77291 PTE.R.J. WADDINGTON 30th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. & 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers Victory Medal

77291 PTE.R.J. WADDINGTON 30th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. & 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers Victory Medal

Robert James Waddington enlisted in the army at some point probably prior to November 1915. As 77291 Pte R J Waddington he first served overseas with the Royal Army Medical Corps, going overseas some time from 1 January 1916 onwards. Based on the service record of 77299 Pte Thomas Moore, RAMC, he may have joined in early November 1915, passing through no.6 Company RAMC at Cosham and going overseas some time up to August 1917. (See also 77297 Pte Albert Edward Oldfield, who joined at the same time as Pte Moore and went overseas on 12 February 1916 to France to join 2nd Cavalry Field Ambulance.) Pte Waddington served with 30th Field Ambulance in 10th (Irish) Division, possibly going overseas in time to join them in Salonika, where they remained until transferred to Egypt, in September 1917. Engagements during this time included the capture of the Karajokois and the capture of Yenikoi in October 1916. The division then fought in Palestine, most notably in the Third Battle of Gaza, 1-2 November 1917, part of the Southern Palestine Offensive.

Pte Waddington was subsequently transferred to the infantry, probably being 'combed-out' of his RAMC role as the result of a relatively high medical grading. After passing through the infantry school of instruction, he transferred corps to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers under the regimental number 88299, serving in the 7th (Merionethshire & Montgomeryshire) Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Territorial Battalion which by this time was part of the 160th Brigade, of the 53rd (Welsh) Division. 

Based on the service record of 88280 Sidney Higgs, 1/7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was also formerly of the RAMC (regimental number 39622), Pte Waddington's compulsory transfer to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers probably took place after a transfer to base depot (possibly 'B' Depot at Kantara) at the end of May 1918, then to the Infantry School of Instruction at Zeitoun outside Cairo on or about 20 June 1918, joining the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the field on or about 6 July 1918.This would have put Pte Waddington in line to serve with the 7th Battalion at the battle of Megiddo, 18-19 September 1918. Per Wikipedia:

"At the climactic Battle of Megiddo 53rd Division was tasked with advancing across the Samieh Basin towards Nablus, to threaten the Turks' communication centre and block the exits to the Jordan Valley (the Battle of Nablus). It attacked in moonlight late on the first day (18 September), after a 20-minute bombardment, and 7th RWF (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) had captured all its objectives on the north side of the basin by 03.00 next day. The roads were very bad, and the Royal Engineers struggled to make a path for the guns, but the advance continued, and by the end of 22 September the Turkish army was shattered, its retreat was being harried by artillery and aircraft.

The advanced troops of the division were now south-east of Nablus, but 53rd (W) Division was ordered to stand fast and did not take part in the pursuit of the defeated Turkish army. For the next few days it was employed in clearing the battlefield and repairing the Nablus road. On 26 September it moved back to Tell 'Asur, and by 12 October it had moved to Ramle, where on 27 October it began entraining for Alexandria. The Armistice of Mudros ended the fighting in Palestine on 31 October. On 20 December demobilisation instructions were received and the first parties left for home on 22 December. The Indian battalions left in early 1919 as transport became available. The 7th RWF was one of the last British units to leave, being reduced to a cadre on 23 January 1920 and officially disembodied on 12 March."

For his service Pte Waddington was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he would have received some time after August 1921.

He is probably the Robert James Waddington who was born on 24 December 1883 to Thomas and Elizabeth Martha Waddington, and baptised on 24 February at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, West Derby, Liverpool. By the time of the 1911 Census this Robert was living in Toxteth Park at 46 Garmoyle Road Sefton Park Liverpool and married to Minnie. Robert was employed as an assistant schoolmaster and the couple had a young child, Irene Mildred. By the 1921 census Robert and Minnie were living at 53 Portman Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. Robert, by that time a Schoolmaster in the employ of the Liverpool Corporation Education Committee, worked at St Cleopas Church of England School, Beresford Road, Liverpool.

The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919 Medal, awarded to 15479 PTE. E. Parker of the 17th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (1st South East Lancashire) - an original 'bantam'.

The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919 Medal, awarded to 15479 PTE. E. Parker of the 17th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (1st South East Lancashire) - an original 'bantam'.

