

Mike

[ss002d6252]

Unfortunately his record doesn't shown any occupation.

The officer bit is possible but it would require that he stayed in France until the battalion arrived 3 months later and as yet I have nothing else showing any of the battalion went abroad before the beginning of April 1915.

[ss002d6252]

Quote

The earliest 1/6th DLI death (overseas) is 26/4/1915. Could he have gone over with another battalion, been wounded and ended up in 1/6th?

They got their baptism of fire at Zonnebeke.

To have gone over earlier with another battalion doesn't fit the men around him (or his service records) although on checking my records (4000 men or so) I have 3 other DLI men with odd dates of entry, 06 Jan 1915 ,05 Mar 1915 and 10 Mar 1915. I think I may need to take a close look

[IPT]

On the 1911 census (as Dan Hicks), he is a miner living at the Merrington Lane address which is on his service record.

[IRC Kevin]

I'm sure I can actually see the word 'servant' in the left hand column, just above 'depot' and in line with the January 15 'posted'.

[ss002d6252]

It could be , hard to tell but it would explain the date of entry however I cannot find any evidence of an officer of the battalion going overseas in Jan 1915. It would make sense for an officer to have gone ahead of the main group to have made arrangements but three months ?

[skipman]

I may be wrong, but, iIs this not a death certificate of one of his daughters, and if so, does it say he was a miner? Perhaps he was a specialist in mining?

http://search.ancest...kw=Daniel Hicks

Mike

[ss002d6252]

It has him as a hewer, the hewer was the man who actually worked the coal face so he would be an expert in that respect.

[skipman]

Maybe a clay-kicker?

Mike

[ss002d6252]

What was happening in France in respect of tunneling in early 1915?

[Tyneside Chinaman]

Hi,

The 14/15 Star roll confirms the date, but the W&V roll only shows overseas service with 6/DLI on the MIC it shows him as Disembodied, yet the W&V roll shows transferred to Class Z Reserve. Unusual for a TF Man who were mainly disembodied when the TF stood down.

regards


John

[ss002d6252]

I'm glad I'm not the only one puzzled by this.

[munster]

ss002d6252, on 19 June 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

What was happening in France in respect of tunneling in early 1915?

http://www.1914-1918...tunnelcoyre.htm
As you will see in the above link the Tunneling companies were being formed in the early days of 1915.john

[ss002d6252]

Looks promising but its odd that he was the only man who went (that I can find) and the battalion was full of miners.

[ss002d6252]

Does anyone have any nominal rolls etc for the tunnelling companies ?

[munster]

If you do a screen grab of the record above paste it into paint and invert the colours the word servant shows up clearer.john