6 replies to this topic

[saintconor]

Hi,

I am trying to put together a roll of all the men from the 6Th Royal Irish Regiment who sailed for France from Southampton in December 1915. The war diary states that the Battalion consisted of 33 Officers and almost 1000 Other Ranks. If you can add anyone I would be very greatful.

Conor

[connaughtranger]

Hi,

I am trying to put together a roll of all the men from the 6Th Royal Irish Regiment who sailed for France from Southampton in December 1915. The war diary states that the Battalion consisted of 33 Officers and almost 1000 Other Ranks. If you can add anyone I would be very greatful.

Conor

The RIR history lists officers as at 1st January 1916, if that's of any use
Martin

[saintconor]

Thanks for the reply Martin. I have a copy of this but it asks more questions than it answers. It lists 40 officers as at 01/01/1916 however the war diary states 33. This would mean the Battalion had gained 7 officers in less than 2 weeks. Is this likely?

Conor

[Exaltabit]

My grandfather, Captain Lawder Benjamin Sandys Smith served with the battalion in 1917 and 18 having previously won the MC with the Royal irish Fusiliers.
Regards,
Exaltabit

[Martin G]

For the Officers it would be worth checking the Army List. I think there would be an Army List for Dec 1915, or a month very close to that date which would have the most up-to-date info. I am sure some kind member of the GWF might have a copy.... failing that I have the Army List for May 1915 which interestingly includes 7 Officers from the Royal Guernsey Militia who provided the equivalent of a Company of men in March 1915 after the Bn was formed. They would have been in training in the UK until their embarkation so the names would not have changed much.....

. The medal rolls at Kew will also provide some good reference points as they should provide the dates of disembarkation in France. If they disembarked before the 31st Dec 1915 the Bn's 1914-15 Star medal roll would essentially provide that nominal roll for those men who went overseas in Dec.



MG

[1RGLI]

Connor,
I would agree with Martin G, That the extra 7 Officers were that of the attached D Coy "Guernsey Service Bn" Royal Irish. Does that make sense?

Mark. (1RGLI).

[wikko]

Hello, i think I can add my great grandfather to that list. His son, David arthur lewis had been in the B.E.F. and was in the Royal Irish Regiment from the onset. He survived Mons and other early battles but was killed in action on 3rd May 1915 aged 18. His father (Gilbert George Lewis) joined up after hearing of his sons death and also joined the Royal Irish Regiment. He went to France on 18th December 1915. His army number (according to a medal index card) was Pte 1797 RIR. He survived the war. so the son was killed and the father survived.