Edgar Parker was born circa 1894. He may be the same Edgar S Parker, aged 18, and employed as a Twister, who was shown in the 1911 census as boarding with Richard A Parker and wife Ann at 3 Hartley Street, Nelson. As of early 1915 he lived at 46 Regent Street, Nelson and was a twister by trade. Edgar enlisted at Colne, Lancashire on 6 January 1915, aged 20 years 200 days and (under the regimental number 17/15479) was appointed to the Lancashire Fusiliers (17th Battalion) the same day. He gave as his next of kin Richard Arthur Parker, of the same address.

Standing 5' 0" tall, he was a classic 'Bantam' by stature, although at 34" fully expanded chest, slightly off the chest measurement requirement of 34 1/2". (The 'Bantam' drive was a recruitment initiative aimed at men of good physique but shorter than the standard 5' 3" height requirement, such as miners.) He weighed 103lbs and was medically graded 'A1' upon joining.

The 17th (Service) Battalion (1st South-East Lancashire), Lancashire Fusiliers had been formed as a bantam Battalion in Bury by Lieutenant-Colonel G E Wike and a committee on 3 December 1914. On 16 March 1915 the 17th moved to Chadderton near Oldham and then to Masham, Yorkshire to join the 104th Brigade of the 35th Division. On 27 August 1915 both the 17th and its sister 18th battalion were taken over by the War Office and moved to Cholderton on Salisbury Plain. Five months later the battalion was mobilised for war and, going overseas as a unit, landed at Le Havre in January 1916. In keeping with this, on his service record Pte Parker was shown as posted overseas to the 17th Battalion on 28 January 1916.

After a period of familiarisation with western Front conditions in the sector between La Bassée and Armentieres, the 17th, as part of 104th Brigade, 35th Division, then proceeded to fight on the Somme, arriving at Aveluy Wood on 10 July 1916, later acting as carrying parties for the 89th Brigade's attack on Guillemont, 29 and 30 July 1916. During this action the parties were attached to various battalions of the attacking force and moved up with the 4th wave, suffering 40 other rank casualties in the process, of which 31 were wounded. The battalion continued to take casualties as the offensive continued; 12 men were wounded by an accidental bomb (grenade) explosion in 'Happy Valley' on 14 July, 5 men were wounded at Maricourt on 19 July, and a further 153 men were wounded whilst the battalion occupied the front line between Trones Wood and Maltz Horn Farm from 21 to 23 July and then Talus Boise the following day. The battalion remained in this sector for some time and on 24 August they attacked, in conjunction with the French, the German lines south east of Falfemont Farm, advancing 300 yards and digging in on the Falfemont Spur. Pte Parker would have been with them at this point, and then travelled with the battalion to the Arras sector at the end of the month. By November 1916 the battalion was in the line at Arras and along with others experienced a severe trench raid on the 25th of the month, battalion casualties for November (including this episode) being 12 other ranks killed, 15 wounded and 25 missing.

Early in 1917 as part of a general reorganization of the 35th Division the 17th ceased to be a bantam Battalion, the war diary for December and January 1917 (the battalion was billetted at Arras during the latter month) showing evidence of men not considered fit enough for infantry duty being selected for transfer. On 25 January 1917 Pte Parker was transferred to an Infantry Labour Company (the 17th) at Dunkirk, probably as part of this transition, joining them in the field on 29 January. He was formally transferred to the Labour Corps upon its formation on 14 May 1917 and served with the Labour Corps under the regimental number 111727 in 187th Company. This means he was on the strength of the company when, during the night of 21 July 1917 it was shelled whilst in camp, seven men being killed, and he appears to have remained with it for most of the rest of the war, apart from a couple of episodes of sickness and one period of attachment with 103 Company between 29 March and 7 April 1918, which may have been associated with the impact of the German Spring Offensive 1918. With the 187th Company he had one offence of overstaying his leave in August 1918, for which he was confined to camp for seven days. On 20 December 1918 he was posted to 708th Company and, after passing through No.2 Dispersal Unit at Prees Heath, was transferred to the Army 'Z' Reserve on demobilization on 23 March 1919. His home address upon demobilization was 23 Derby Street, Nelson, Lancashire and he was medical category 'B2' upon discharge.

His full entitlement was the British War Medal and Victory Medal, issued off the Labour Corps roll and acknowledged in August 1921. This was the subject of an inquiry to the medals office in November 1945.

