Tom Tulloch-Marshall Military Genealogy & Operational Records Of The Great War

Once the Officer's and Other Ranks' service records began to be released to the National Archives (PRO) during the 1990's it quickly became clear that the MoD had been, for want of a better word, "censoring" (or at best grossly under-reporting) the content of many of the files. - Why ? - who knows - nanny state - laziness - could'nt understand the notes so just ignored them ?  - We'll probably never know. MoD also seem to be extraordinarily good at reading one thing and typing another, sometimes to the extent that the man's "record" becomes completely nonsensical ! 

By way of example have a look at the following - there are a couple for Officers which give an idea of just how much material is often not reported, and a couple for OR's which illustrate just how disastrously inaccurate the reporting can sometimes be, - but firstly there are the ones which MoD claim not to exist ! - for example >

"... Naturally, a postal application to MOD at Hayes some years ago received the standard 'all records destroyed - bad luck - now that will be 10 shillings' reply." (That from Chris Baker, ex chairman of the Western Front Association, re his grandfather Gunner 2245 Frank H Wilson RFA).  

When I made the searches for Gunner Wilson I wasnt overly surprised to find his file exactly where I would have expected it to be - TNA (PRO) film ref WO363/W1941 folios 0680 to 0697, - correct alphabetical sequence and no ambiguity about who'se papers they were; - impossible to explain how MoD could possibly have missed them ! - but nevermind - happy to have been able to help, Chris.

And another > "... MoD further said these were the only records that could be traced (service medals) and that it was probable that any other references to my father were in the records destroyed in WW2 ..."  (DVH, Herefordshire, re his father  Pte 2072 / 200462 1/1st Bn London Regiment 1914-1918) - Try TNA (PRO) film ref WO363/H2463 folio 0779 onwards - name, number, and attachment are clear on the front sheet and throughout - nearly twenty pages of it, all attachments and transfer dates are clear, as is date and cause of wounding, etc etc etc.

And another > "I wrote to the Ministry of Defence in Bourne Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex who replied that no service records relating to my grandfather could be traced by them." (Elaine L.. ref Wilfred Cox RGA and RE - try WO363/C1617 folio 985 onwards -  nineteen pages of it  - not misfiled or ambiguous about whose papers they are !).

Etc, etc, etc, etc ...................  

And how can they foul them up ? - firstly, an Officer - here is the core of MoD's letter - the bit which recounts their version of the file of an officer called John Hill Johnston who served with the Royal Scots and the Rifle Brigade - this is verbatim et litteratim:-

"... the military service of the above named is as follows:
Soldier Service
Royal Scots from 11.1.15 to 28.8.17
Commissioned Service
Rifle Brigade from 2.8.17 to 28.9.19
Retains rank of Lieutenant.
The above is the only information available. It is regretted that it is so limited."

In their letter to the client (who had paid for a report remember) the MoD give the War Office reference number of JH Johnston's file - "170504" - and if you go to the NA (PRO) and check the WO indexes to Regular Army Officer's files you will find this number listed against his name. That number "converts" to the new NA file reference WO339/87020,* which simply encloses the "old" 170504 file covers and papers - you are therefore looking at the very file from which the MoD reported "so limited" information. So, what does this officer's file really tell you ? - Quite a lot, even though it was heavily "weeded" way back in 1934:-

(* nb - I've given you the NA reference for the papers so that you can check them yourself, if you want - because after you've read the following, compared to what the MoD reported, you are going to think I'm either barking-mad - or I've made it up - or both !)

