Durham Light Infantry Pte Jackson

[Jimi Hendrix II]

Does anyone know how I can find out which battalion of the DLI Pte M W Jackson reg number 4/9771 served in?

I have his MIC and discharge papers.

thanks in advance for any help

Martin

[brenmac]

ancestry are letting you look at army records for free untill the 14th try there brenda xxx

[annswabey]

If his service records haven't survived or don't give this information, the battalion should be on the Medal Roll - not online though, it will be at the National Archives.

[JBee]

I would give the Durham Light Infantry Museum at Durham a ring and see what they say.

[SueNSW]

The prefix 4 before his number suggests 4th Battalion - which was a reserve battalion (which suggests he had served in the regular army previously) that provided drafts of trained fit men to other battalions as well as performing garrison duties - but it never served overseas itself

The fact that he has a medal card with the date of entry into theatre of 17th August 1915 (qualifying him for the 1914-15 Star) confirms he served overseas - so obviously he went with another battalion.

If you go back from his discharge papers on Ancestry you will find there are more medical records for him confirming he served overseas for 229 days but was in hospital in Newcastle by 2nd April 1916

Doing some searching on the Great War Forum suggests the main destination for the drafts provided by the 4th battalion was the 2nd battalion - so there is a good bet that is who he was overseas with but a quick search for casualties with similar numbers show some in several of the New Army battalions too -so, as annswabey advises the medal roll at Kew will be the best place to confirm the battalion.

OtherwiseaA posting on a specialist forum - like the GWF might find an expert on the Regiment to help - there used to be one on there I know - but he hasn't been active for a while unfortunately

Cheers
Sue

[Inahaystack]

Have a look at - The Long Long Trail - there is masses of info on that site, you may even be able to find out which battles(if any) his batallion took part in.

This section of the site may be of interest

http://www.1914-1918.net/regiments.htm

[teg]

Just to add to the many replies, this link takes you to the site where you can apply for his service records..

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/MakingARequestForInformationHeldOnThePersonnelRecordsOfDeceasedServicePersonnel.htm

[SueNSW]

The link above is only for use when service continued (or commenced) after 1920 or - the records for this man - that have survived - are on Ancestry

Cheers
Sue

[Inahaystack]

The fact that he has a medal card with the date of entry into theatre of 17th August 1915 (qualifying him for the 1914-15 Star) confirms he served overseas - so obviously he went with another battalion......................................... .................................................. ........................

..............................Doing some searching on the Great War Forum suggests the main destination for the drafts provided by the 4th battalion was the 2nd battalion - so there is a good bet that is who he was overseas with but a quick search for casualties with similar numbers show some in several of the New Army battalions too -so, as annswabey advises the medal roll at Kew will be the best place to confirm the battalion

Cheers
Sue

From the LONG LONG Trail - confirms what Sue says re: a diff batallion.

The Durham Light Infantry

Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Nowshera in India. Part of the 3rd (Abbottabad) Brigade in 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division. Remained in India throughout the war. Transferred in August 1914 to 2nd (Nowshera) Brigade in 1st (Peshawar) Division. In November 1917 transferred to 4th (Rawalpindi) Brigade in 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division.
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : at Lichfield. Part of 18th Brigade in 6th Division. Moved to Dunfermline but by 13 August was at Cambridge.
10 September 1914 : landed at St Nazaire.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at Newcastle-on-Tyne. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to South Shields where it then remained as part of the Tyne Garrison.
4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at Barnard Castle. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to the Tyne defences. Moved in December to Killingworth, went to Forest Hall in January 1915 and finally to Seaham Harbour in September 1915, where it then remained as part of the Tyne Garrison.

[Jimi Hendrix II]

Sorry for the late reply folks, had a busy weekend.
Not had chance to act on your advice but will certainly give it a go.

Thanks fingers crossed for a result.

Martin

[SueNSW]

Good to see the GWF guys were able to confirm the battalion information above from the DLI Medal Rolls

Cheers
Sue

[annswabey]

I saw the GWF post too - good news that someone had the rolls. People can speculate all they like but the answer is in the medal rolls as I said.

[Jimi Hendrix II]

Thanks Sue and Ann
GWF is a great site.

Cheers Martin