He may be the Edgar Saunders Parker, also a cotton twister, born in Nelson, who is shown on the 1921 census as living with wife Grace Mary at 23 Derby St, Nelson.

S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C. Field Butchery - lied about age to enlist

S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C.

Walter Brooker was born in [Old] Basing, Hampshire, in the second quarter of 1874, possibly circa 26 May, to William, a Carman, and Caroline, and was baptised in the parish church on 26 July 1874. By the time of the 1911 census Walter was living at 8 Church Square, Basingstoke with his by-now widowed mother, Caroline, and siblings, and working as a butcher. At the time of enlistment in January 1915 he was working for John Thorneycrofts of Basingstoke. He served with the Supply branch of the Army Service Corps, also as a butcher. His next of kin upon enlistment was given as his mother, Caroline.

Having been medically examined on 2 January 1915, Walter stated his age as 35 years and 222 days (implying that he was born circa 26 May 1879, thus taking five years off his actual age). Walter enlisted for the duration of the war and joined for duty at Basingstoke on 4 January 1915, at which time he was medically graded as Class A1. He entered the France and Flanders theatre with the 19th Division Field Butchery on 16 July 1915. The function of these unit was the the supply of fresh meat to the forces in the field. He spent time with 8 Field Butchery, No.4 Lines of Communication Supply Company, and 9 Field Butchery. In November 1916 he was 'combed-out' of his lines of communication rule for infantry service, due to his high medical grade, 'for transfer to a combatant unit' and sent home to Aldershot. There he spent time with the 100th and 90th Training Reserve Battalions. He subsequently reported heart trouble caused in France in March 1917, due to his infantry training. Certainly by April 1917 he had been reclassified as medical grade B.ii.  It is not clear that he saw infantry service, and he later returned to his ASC trade, taking up his old regimental number. He subsequently served with C (Supply) Company at Aldershot. As of May 1919 his age was recorded as 48 at his last birthday. His medical examination prior to discharge confirmed the heart problem (Hypertrophy of heart) and described him as disabled, the degree of disability being under 20%.

Passing through the Fovant Dispersal Station, Pte Brooker transferred to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on demobilization, on 18 June 1919. For his impairment he was pensioned at 5 Shillings and Sixpence weekly for one year 

Walter's postwar address was 21 Victoria Street, Basingstoke. For his service he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. By 1921 he was living with his family (five brothers, sister and niece) at 12 Victoria Street and working as a labourer at J J Thorneycrofts, presumably the same as his old workplace. Walter appears to have died in Basingstoke in the third quarter of 1936.

11526 Lance-Corporal Charles Henry Phillips, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action 23 July 1916, near High Wood

11526 Lance-Corporal Charles Henry Phillips, 2^nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, killed in action 23 July 1916, near High Wood

Charles Henry Phillips was born and lived in Morley, in Yorkshire. An Old Contemptible, as 11526 Pte C H Phillips he disembarked in France on 15 August 1914 with the 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers and would have served with the BEF in 1914 at the crucial early battles of Le Cateau and on the Aisne. In 1915 the battalion fought at Hill 60 in the Ypres salient and was then transferred to the Somme sector. There in July 1916 the battalion fought in an area between Morval and High Wood, and was part of the attacks on High Wood between 20 and 25 July 1916.

Pte Phillips was wounded in action in 1914 whilst serving with ‘A’ Company*, being reported as wounded on the Casualty List issued by the War Office for 22 September 1914. He was aged 19 at the time, with one year of service. He had been admitted, under the admission number 115, to 4^th Stationary Hospital on 17 September, most probably having been injured a couple of days prior, possibly when the battalion was crossing the Aisne at Missy on 14 September. He was under treatment for just under a fortnight for a gun shot wound to the right ear, being returned to duty on 30 September.

Whilst on the Somme, the 2nd Battalion, as part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division in XV Corps (General Watts), was engaged in the following places:

17 July : Meaulte (battle billets).

19 July : In front line between Bazentin-le-Grand and Longueval (old German second line).

20 July : Attack and taking of road leading from southern corner of High Wood to Longueval by A & D companies: 124 other rank casualties. Relieved at 3.30am 21/07 by 14^th Royal Warwicks).