WO339/87020 (old number 170504)
service papers for Lt John Hill Johnston

# Born 18/10/1893 in Govan, Glasgow.
# Educated at Govan High School and Glasgow Technical College.
# Enlisted as Private 20134 in the 15th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots 11/1/15 in Edinburgh - Attested by "Sgt Baker, Scots Guards".
# Medical examination same date - height 5ft 5ins; weight 125 pounds; chest 32 > 36 inches expanded; physical development "good"; three childhood vaccination marks; vision 6/24 right eye and 6/12 left. Distinguishing marks; scar right groin; mole left forearm; mole small of back.
# Address at this time was Millbrae Crescent, Glasgow.
# Next of kin given as his sister Miss Nan Johnston, 36 York Place, Edinburgh.
# Posted to the BEF France 8/1/16 (TTM note - 1st overseas date for the whole of 15th Royal Scots).
# Suffered a gunshot wound through the lung (right thorax) 1/7/16. Medical notes say there was an exit wound and "no complications."
# Returned to UK 11/8/16. (Immediately following this he is nominally posted Royal Scots Depot - this is for pay purposes).
# Admitted to the Military Hospital, Wellington Road, Liverpool, 13/8/16. Discharged 15/9/16.
# Applied for commission 10/1/17 stating preference for the Royal Scots.
# At the time of this application he was single and stated his occupation as being a Boiler Draughtsman, and his father's occupation as a Shell-Plater. His permanent residence s 36 York Place, Edinburgh, and his current correspondence address was Hut 14, 3rd Royal Scots, Glencourse. "Whether able to ride" - "yes".
# Reference of "good moral character" was made by George Mintor, Clergyman, Clydebank, who had known John for four years. Educational reference was given by Benjamin Hutchinson MA FEIS, Rector of Govan High School, who stated that John "Will make a courteous, gentlemanly officer, firm but kind, thoughtful for others, resourceful, earnest and vigorous in action."
# Ordered to join No 6 Officer Cadet Battalion at Oxford 5/5/17.
# Appointed to temporary Commission in the 5th Battalion Rifle Brigade 28/8/17.
# Gunshot wound to left leg 25/3/18, near Poziers (Somme). 11th Bn Rifle Brigade, 59th Brigade.
# Wound classified "slight".
# Embarked for the UK 31/3/18, Calais - Dover.
# Admitted to hospital at Leith 1/4/18.
# Home address at this time, 36 York Place, Edinburgh.
# Granted 3 weeks leave 8/4/18 and ordered subsequently to report to 5th Rifle Brigade at Sheppey.
# Medical board at Sheerness 8/7/18, shows 11th Bn Rifle Brigade, sprained left ankle 24/5/18 whilst on a bayonet fighting course, circumstances not his responsibility.
# Medical Board at Sheerness 14/8/18, - "he has now recovered", and notes as fit for General Service.
# Reposted ("attached") from 3rd Rifle Brigade to 25th King's Royal Rifle Corps 8/3/19.
# Granted UK leave 9/6/19 till 23/6/19.
# Rejoined 25th Bn 23/9/19.
# Relinquished Temporary Commission 28/9/19 and retained the rank of Lieutenant.
# At this time his address is given as 36 York Place, Edinburgh, the address given as his sister's at the time he enlisted in the Royal Scots.

Not a blow by blow account of his service career by any means, but a good solid foundation from which far more comprehensive details of his overseas service can be built - something quite impossible with the shoddy and wholly uninformative "report" issued by the MoD.

*

Another, - MoD's report on Lieutenant RAJ Thompson, which was paid for by his son, could quite easily have been taken at face value and didnt in fact contain any errors of fact. Service in the Ranks from 1914 till late 1916 and then Commissioned service till discharged in 1920. What caught the eye here was that no overseas service was recorded during 1918, yet nothing in the report hinted as to why this should be. When his files at TNA were examined it transpired that Robert Thompson was wounded during August 1917, and had also been wounded in December 1915 whilst serving in the Ranks. The details were obvious and quite specific as to dates, details of the wounds, Medical Boards, etc, - but MoD had simply not bothered to mention these crucial aspects of this man's war service.

*

And an Other Rank, Gunner 47167 Thomas William Sargent RGA. - MoD again reported "sparcity of information" and gave the following summary;

# Date of birth 3/6/1897.
# Enlisted RGA 20/10/1914 and posted to Depot.
# Posted to 15th Battery 14/11/1914.
# Posted 17th Heavy Battery 7/5/1915. (Make particular note of that!)
# Posted BEF France 12/4/1916.
# Posted to UK 10/11/1917 (wounded August / September 1917).
# Discharged 4/2/1918. Cause of discharge: ceasing to fulfil Army medical requirements.

Gunner 47167 TW Sargent's service papers can now be found at the NA on film reference WO363/S1640, folio 0435 onwards. In addition to the matters reported by MoD they give the following additional information:-

# At enlistment Thomas was a Labourer. He was born in Smethwick, Birmingham and his next of kin were his father William Henry and mother Ann, of 9 Queen Street, Oldbury (which was also his address). Physical description; height 5ft 9-1/4 inches, chest 31-1/2 to 34-1/2 inches, weight 129 pounds, blue eyes and brown hair. Character at discharge was "very good". He had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and there is a report from No2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station dated 12th September 1917 which says he is "improving" and another note that he was admitted to Norfolk War Hospital (Thorpe) 10/11/17. Thomas was awarded a pension of 27s 6d, initially for 48 weeks and there is a letter from him on file reporting to the War Office that he lost his Silver War Badge on May 20th 1918, could he buy a replacement? (answer, no).

That doesnt add a huge amount to the MoD's initial report, apart from giving a slightly better idea as to when he might have been wounded - but in this instance the client had already searched 17th Heavy Battery RGA's records and could find no event which made any sense of that wounding. Hardly surprising really because the papers on file contain four separate references to Thomas's attachment between 7/5/15 and his wounding, all identical, and all perfectly legible - 117th Heavy Battery RGA, not 17th Battery !

And another > The MoD's written report to the great granddaughter of Private 5754 John McInnes, 2nd Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, summarised his WW1 service as > Mobilised and posted 2nd Bn 5/8/14; Posted to Depot 25/8/15; Discharged 13/4/16. (He was not "Posted to Depot" as their note says, they have misunderstood the original note - something completely different happened, but that pales into insignificance when you see the bits they missed completely).

That leaves you with the impression that John, a pre-war reservist, must have been discharged "termination of engagement", - not so, the service papers are quite clear about the following points which MoD completely ignored > Reported wounded and missing 21/10/14; taken prisoner by the Germans; wounded left leg amputated; returned to UK as "Exchanged Prisoner" 25/8/15.

Beggars belief, doesnt it !?