21 July : Bazentin-le-Grand area again (old German second line).

22-23 July : night attack on Wood Lane, part of German switch line, A & D companies leading the assault for the battalion, which was in turn supporting the 1^st Royal West Kents. The 1^st Royal West Kents reached part of their objective, as did one platoon of ‘D’ Company but both were forced to withdraw to the former British line on the road by heavy German fire. The battalion suffered 110 other rank casualties, including 29 missing. Relieved from positions at 9pm and withdrew to bivouac in Pommiers Redoubt.

24th July : Pommiers Redoubt.

L-Cpl Phillips’ death was presumed on or after Sunday 23rd July 1916. He appears likely to have been one of the 29 missing casualties in the attack on Wood Lane on the 22nd/23rd.  A Red Cross enquiry was later made by a Mrs Rebecca Phillips, receiving a negative response. Charles was listed as "Missing" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office for 27 August 1916. L-Cpl Phillips’ remains were found at 57.c.S.4.b.3.3., and he was later buried and is now commemorated at Serre Road Cemetery n°2. Plot XXXIX. Row A. 11. His financial effects of £15 14s and 2s 6d and War Gratuity of £11 were split between his mother, Mrs Rebecca Shackleton, and his brother William Phillips and sister, Mrs Edith Brook. A claim for a pension was later made by Charles’ stepfather, William Henry Shackleton of 28 Bond Street, Hunslet, Leeds.

*The entry for him in the admissions and discharge book of the 4^th Stationary Hospital seems to suggest that he was serving with the 1^st KOSB, however this must be a mistake as the 1^st battalion was not in theatre at this point

47637 Cpl Thomas Mack, X/2 Trench Mortar Battery, Died of Wounds 27 Oct 16

47637 Cpl Thomas Mack, X/2 Trench Mortar Battery, Died of Wounds 27 Oct 16

Thomas Mack was born in Westport, County Mayo. He lived in Croydon and Tottenham, and Soldiers Died on the Great War suggests he enlisted at Holloway. He served as 47637 Cpl T Mack in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He entered the France and Flanders theatre of war on a base detail on 6 June 1915, as a Gunner, and was accordingly entitled to the 1915 Star. By late 1916 he was in the rank of Corporal, serving with X/2* [Medium] Trench Mortar Battery, 2nd Division. The medium batteries had joined the division in April 1916. By October 1916 the 2nd Division, which had been sent into battle on the Somme in July, was preparing for the Battle of the Ancre, the divisional artillery and trench Mortar batteries being particularly employed in cutting the enemy's wire in front of his defences, preparatory to an assault. On 25 October 1916 Cpl Mack was severely wounded, suffering several gun shot wounds (army term for any penetrating wound). The X/2 Divisional Trench Mortar Battery War Diary for October 1916 contains a reference to Cpl Mack: "25/10/16. No. of rds fired 22. Corp Mack wounded. Gnr Ballantyne 'shock'. Retaliation light." Corporal Mack was admitted to hospital (number 3 Casualty Clearing Station**) on 25 October 1916 under Index Number Of Admission T12469. This record also confirms that he was serving with X.2 Trench Mortar Battery at the time of admission. Cpl Mack died of wounds on 27 October 1916 whilst in the care of the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, which had come to Puchevillers along with the 44th CCS in June 1916, just prior to the opening of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried at PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY, plot V., row E. grave 20., Somme, France, one of 1763 casualties commemorated there. As a former Croydon resident he also appears in 'Croydon and The Great War' under the Croydon Roll of Honour, whilst as an Irishman by birth he also appears on Ireland's Memorial Rolls. His financial effects, including £9 10s War Gratuity, went to his sole legatee, Bert Adkin, in 1920.

*His entry in the register of soldiers' effects has 'Y' TMB, but other records show 'X'

**TNA reference MH106/328

15103 Pte A.W.WRIGHT, 17th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment, killed in action 3 July 1916

15103 Pte A.W.WRIGHT, 17th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment, killed in action 3 July 1916

Alan William Wright was the son of WILLIAM HENRY and MARGARET ELIZABETH WRIGHT, of "REDCOT," 17, BEACH LAWN, Waterloo, LIVERPOOL. He was born on 28 October just1894 in Liverpool.

An original 'Liverpool Pal', he would have joined up by 2 September 1914 and, as 15103 Pte A.W.WRIGHT he served with the 17th Battalion of the King's (Liverpool Regiment. The 17th (1st City) was the first of the Liverpool Pals battalions to be raised by Lord Derby, being formed at Liverpool on 29 August 1914. The 17th Battalion was part of the 89th Brigade, 30th Division. He entered the France and Flanders theatre of war on 11 November 1915. Alan was aged 22 when officially recorded as killed in action on 3 July 1916. (Although it is of note that information published by the family at the time indicates thatl they understood him to have been killed on 1 July 1916.) Having successfully taken the Dublin Trench part of the defensive system, as the battalion contribution to the capture of Montauban on 1 July, on this date the battalion was in the line in Dublin Trench to the east of Montauban. At 9pm on 3 July the 27th Infantry Brigade successfully attacked the adjacent Bernafay Wood. The battalion's casualties for the day were 8 other ranks killed and 24 wounded, Alan being one of these.

A record on Lives of the First World War provides the following information, along with a photograph of Pte Wright:

"IN MEMORY OF ALAN WILLIAM WRIGHT FROM MANCHESTER BORN 28TH OCTOBER 1894 A PUPIL AT KING WILLIAM’S COLLEGE, ISLE OF MAN 1908 - 1911 KILLED IN ACTION BY A SHELL DURING THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 3RD JULY 1916 AGED 21".

His financial effects of £6 3 10 and War Gratuity of £8 10 were sent, in 1916 and 1919 respectively, to the administrator of his estate, Dr William H Wright.

Having no known grave, Pte Wright is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C.

Image: Lord Kitchener inspecting troops in front of St George's Hall, Liverpool, on 20 March 1915.

Silver War Badge, number 407289 issued to Pte Charles William Henry Andrews, 1/6th and 1/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, wounded in action 1 July 1916

 Silver War Badge, number 407289 issued to Pte Charles William Henry Andrews, 1/6th and 1/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, wounded in action 1 July 1916

Silver War Badge, remains of old enamelling and conversion from brooch fastening to stickpin. 

 

Private Andrews served in the 1/6th and 5th Battalions, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. These were Territorial Force formations. Pte Andrews was a pre-war Territorial, having attested for the Territorial Force at Birmingham on 20 February 1914 and been given the regimental number 2199 upon appointment to the 6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. His 'apparent age' on attestation was 18 years 5 months and he stood 5' 10" tall with a 36" chest measurement and physical development described as 'good'. Upon the outbreak of war he was embodied for service with the 1/6th Battalion on 5 August 1914. He gave his address as 9 Clark Street, Ladywood, Birmingham. 

He entered the France and Flanders theatre on 22 March 1915 and was accordingly entitled to the 1914-15 Star. The 1/6th battalion was in Brigadier-General B.C. Dent’s 143rd Brigade of the 48th (south Midland) Division. Pte Andrews served with his battalion on the Somme, when on 1 July 1916 the battalion (along with the sister 1/8th) was attached to the 4th Division for the attack on the German front line, including the position known as the Heidenkopf Redoubt or Quadrilateral. In this action the battalion was a support battalion, following up behind the attack of the 1/8th Royal Warwickshires.    

The 4th, 29th, 31st, and 48th Divisions formed part of VIII Corps under Lt-General Hunter-Weston and occupied the stretch of the British line towards the northern end of the Somme fighting front. The northern end of the corps sector was roughly opposite the German fortified village of Serre, the centre being opposite Beaumont-Hamel (also heavily fortified), and the southern end being roughly opposite the village of Beaucourt. The Corps had the task of forming a defensive flank at and including Serre (the job of 31st Division at the northern end of the attacking front), whilst the 4th and 29th Divisions (in the centre and south respectively) would cross the Beaumont-Hamel valley and Beaucourt spur, take the German intermediate line (Munich trench) and then press on to their portion of the German second line, Puisieux trench,  which ran from Grandcourt to Puisieux. The 4th Division, being in the centre of the attacking front, deployed the loaned units of 143rd  (the 1/8th Royal Warwickshire leading the assault) to their left front, with units of the 11th Brigade to the centre (1st Rifle Brigade) and right (1st East Lancashire Regiment) of the divisional front. 

The assaulting battalions immediately ahead of the 1/6th Royal Warwickshire (1/8th Royal Warwickshire, and to their right, the 1st Rifle Brigade) advanced promptly at 7.30am, but were immediately met by machine gun and artillery fire. This was slightly reduced in intensity by the effect of the swell of the Redan Ridge in relation to the right company of the 1/8th Warwickshires and the left company of the 1st Rifle Brigade, and these units were able to penetrate into the Heidenkopf/Quadrilateral (a German defensive position on the Serre-Mailly road forming a salient in the German line and which had been partially blown by the German at the outset of the attack) , cross the German front line and take part of the support trench. The left company of the 1/8th was not so fortunate, however, being exposed to heavy machine-gun fire from the direction of Serre, and after overrunning the front-line trench only managed to get small parties as far as the support trench. 

At 7.40am the 1/6th Royal Warwickshires left the assembly trenches, ten minutes behind the 1/8th Royal Warwickshires. Passing over the Quadrilateral, which had been overrun by the 1/8th, it pressed on to the German front line and made touch on the right with the 1st  Rifle Brigade and 1st Somerset Light Infantry, although the left companies, again coming under heavy fire from machine guns in front of Serre, were unable to make progress. The battalion therefore assisted the 1/8th in consolidating the position. The war diary comments “...heavy casualties – about 80 before crossing our own lines- mingled with 1/8th R War R immediately on reaching German lines – worked up as far as third line – first and second wave battalions on the right had advanced no further – 31st Division on left also hung up  - certain units reaching SERRE – enemy's opposition  a well-distributed barrage and very severe cross machine gun  fire – 12th Inf Bde followed but were unable to advance further than line held by 11th Inf Bde. 

The one officer unhit (2/LT J.G. Cooper) returned with a message to Brigade H.Q. between 11 and 12 a.m. The line, which was being consolidated, was severely pressed on the flanks and forced to withdraw to the Quadrilateral from where the few remaining men were sent back to our lines about 7 p.m. All that could be collected were taken back to MAILLY at midnight.” 

In this action the battalion suffered an estimated 436 casualties, 120 killed and missing and 316 wounded, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel W.H. Franklin. The Heidenkopf/Quadrilateral position was largely given up before dawn the following morning in consideration of the absence of reserves to consolidate the position, given the 4th  Division's 4,700 casualties.  

Pte Andrews was shown on his service record as being wounded in action on 2 July 1916, however this is almost certainly a mistake for 1 July, as on 2 July the battalion is stated by the war diary to have been in billets at Mailly, “gradually assembling – until total of 176 reached”. Subsequently the battalion was sent to Couin. He suffered a gun shot wound (army term for any penetrating wound) to his left leg (thigh) and arm, his leg later being amputated. He was evacuated home from the France and Flanders theatre on 4/5 July 1916. 

 Record MH106/1533 from the MH106 series (probably, going by the attribution of the records immediately following and proceeding, and the wider sequence 1525-1584 within which it fits, from the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury) confirms that 20 year-old 2199 Pte W.H. Andrews of the 1/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment was under their care for a Gunshot wound IX (1) chest, non-penetrating, from 5 July until transferred to furlough on 29 August 1916. The record confirms that at the time of admission he had accrued 2 years 5 months service, of which he had spent 1 year 3 months with the Field Force. The record also confirmed that he was a member of the Church of England. 

As Private 2199 Andrews, C W H, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he was Listed as "Wounded" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office from 21st August 1916. He was thereby entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916, the terms of this award being met by naming in this list. This list also gave his Resided Place as 'Birmingham'. He was later placed on the strength of the 2/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  

Subsequently, in March 1917 he was issued the new six-digit regimental number 203476, and it was under this number that his Silver War Badge, number 407289, was issued; he received his Badge on 20 April 1918. 

He was discharged, aged 21,  on 20 March 1918 under paragraph 392 xvi of King's Regulations and Paragraph 2(b) of Army Order 265/17. The Silver War Badge roll confirms that his discharge was due to wounds. He was pensioned at 27/6 weekly for two months in the first instance. His address at the time was 9 Clark Street, Ladywood, Birmingham (the same as his address on attestation - also the address of his next of kin, his father C Andrews). He also received the King's Certificate (no.860), confirming receipt on 6 June 1918. 

 

He received his 1914-15 Star on 22 May 1921, and his British War Medal and Victory Medal some time after August 1920.